Kentucky's hospitality sector is largely defined by its restaurant industry, encompassing a mix of well-established chains and newer concepts. Companies like Yum! Brands, a global franchisor of KFC and Pizza Hut, and Texas Roadhouse, known for its hand-cut steaks, represent significant employers. The presence of A&W Restaurants, established in 1919, highlights the state's long history in the food service sector.
Beyond restaurants, the industry includes hospitality management and entertainment. Churchill Downs Incorporated is a major entertainment provider with horse racing and casino gaming. Schulte Hospitality Group manages over 200 properties globally, while 21c Museum Hotels integrates contemporary art with hotel and restaurant services. A notable pattern is the concentration of headquarters in Louisville and Lexington, indicating these cities as key hubs for the state's hospitality and restaurant businesses.
| # | Company | Employees | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Yum! Brandsyum.com
Franchises and operates over 62,000 restaurants globally, including KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Habit Burger & Grill, specializing in chicken, Mexican, pizza, and burgers. |
34,000 | |||
| 2 |
Atria Senior Livingatriaseniorliving.com
This company provides services and communities for older adults, offering opportunities and support to help them make a positive difference in the world |
5,278 | |||
| 3 |
Churchill Downs Incorporatedchurchilldownsincorporated.com
A company with nearly 150 years of experience creating entertainment experiences through iconic events, horse racing wagering, and regional casino gaming properties |
4,056 | |||
| 4 |
Texas Roadhousecareers.becomearoadie.com
A family restaurant offering legendary hand-cut steaks, fall-off-the-bone ribs, and made-from-scratch sides, focused on providing great food and fun for all ages at a great price |
3,543 | |||
| 5 |
A&W Restaurants, Inc.awrestaurants.com
Established in 1919, this company is America's oldest franchised restaurant chain, offering All American Food and freshly made Root Beer in frosty mugs Operating in more than 900 locations in the US and Asia |
3,382 | |||
| 6 |
Long John Silver's, LLCljsilvers.com
Popular quick-service seafood chain with a history of serving batter-dipped whitefish, chicken, and shrimp, along with famous hushpuppies and non-fried menu options |
2,859 | |||
| 7 |
Fazoli'sfazolis.com
Elevated Quick Service Restaurant chain offering traditional Italian favorites, including garlic breadsticks, in a modern service setting with drive-thru options |
2,510 | |||
| 8 |
Bubba's 33bubbas33.com
A family-friendly restaurant chain focused on quality food, lively atmosphere, and employee well-being, with a commitment to community and equality |
1,814 | |||
| 9 |
Rallys Restaurantrallys.com
A fast food chain specializing in burgers, fries, wings, fish, hot dogs, and other classic American foods Locations nationwide |
1,129 | |||
| 10 |
Schulte Hospitality Groupschultehotels.com
A leading third-party hospitality management company operating over 200 locations globally with a diverse portfolio of branded and unique properties |
917 | |||
| 11 |
Drake'sdrakescomeplay.com
A lively restaurant and bar offering over 20 craft beers, big burgers, freshest sushi Perfect for lunch, dinner, and late-night fun |
615 | |||
| 12 |
21c Museum Hotels21cmuseumhotels.com
This company founded by art collectors aims to broaden the audience for contemporary art through multi-venue museums, hotels, and restaurants in various cities |
512 | |||
| 13 |
PARLOUR Pizza + Pintseatparlour.com
This company offers franchising opportunities for a craft pizza destination with live music, craft cocktails, beer, artisan-style pizzas, grinders, salads, and smoked wings |
430 | |||
Want more companies than this list?This page shows the largest ones only. Connect to Tamtam to see every company that matches, filter by size, industry or growth, and reach their decision-makers. | |||||
| 14 |
Five Star Food Service (formerly Canteen Service Company)fivestarfoodservice.com
A food service company acquired another company and now operates under a new brand, serving 106 counties in Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio |
388 | |||
| 15 |
Breakout Gamesbreakoutgames.com
Breakout Games offers immersive escape rooms for team building, schools, and more, promoting problem-solving and real connections through engaging experiences |
370 | |||
| 16 |
Columbia Sussex Corporationcolumbiasussex.com
A company specializing in website development and content management using WordPress software, offering customization and design services for various industries |
357 | |||
| 17 |
Keeneland Associationkeeneland.com
