Cincinnati, OH Event Planning

Key Highlights

Hotels	214
Total Sleeping Rooms	24,394
Committable Sleeping Rooms*	872
Committable Meeting Rooms*	37
Largest Exhibit Space	200,000 Sq. Ft.
Largest Ballroom	39,500 Sq. Ft.
Average Hotel Room Rate	USD $118
Average Daily Meal Cost	USD $56
Average Weekly Car Rental	USD $268
*Maximum for a single hotel

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Cincinnati, OH Meeting Planning Overview

Welcome to our Cincinnati meeting planning guide – a Cincinnati city guide for meeting planners. 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 space, 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 Cincinnati meeting hotels with over 3,000 sleeping rooms, many of which are connected by skywalks.

In addition to the convention center, Cincinnati offers large and unique meeting facilities, 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 Unmuseum 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 Center at Union Terminal, home to three prominent city museums that offer flexibility in their event spaces. These Cincinnati event 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.

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.

About Cincinnati, OH / Additional Info

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.

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.

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 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.

Cincinnati, OH Key Stats for Meeting Planners

Time Zone: Eastern Time (ET)
Convention Center(s):

Hotel at Convention Center? No
Sleeping Rooms 1 Mile from Convention Center: 3,000

Airport(s):

Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport

Destination Type(s):

Smoke-free Restaurants

Special Event Venues
133
Population
2,130,151
Restaurants
77
Country Code
1
Sales Tax
6.50%
Currency
U.S. Dollar
Standard Tipping Practice
10-20%
Electricity
120V / 60Hz
Official Languages
English

Credit Cards and Travelers Cheques widely accepted? Yes

All average costs based on U.S. Government Per Diem rates as published by the U.S. General Services Administration.

Cities Near Cincinnati, OH

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Dayton, OH	48 mi	52 min	41 min	USD $300+
Columbus, OH	108 mi	1 hr 49 min	50 min	USD $350+
Detroit, MI	264 mi	4 hr 21 min	1 hr 10 min	USD $260+
Chicago, IL	296 mi	4 hr 47 min	1 hr 5 min	USD $200+

Cincinnati, OH Climate Information

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg. High (°F)	38	43	54	65	75	83	87	85	79	67	55	43
Avg. Low (°F)	21	24	34	43	53	61	66	64	57	47	36	27
Rec. High (°F)	74	76	85	90	94	101	101	103	100	91	82	75
Rec. Low (°F)	-22	-9	-6	19	27	39	47	43	32	18	-3	-14
Rainfall (in)	2.5	2.5	4.2	3.7	4.4	3.4	4.1	3.7	3.1	2.8	3.3	3.1

Situated in the northwest corner of the state on the Ohio River, Cincinnati has a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. During its warm, humid summers, the average high is 85°F. Winters can range from harsh to mild with occasional snowfall and average temperatures in the low 30s.

With an average of 41 inches of annual rainfall and 16 inches of snow, precipitation is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. Cincinnati's moderate climate welcomes visitors all year, though its outdoor offerings and majestic parks are best enjoyed during spring, summer and fall.

Meeting Planning in Cincinnati, OH

Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati

Located in the midst of downtown's exuberant renaissance, the Duke Energy Convention Center can accommodate 75 percent of the existing convention, conference and meetings market in the United States. In keeping with Cincinnati's sense of architectural flair, the redesigned center stands out as the newest iconic shape on the skyline. With the name "Cincinnati" spelled out in 50-foot-tall letters on glistening metal panels along its western facade, the center boldly celebrates the city it calls home.

The 750,000-square-foot convention center features 200,000 square feet of contiguous exhibition space. At 40,000 square feet, its Grand Ballroom is one of the largest in the Midwest, and an additional 17,400-square-foot ballroom can accommodate smaller groups. The center also includes 31 deluxe breakout rooms with the flexibility to accommodate 24 to 4,100 people; a full-service banquet kitchen that can serve 5,000 guests in a single sitting; and a spacious loading dock with 17 berths and three semi-truck portals that lead directly to exhibition space.

The convention center partners with Convention Communication Provisioners to provide planners with the latest technology, exemplary customer service and on-site technical and audio-visual support staff. Meeting planners have the latest technology at their fingertips, including fiber optic networking, customized electronic signage, broadband teleconferencing, dozens of wireless hot spot locations, high-speed WANS, VLAN, VPN, ISDN rental equipment, stable network IP address assignment and delivery, and network-wide monitoring for maximized reliability.

