Bigger and Better
Cincy hosted its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 31 at the Duke Energy Convention Center with more than 500 business professionals, civic leaders and members of the regional hospitality industry in attendance.
New Board of Directors and Leadership for Visit Cincy Elected
At the Visit Cincy annual meeting, the following were elected as new directors:
Aaron Eisel, Vice President of Ticketing & Business Development, Cincinnati Reds
Justin Wyborn, President, Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati
Galen Gordon, General Manager, The Kinley Hotel Cincinnati
Bobbi Dillon, Senior Manager, State Government, P&G
Annette Smith Tarver, Technical Assistance & Outreach Business Counselor, African American Chamber
Jackie Reau, CEO, Game Day Communications
Alecia Kintner, CEO & President, ArtsWave
Akiva Freeman, Senior Manager, Office and Supply Chain Real Estate Development, Kroger
Adam Gelter, Executive Vice President, 3CDC
Tourism officials shared results from 2023 and strategic initiatives for 2024 and beyond, which included the renderings of the new Duke Energy Convention Center, introduced new board leadership and honored hospitality and industry leaders for their service.
Visit Cincy reported the following metrics at the meeting: Hamilton County hotel room revenue grew by nine percent and downtown Cincinnati revenue was up a remarkable 18 percent. The hotel average daily rate was up by six percent and average visitor spending increased by 23 percent.
In his remarks as Visit Cincy Board Chairman, Jeff Berding, co-CEO of FC Cincinnati, recognized the Sharonville Convention Center expansion, the modernization of the Duke Energy Convention Center, an upcoming headquarter hotel announcement, an arena feasibility study and the relaunch of the Cincinnati Sports Commission.
Sharonville Convention Center’s $24 million dollar expansion
The $24 million dollar expansion of the Sharonville Convention Center opens up the northern suburbs, hotels, and the facilities for larger shows, meetings, and events. Visit Cincy established its first-ever dedicated room night goal for the Sharonville Convention Center and implemented a proactive strategy to move Duke Energy Convention Center-related bookings to Sharonville during the DECC closure.
New renderings for the Duke Energy Convention Center unveiled
During his presentation at the Visit Cincy Annual Meeting, Adam Gelter, executive vice president of 3CDC, unveiled the renderings for the Duke Energy Convention Center.
Feasibility of a new modern arena
Visit Cincy announced today that the Cincinnati Chamber will lead a new study to uncover important facts, which we will use to make a bold, transformative decision about a new arena in partnership with all the public and private partners including the City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, 3CDC, Visit Cincy, and the Cincinnati Business Committee. Over the next few months, the working group will review the pros and cons of the various locations, how a facility without a professional sports team - yet - operates successfully, and how a state-of-the-art arena fits into the region’s broader sports and tourism ecosystem.
Cincinnati Sports Commission to relaunch to capture sports tourism for the region
Visit Cincy has partnered with the Cincinnati Business Committee and Cincinnati Regional Business Committee to reorganize and develop a funding plan for a new Sports Commission relaunch and boost sports tourism in the area to attract top-level sporting events. The new Sports Commission will be launched this spring.
Spirit of Cincinnati Awards
The Visit Cincy Spirit of Cincinnati Awards recognizes the influencers and advocates of the local hospitality region who have gone above and beyond to drive the Cincinnati region forward.
Jean-Robert de Cavel Champion Awards recognize those who have worked directly with the Visit Cincy team to bring important meetings to the Cincy region.
The committee that collaborated on the bid to ensure that Black Tech Week would remain in Cincinnati for the next three years. The committee members were Mayor Aftab Pureval, City of Cincinnati, Jeff Berding, Co-CEO of FC Cincinnati, Terry Slaybaugh, JobsOhio, Kimm Lauterbach, REDI Cincinnati, Pete Blackshaw, Cintrifuse, Brendon Cull, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Gary Lindgren, Cincinnati Business Committee, Keizayla Fambro and Jack Willingham, Office of the Mayor of the City of Cincinnati, Steve Loftin, Cincinnati Arts Association
Denise Young, Jon Halusek & Dan Kowalski, Fraternal of Police | Working with the Ohio FOP in Columbus, local police representatives championed for the state meeting to be held in Sharonville at the Delta Hotel. Following a successful site visit, the group booked both a board meeting in April of this year, and the State Convention in 2025.