An internationally renowned racecourse and leading Thoroughbred auction house investing in the industry and preserving the tradition of Thoroughbred racing since 1936 |
353 | |||
| 18 |
Bluegrass Hospitality Groupbluegrasshospitality.com
Bluegrass Hospitality Group operates six restaurant concepts in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, North Carolina, and Alabama, prioritizing guest satisfaction |
337 | |||
| 19 |
Galt House Hotelgalthouse.com
This company offers 130,000 sq ft of event space in Louisville with 53 meeting rooms, two ballrooms, and exhibit hall, blending hospitality and technology for high-impact events |
314 | |||
| 20 |
Wendy's of Bowling Green, Inc.wenbg.com
A leading franchisee in the Wendy's family, owning and managing multiple locations in four states, and recognized as a leader in the Hospitality Industry |
307 | |||
| 21 |
Commonwealth Hotelscommonwealthhotels.com
A world-class hospitality organization managing 54 properties across top hotel brands, focused on guest and associate satisfaction, market premiums, and superior ROI |
251 | |||
| 22 |
HHGhrshotelsgroup.com
A prestigious hospitality group in Louisville with a focus on strategic asset locations, investing in high-yielding properties, employee training, and exceeding customer expectations |
204 | |||
| 23 |
Newport Aquariumnewportaquarium.com
An aquarium showcasing thousands of animals in a million gallons of water with unique attractions like Shark Bridge, Shark Ray Breeding Program, and diverse penguin exhibits |
187 | |||
| 24 |
Ellis Park Racing & Gamingellisparkowensborogaming.com
Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky offers horse racing on a dirt track and turf course, with dining options available from Dade Park Grill |
90 | |||
| 25 |
Xscape Theatresxscapetheatres.com
Xscape specializes in providing top-tier comfort, sight, and sound technology in auditoriums, ensuring films are presented as intended with immersive experiences |
86 | |||
| 26 | 
Red Hot Roastersredhotroasters.com
A company that roasts coffee beans with care and passion, ensuring a high-quality and flavorful experience for coffee lovers |
5 | |||
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Every company on this list has a Tamtam company profile. The industry is the one the company gives on LinkedIn; categories such as SaaS or fintech are classified by Tamtam's AI from the company's website and LinkedIn page; and the headquarters city must match the company's own address. Companies are ranked by the number of employees on LinkedIn, and the list is refreshed every night. Classifications can be wrong, so treat the list as a starting point rather than an official ranking. Last updated Nov 11, 2026.
More company lists in Kentucky
- The largest companies in Kentucky 717
- Manufacturers in Kentucky 90
- Healthcare providers in Kentucky 84
- Multinational companies in Kentucky 78
- Hospitals and Health Care companies in Kentucky 68
- Retail chains in Kentucky 66
- Education providers in Kentucky 65
- Critical infrastructure operators in Kentucky 64
- Companies with in-house R&D in Kentucky 46
- Higher Education companies in Kentucky 46
- Public sector organisations in Kentucky 39
- Financial services firms in Kentucky 37
- Hardware manufacturers in Kentucky 37
- Family-owned companies in Kentucky 32
- Companies with a mobile app in Kentucky 31
- Construction companies in Kentucky 29
- Distributors and wholesalers in Kentucky 29
- Corporate groups and holding companies in Kentucky 27
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturing companies in Kentucky 25
The same list elsewhere in United States
- Hotel and hospitality groups in the United States 2,737
- Hotel and hospitality groups in California 336
- Hotel and hospitality groups in Florida 259
- Hotel and hospitality groups in Texas 232
- Hotel and hospitality groups in New York State 222
- Hotel and hospitality groups in Georgia 115
- Hotel and hospitality groups in Pennsylvania 90
- Hotel and hospitality groups in Colorado 86
- Hotel and hospitality groups in Illinois 83
- Hotel and hospitality groups in Ohio 76
- Hotel and hospitality groups in Arizona 73
- Hotel and hospitality groups in Nevada 71
- Hotel and hospitality groups in Washington State 68
- Hotel and hospitality groups in North Carolina 64
- Hotel and hospitality groups in Michigan 63
- Hotel and hospitality groups in Massachusetts 61
- Hotel and hospitality groups in Virginia 58
- Hotel and hospitality groups in Alabama 57
- Hotel and hospitality groups in New Jersey 54
- Hotel and hospitality groups in New York 133
- Hotel and hospitality groups in Atlanta 66
- Hotel and hospitality groups in Orlando 65
- Hotel and hospitality groups in Las Vegas 56
- Hotel and hospitality groups in Dallas 53