CINCINNATI, OH (October 8, 2025) – Visit Cincy is just three months away from the grand reopening of its reimagined Convention Center. Following an 18-month, $264 million renovation, the Convention Center will proudly open its doors in January 2026 as the crown jewel of the Midwest and a 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 Headquarters (HQ) 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, which will strengthen the Convention District’s room block package and create a more seamless, expansive option for meeting planners.
“We’re thrilled to share a glimpse of Cincinnati’s game-changing Convention District transformation,” said Julie Calvert, President and CEO of Visit Cincy. “By reimagining the Convention Center, adding a new headquarters hotel, and creating vibrant public spaces, we’re setting the stage for a new era of events that will deliver lasting impact for our community, our partners, and the visitors we’re eager to welcome.”
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 that will reimagine event capabilities for meeting planners and attendees alike.
With conventions already booking through 2030 and beyond, Cincy isn’t just planning for the future. It’s setting the stage for a new era of events.
Learn more about how the Future Meets in Cincy and stay up to date on the latest developments here.
About Visit Cincy
Visit Cincy connects the Cincinnati region’s people and experiences with visitors and meeting attendees from around the world through sales, marketing, communications, and community-building strategies. The destination marketing organization is supported by nearly 500 businesses that come together to make 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.
