A Warm Welcome
We all know Cincinnati is a great place to live, but it’s also an incredible place to visit!
In a new study by Tourism Economics, the impact report shows that visitors spend $4.4 billion dollars in Hamilton County and when Northern Kentucky tourism is included, the impact increases to $6.5 billion dollars, resulting in more than $17 million dollars a day. In Hamilton County alone, more than 46,000 people are employed in tourism, and visitor spending contributed $229 million dollars in local taxes. Visitors accounted for 25 percent of all local business revenue, up 8 percent from the previous year.
The report was one part of the Visit Cincy annual meeting, held Wednesday at the Sharonville Convention Center with nearly 500 business professionals, civic leaders and members of the regional hospitality industry in attendance, including Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus and Sharonville Mayor Kevin Hardman.
“The new economic impact study demonstrates how important the tourism industry is to our community with new dollars circulating, contributing to our tax base, attracting talent and business investment, and enriching our quality of life,” said Julie Calvert, president and CEO of Visit Cincy.
Visit Cincy’s strategic sales and marketing efforts achieved impressive results in 2024. Despite the closed Duke Energy Convention Center, Visit Cincy exceeded its sales goal by 11 percent, which represents $95 million in attendee spending with an economic impact of more than $176 million dollars.
Last year, Visit Cincy developed a new strategic campaign, “Meetings Made Cincy,” designed to connect regional meeting professionals to the unique venues and hospitality services in the Cincy region. The regional approach for foundational short-term business was coupled with aggressive planning and promotion of what’s next in the region. Visit Cincy launched its “The Future Meets in Cincy” campaign to initiate the sales process for new and reinvented assets to reach a national and global audience. Additionally, Visit Cincy has fully restaffed its Washington, D.C. office, enhancing a national presence which is already yielding significant results.
At the Visit Cincy annual meeting, the following were elected as directors:
Brendon Cull, President & CEO, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber
Bobby Spann, Vice President of Air Service, CVG Airport
Katie Westbrook, Senior Vice President of Development, 3CDC
Stephanie Smith, Senior Vice President and Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer, Fifth Third Bank
Doug Moorman, Mayor of Madeira, Ohio
Stephanie Summerow Dumas, Vice President, Hamilton County Commission
New officers were also introduced and they are:
Chair Scott Robertson, Chairman at RCF Group,
Vice Chair Bobbi Dillion, Senior Manager of Government Affairs, P&G
Secretary/Treasurer Steve Mullinger, Regional President, Huntington Bank
Katie Westbrook, senior vice president of development for 3CDC, the organization responsible for development of the Convention District project, shared an update for the reopening of the project. The $240 million-dollar downtown Convention Center is being modernized with state-of-the-art amenities, meeting spaces, technology, dramatic rooftop terrace and the new Elm Street Plaza. The project, which is on schedule to be completed by the end of December 2025 includes vendors representing minority-owned companies (23 percent of the project), women-owned businesses (14 percent) and unions (63 percent). Additionally, the hotel brand for the 800-room hotel, located adjacent to the Duke Energy Convention Center, will be announced this spring. Download images from the convention center reinvention here.
The $24 million dollar expansion of the Sharonville Convention Center opened up the northern suburbs, hotels, and the facilities for larger shows, meetings, and events earlier this year. To that end, Visit Cincy established its first-ever dedicated room night goal for the northern Hamilton County hotels, and it was exceeded by 28 percent this year.
This year, the Visit Cincy Foundation for Hospitality Excellence was established to improve education, create job opportunities, and enhance cultural impact to ensure Cincinnati is a place where everyone feels a sense of belonging and respect.
A new program called Inclusive Hospitality was introduced at the meeting as a commitment to embed a culture of inclusion in both internal programming and external outreach. Through the Inclusive Hospitality initiatives, Visit Cincy will expand its share of diverse meetings and tourism markets, and engage with community events in impactful ways, connecting the region’s visitors with diverse experiences and vendors.
A new collaboration was announced with BlaCk OWned Outerwear on a Visit Cincy line of merchandise, including bomber jackets and shirts. The line is being used to represent Cincy at national trade shows and events.
Last year, the Dan Lincoln Institute for Hospitality Leadership expanded into four schools, including a groundbreaking program with the residents of LADD, Inc. The IHL curriculum is designed to create pathways for diverse leadership in our industry, preparing students for careers in hospitality.