Mary Jo and Brennan Dean, Midwest Home School | As an annual convention at the Duke Energy Convention Center, Visit Cincy worked with Mary Jo and Brennan Dean to find an alternative location for 2025 during the Center’s closure for reinvention. They showed their dedication to the city and its hospitality industry by signing contracts to return to the newly renovated Duke Energy Convention Center in 2026 and 2027.
Jay and Beth Basil, Cincy Flames Baseball | Cincy Flames has been a valued partner with Visit Cincy since 2004. Every year, Cincy Flames hosts tournaments where they use multiple baseball facilities including college fields, a minor league ball park, several high school and community fields, as well as more than 56 hotels throughout the entire region, resulting in more than 16,000 room nights per year.
Dr. Patrick Muck, TriHealth | When the Midwestern Vascular Surgical Society needed a host city for its 2025 Annual Meeting, Dr. Muck suggested Cincinnati. The meeting planners were introduced to Visit Cincy, and chose to meet here at the Hilton Netherland Plaza.
Jeffrey Raser, John Yung, Matthew Shad, Elizabeth Boland, Congress for the New Urbanism | Congress for the New Urbanism is a national organization with a mission to champion walkable, socially just, economically robust, environmentally resilient, and people centered places. This event will be taking place at destinations all throughout our region this May.
Erich Kunzel Queen City Advocate Award recognizes those whose actions have attracted positive media coverage of the Cincy region.
The awards were presented to
Candace McGraw, President and CEO of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
CVG competed with many regional airports to win a coveted direct British Airways flight to London. The announcement that Cincinnati was chosen for the route led to more than six million media impressions. On June 5, the first flight landed at CVG, and on board were eight travel journalists, and many more followed. Coverage of the new flight and the Cincy Region as a place to visit reached more than a billion people, with an ad equivalency of $2.3 billion dollars.
The Banks Community Authority and Holy Grail Tavern & Grille
As the Taylor Swift tour started, it was quickly determined that the Banks would become the home base for Swifties locally. "Swiftinnati" offered a safe space for fans to gather and also offered a media room for visiting journalists to have a place to rest and learn more about the region. Cincinnati was featured in more than 300 stories leading up to and after the concert, including a front-page story in the Wall Street Journal. In total Cincinnati saw more than 446,000 media impressions and an ad equivalency of more than $7 million dollars.
Horace Sudduth Progressive Business Award honors people and organizations that demonstrate sustained commitment to diversity through leadership in areas like supplier diversity and workforce development. The honoree is:
Candice Matthews Brackeen, Founder and CEO of Lightship Foundation and Owner of Black Tech Week
Black Tech Week amplifies innovators of color on a global stage – and with it being located here in Cincy – it brings more opportunities to our own community. Overall, the event introduced 3,000 founders to the region, and 60% reported they would consider relocating here because of the positive experience.
Partnership Award recognizes an individual or organization that partnered with the CVB to make significant contributions to the local meetings and tourism industry. The honorees are those who collaborated on an effort called “Love Cincy Tennis,” a campaign to keep the Cincinnati Open tennis tournament in Mason:
Warren County Commissioner Dave Young; Warren County Convention & Visitors
Bureau President and CEO Phil Smith; Eric Hanson, Mason City Manager; Michele Blair, Director of Economic Development with the City of Mason; Jackie Reau, CEO of Game Day Communications; Gary Lindgren, President of the Cincinnati Business Committee; Anastasia Mileham, President of Cincinnati Experience; Jim Amick, USTA Ohio Valley Territory CEO; and Kimm Lauterbach, REDI Cincinnati President & CEO
The Wendell P. Dabney Award recognizes an individual or organization that has diversified the hospitality industry. The honorees are:
Alicia Reece, Stephanie Summerow Dumas and Denise Driehaus, Hamilton County Commissioners for The Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame.
This Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame is an immersive, cultural landmark that celebrates this region’s Black musicians, songwriters and industry professionals and their impact across the world. Inductees have shaped every form of music from funk, jazz, pop, gospel, hip-hop, classical, R&B and rock. The entertaining and interactive exhibit has quickly become a top attraction, which is free and open to the public to enjoy.
Pinnacle Award for Outstanding Service honors an individual on the front line of the hospitality industry who sets an example through excellent customer service and pride in the Cincy community.
Belinda Cottingham, Oak View Group at Duke Energy Convention Center
Belinda serves as a security and as a guest services representative. She is one of the first people visitors see when they walk into the center and she always greats everyone with a smile and a warm welcome. She gives people directions, give recommendations for attractions and other events going on in the city. She even makes dinner reservations for people that need them. Belinda is a true ambassador for the city.