Visit Cincy Nears Landmark Moment for Convention District

October 30, 2025

Rendering of the Convention Center fronting 5th Street.

Following an 18-month, $264-million renovation, Visit Cincy is just three months away from the grand reopening of its reimagined Convention Center.

The renaming is also set to be unveiled when the Convention Center opens its doors in January 2026 as the centerpiece of the city’s broader $800-million Convention District transformation.

The momentum is continuing to build across the district. Last month, the city announced its 700-room headquarter hotel will be a flagship Marriott, bringing global recognition, unmatched service, and powerful customer loyalty to the heart of the city’s hospitality landscape.

Slated to open in spring of 2028, the HQ Hotel will be complemented in the near term by Portman Holdings’ purchase of The Westin, strengthening the Convention District’s room block package and creating a more seamless and expansive option for meeting planners.

“This is a turning point for Cincinnati,” said Julie Calvert, President and CEO of Visit Cincy during a press conference at the recent IMEX America “[The District] is nearly a billion-dollar investment.” Calvert also noted that the new center is already booking conventions through 2030 and beyond.

Another major milestone arrives next month with the debut of the two-acre Elm Street Plaza. Linked directly to the Convention Center’s exhibit halls, the plaza will transform a former city street into a blend of paved event space and lush green landscape. The flexible outdoor venue is a crucial addition to the city’s expanding Convention District and reinforces Cincy as a walkable, welcoming city.

“We can do outdoor events almost all year in Cincinnati,” Calvert said. “We offer a sense of community and a sense of safety.”

Also at IMEX, Calvert also announced the launch of a new Regional Sports Commission along with its new Executive Director—Ben Huffman, who brings two decades of industry experience to the role, most recently serving as Director of Sports Tourism for the Warren County CVB just north of Cincinnati. The mission: attract sporting events that generate economic impact, enhance regional visibility and promote active, healthy living throughout the Cincy region.