Omega Psi Phi Grand Conclave generated more than $43 million in business sales as Cincinnati builds momentum in national meetings and conventions
CINCINNATI, OH (October 6, 2026) – Cincinnati’s investment in its visitor economy is delivering measurable returns. This summer, major conventions brought tens of thousands of visitors to the region and generated millions of dollars in hospitality spending.
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.’s 85th Grand Conclave led that impact, one of the first major citywide conventions hosted after the reopening of the reimagined First Financial Center.
A newly completed economic impact analysis found that the Grand Conclave generated $43.25 million in total business sales, including $23.66 million in direct spending, and nearly $13.84 million in personal income. The event also generated approximately $1.58 million in local tax revenue.
That spending reached businesses throughout the visitor economy. More than $11.1 million went to lodging businesses, approximately $5.2 million to restaurants and food-and-beverage businesses, more than $3 million to transportation businesses, and approximately $2.3 million to business services.
The Grand Conclave also accounted for an estimated 50,025 room nights and more than 75,000 visitor days, illustrating how the impact of a major convention extends well beyond the meeting itself.
“This is exactly why communities invest in tourism infrastructure,” said Julie Kirkpatrick, Interim President & CEO of Visit Cincy. “A convention isn’t simply people meeting inside a building. Those visitors stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants, use local transportation, shop in our neighborhoods, and support people whose livelihoods depend on the visitor economy. Omega Psi Phi is an extraordinary example of what can happen when Cincinnati has the facilities, hospitality community, and destination experience to compete for major national events.”
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. was part of a broader summer convention calendar that brought association, corporate, and leisure business to Cincinnati. The International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters generated approximately $733,000 in economic impact, while September’s National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers generated approximately $1.3 million.
The results come as Cincinnati begins capitalizing on one of the most significant periods of visitor-related investment in the region’s history. More than $800 million is being invested in the Downtown Convention District, including the reimagined First Financial Center, Elm Street Convention Plaza, and the future 700-room Cincinnati Downtown Marriott headquarters hotel.
“These investments were made with a clear objective: to make Cincinnati more competitive and bring more visitors, meetings, and economic activity into our community,” Kirkpatrick said. “This summer gave us an early look at that return. Now we have to build on it by filling the convention calendar and making sure the benefits reach businesses and neighborhoods throughout the region.”
The impact builds on an already significant visitor economy. Newly released Tourism Economics data shows Hamilton County’s visitor economy generates $7.4 billion in total economic impact, with visitors spending approximately $4.5 billion directly at local businesses and supporting 48,365 full- and part-time jobs. Visitor activity generates more than $1 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenue.
For Omega Psi Phi specifically, the return to the community was substantial. The analysis calculated approximately $1.54 million in direct local tax receipts against $361,064 in destination hosting costs, resulting in more than $1.17 million in net direct local tax return.
“Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.’s Grand Conclave is a powerful example of how investments in our visitor economy can create benefits that are felt throughout the community,” said Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval. “When Cincinnati welcomes major events, the impact reaches our neighborhoods, our businesses, and the people who call this city home. It also shows the country what Cincinnati can do and gives us even more reason to keep pursuing opportunities of this scale.”
Visit Cincy continues to focus its national sales efforts on attracting major conventions, meetings, and events to the region and maximizing the return on Cincinnati’s investment in its convention and visitor infrastructure.
About Visit Cincy
Visit Cincy connects the Cincinnati region’s people and experiences with visitors and meeting attendees worldwide through sales, marketing, communications, and community-building strategies. The destination marketing organization is supported by nearly 500 businesses that join together in making Cincinnati, Hamilton County, and the Cincy region a world-class destination by offering their services, attractions, and facilities to visitors, meeting planners, and convention attendees. For more information, go to VisitCincy.com.
