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Cincinnati, Ohio

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Why Host a Meeting in Cincinnati?

Cincinnati Skyline

With a $2 billion downtown revitalization well underway and a $135 million expansion of its downtown convention center completed, the riverfront city of Cincinnati is more in demand than ever as a top Midwest destination for conventions, trade shows and conferences. Meeting planners can take advantage of the fact that Cincinnati has many of the same features and attractions of major metropolitan centers such as New York City and Chicago, but does not involve the headaches of big city travel nor the same price tag. Plus, with a location only 500 miles away from 60 percent of the U.S. population, guests will not feel the least bit inconvenienced by an invitation to this Midwestern city.

Renovations at the city’s main meeting venue, Duke Energy Convention Center, have propelled it to the position as the Midwest's best-in-class center. With 200,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, the center is capable of accommodating 75 percent of the existing convention, conference and meetings market in the United States. Guests also enjoy its convenient downtown location, just a few blocks from many shopping and entertainment attractions and within walking distance of 3,000 hotel rooms, many of which are connected by skywalks.

Contemporary Arts Center

In addition to the convention center, Cincinnati offers large and unique meeting venues, including Music Hall, the city's 2nd largest meeting space located in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, the largest historic district in the United States. Host an unforgettable reception for up to 500 guests at the Music Hall’s lavish Springer Auditorium, home of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Opera. Invite 75 people to dinner amongst the unique exhibits of the Unmusuem at the Contemporary Arts Center, which was hailed by the New York Times as one of the most important American buildings constructed since the end of the Cold War. Consider welcoming guests at the Cincinnati Museum CenterCincinnati Museum Center
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, home to three prominent city museums that offer flexibility in their event spaces. These venues are just the tip of the iceberg; Newport Aquarium, Alms Park Pavilion, the French House, and the Madison all offer magnificent spaces that can be transformed for any affair.

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

This beloved Midwestern city continues to set its sights high with major development projects that are sure to enhance the downtown scene even further. The MLB’s Cincinnati Reds and NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals both have sparkling new homes, the Great American BallparkGreat American Ballpark
Great American Ballpark and Paul Brown Stadium. The Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art and national Underground Railroad Freedom Center both also opened in recent years. Additionally, plans for a 24-hour urban neighborhood along the riverfront called The Banks are in the works. It’s no surprise that the city’s past, current and future efforts have earned it a spot on AmericanStyle’s list of the Top 5 U.S. arts destinations and Esquire’s Top 10 Cities that Rock.

Cincinnati is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and two Fortune 100 companies. Proctor & Gamble, American Financial Corporation, Duke Energy, The Kroger Company and Chiquita Brands International have headquarters in the city. The University of Cincinnati and Xavier University are located in the city, and Miami University and Northern Kentucky University call the greater metropolitan area home.

Key Statistics

Additional Cincinnati Information / History

Situated on the northern bank of the Ohio River on the Ohio-Kentucky border, Cincinnati was settled in 1788. Ringed by seven gentle hills, the city’s riverside location made it a central point for westward expansion and trade. By 1820, young Cincinnati became America's first major "boom town," soon rivaling east coast cities in size and wealth. Known as one of the first major inland United States cities to be established without heavy European influence, Cincinnati is often thought of as the first truly American city.

Delta Queen

Over 200 years after its founding, the city has expanded well beyond its original seven hills, with a city population of over 365,000 residents and over two million people calling the greater metropolitan area home. Holding on to its American heritage, Cincinnati is home to many professional sports teams including a baseball team, the Cincinnati Reds, and an NFL football team, the Cincinnati Bengals. Today, the paddle wheelers, which used to crowd the docks of the city as it ferried products and people during the 19th century, continue to cruise the waters of the Ohio River as sightseeing vessels. Every year, riverboats from ports all along the Ohio and Mississippi travel to Cincinnati to celebrate their colorful heritage during the Tall Stacks Festival.

Cincinnati plays host to numerous other festivals throughout the year. Every April the Cincinnati Horticultural Society holds one of the largest outdoor flower shows in the United States on the shores of Lake Como at Coney Island. During the summer months, nearly 500,000 people gather to attend the annual Taste of Cincinnati and Jazz Festival. In the fall, Cincinnati celebrates its German heritage with Oktoberfest, the 2nd largest festival of its kind in the world, while more than 400,000 spectators gather to watch the Labor Day weekend fireworks display in conjunction with the Cincinnati Bell/WEBN Riverfest. Regardless of the time of year, there is always something extra to entertain visitors in this happening city.

Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Aside from its exciting events, Cincinnati offers a wide array of world-class cultural attractions. Travel & Leisure magazine calls Cincinnati "a town of best-kept secrets" because of its modern approach to architecture, food and attitude. The Cincinnati Art Museum stands head to head with New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Chicago Institute of Art. The new Aronoff Center for the Arts attracts headliners such as Broadway musical West Side Story and comedy superstar Chris Rock. Spacious Eden ParkEden Park
Eden Park, the city's premiere green space, is home to the award-winning Krohn Conservatory and Gardens, as well as the nationally ranked Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, the 2nd oldest zoo in America. The legendary Purple People Bridge has re-opened as a pedestrian bridge and a special attraction for thrill seekers. Instead of simply walking across the bridge, visitors can now climb across the bridge's catwalk for an unforgettable, heart-pounding experience 140 feet above the river.

Famous for its creative cuisine and thriving cultural scene, Cincinnati has received many accolades. Forbes magazine named Cincinnati the best city for nightlife in the region, based on its large number of restaurants, bars and nightclubs per capita. Try some of Cincinnati’s notorious chili at Skyline Chili, Gold Star Chili or Dixie Chili. With over 140 chili restaurants to choose from, visitors are bound to find the perfect bowl to satisfy their appetites. Cool the palette with a scoop of refreshingly sweet ice cream from Graeter’s Ice Cream, founded in 1870. Slice into a steak cooked to perfection at the Precinct, recognized for serving some of the best steaks in the city from its location in a former police station. Cap off the evening by relaxing to the smooth sounds of jazz at the Blue Wisp Jazz Club, the oldest such venue in Cincinnati. Though the city continues to evolve into a modern metropolis, it has clearly not forgotten its roots as a kind, quaint Midwestern town.