Planners, exhibitors and attendees enjoy the center's central downtown location with easy access to thousands of hotel rooms and 5,000 parking spots. Many hotels, including the Hyatt, Westin and Millennium, are connected by enclosed skywalks. Conventioneers can end a day of meetings and activities and walk outside into a vibrant downtown community of world-class dining, shopping, live theater and nightlife.

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Other Convention Centers in Cincinnati, OH

Name	Address	Total Meeting Space
Sharonville Convention Center	11355 Chester Road Sharonville, Ohio 45246-4002	30,000 Sq. Ft.

Cincinnati, OH Airport Information

Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)

Approximate taxi fare: $40.77 USD

Located 13 miles south of downtown Cincinnati in northern Kentucky, Cincinnati, Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) offers approximately 180 daily departures to 53 nonstop cities, including nonstop service to Paris and Toronto. Carriers currently serving passengers at CVG include Air Canada, American, Delta, United and US Airways. As of 2012, all airlines are consolidated into one Main Terminal, following a renovation that included an improved ticketing area and a renovated Concourse A. With the exception of Delta, which is accessed through Concourse B, all airlines are found at Concourse A.

Free Wi-Fi is available in all ticketing and baggage claim areas, as well as at all gates. For even faster access and VPN connectivity, visitors can check out CVG's Premium Wi-Fi service.

Parking is available in the Terminal Garage and the ValuPark Long-Term Lot, as well as through Curbside Valet Service. The 6,000-space Terminal Garage has a maximum fare of $15 per day ($22 per day for curbside valet), and the ValuPark lot has a maximum fee of $8 per day.

Airline carriers serving Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport

Air Canada
American Airlines

Delta
Frontier Airlines

US Airways
United Airlines

Cincinnati, OH Train Information

Union Terminal

Cincinnati's Amtrak office is located at Union Terminal/Cincinnati Museum Center one mile south of downtown and services two lines. The Cardinal Line provides service between Chicago to the west and Washington,DC and New York City to the east. The Hoosier State Line provides daily service between Cincinnati and Indianapolis. All trains arrive before public transportation is available, so arriving passengers may need to call a taxi to arrive at or leave the station.

Cincinnati, OH Public Transportation

Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) Bus Line

The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority operates the bus system in the city. An environmentally friendly option, nearly 300 of greater Cincinnati's public buses operate on biodiesel, an alternative fuel made from fats or oils, thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. SORTA provides public bus service daily from the airport to downtown from 5 AM to midnight outside of the Terminal 3 baggage claim area. The fare is $1.25. The newly-renovated Government Square on Walnut Street is the main downtown bus hub for Metro buses. Within Cincinnati, the bus fare is $1.

Southbank Shuttle

Cincinnati guests and residents board the Southbank Shuttle bus to travel to Northern Kentucky dining and entertainment areas such as Newport On the Levee, a multi-venue complex that houses retail, dining and entertainment venues; Hofbrauhaus Newport; the Newport Aquarium; and MainStrasse Village. A few stops are made in the downtown Cincinnati area as well.

Southbank Shuttle service runs Monday through Thursday every 15 to 20 minutes from 6 AM to 10 PM, Friday from 6 AM to midnight and Saturday from 10 AM to midnight. Fare is $1.25 per person.

Airport Executive Shuttle

Airport Executive Shuttle provides transportation to hotels and attractions in the greater Cincinnati area and other locations throughout the region. The fare to downtown Cincinnati is $15. The service is available at shuttle desks in the baggage claim area. For more information: 800-990-8841

Car Rentals

Eight major airport rental car companies, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty, are accessible via a short shuttle ride from the terminals. Courtesy phones for making rental arrangements are located near airport exits in baggage claim areas.

Taxis

For taxi service, guests can visit the taxi desk in the Terminal 3 baggage claim area or use the courtesy phone in the Terminal 2 baggage claim area. The taxi fare to downtown Cincinnati is $27.

Distance To...

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Dayton, OH	48 mi	52 min	41 min	USD $300+
Columbus, OH	108 mi	1 hr 49 min	50 min	USD $350+
Detroit, MI	264 mi	4 hr 21 min	1 hr 10 min	USD $260+
Chicago, IL	296 mi	4 hr 47 min	1 hr 5 min	USD $200+