Visit Cincy has a partnership 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. Over the last year, the new organization has been incorporated with the state of Ohio and seated a new board which will be expanded later this month. Organizational leadership will be selected in the near future.
“The sports events tourism industry is an important business segment for our region,” said Calvert. “Nationwide, the sports-events industry delivered $128 billion dollars in total economic impact, and more than 200 million people every year travel to youth and adult amateur sports, and collegiate championships.”
Over this next year, leaders of America’s creative economy will pay a visit to Cincinnati for their annual meetings and to learn about how Cincinnati leads with cultural vibrancy. The Americans for the Arts annual convention will visit in June and the American Association for State and Local History Museums convenes in Cincinnati in September.
Cincinnati is also on the short list to host the iconic Sundance Film Festival beginning in 2027 and the decision will be announced this spring. The bid effort which began in April 2024 is being led by Film Cincinnati.
In addition, America's River Roots festival, scheduled for October 8–12, will officially kick off America’s 250th birthday celebration. The festival will feature riverboat cruises, music, food, and educational programs that celebrate Ohio River culture and how it helped shape our region and the entire country.
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.
A special recognition, the Pinnacle Legacy Award, was presented to pay tribute to Candace McGraw, CEO of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, who is retiring this summer.
Candace McGraw, CEO, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Candace McGraw has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport since 2011. During her tenure, she has led the transformation of CVG into one of North America's best regional airports and a global cargo superpower. CVG is now the sixth-largest cargo airport by volume in North America and the 12th largest in the world. She has overseen the arrival of new low-cost carriers, helped land deals with Amazon and DHL to build their mega hubs here, and worked with British Airways to establish a direct flight from Cincinnati to London. McGraw was appointed to serve on two U.S. Department of Transportation boards and currently serves as chair of the Airports Council International World Governing Board, the first woman ever to do so.
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 honorees are:
Alecia Kintner, President and CEO, ArtsWave & Visit Cincy Board Member
As a longtime member of the Americans for the Arts, Kintner’s leadership was pivotal to bring this June’s Americans for the Arts annual meeting to Cincinnati this June. This important organization, which focuses on advocacy for the arts in cities nationwide, will bring in more than a thousand room nights to downtown hotels.
Rebekah Beaulieu, President and CEO, Taft Museum of Art and Whitney Owens, Chief Learning Officer, Cincinnati Museum Center
Beaulieu and Owens played pivotal roles in bringing the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) to Cincinnati this September. This organization of history organizations across the United States requires local champions who ensure attendees experience something special. Both mobilized the public history and museum community in Cincinnati, building support for the conference. Their work not only supports our local heritage but also enhances Cincinnati's profile in national cultural and heritage discussions.
JobsOhio
The JobsOhio team played a pivotal role in bringing the Forbes Under 30 Summit to Cincinnati last September. Over four days, the summit brought together some of the world’s top young leaders. The summit also utilized unique local venues to enhance the experience: the first-ever Forbes Women in Sports Summit took place at TQL Stadium, while the main events were hosted at the Andrew J. Brady Music Center, each adding a distinct flavor to the gathering.
Erich Kunzel Queen City Advocate Award recognizes those whose actions have attracted positive media coverage of the Cincy region. The honorees were:
ArtWorks
ArtWorks has truly transformed Cincinnati into a vibrant canvas of public art, not only elevating our region’s arts profile, but also attracting international attention for it. In 2024, Cincinnati earned the title of the number one city for street art by readers of USA Today. This art has caught the attention of travel writers as well and has been featured in Forbes Magazine for BLINK and the Irish TV show Ed Finn's America.
American Legacy Tours
American Legacy Tours tells the Cincy region’s stories to visitors from around the world through engaging and educational experiences. These tours have become a favorite of travel media, providing journalists with a foundational background and understanding of our rich culture and heritage for their coverage. As close partners with Visit Cincy and meetNKY’s media outreach, they have been featured in National Geographic Traveler, the Toronto Sun and Midwest Living.
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 was
Metro
Metro exemplifies diversity, equity, and inclusion both within its workforce and in the community it serves. Over the past two years, Metro has significantly increased spending with disadvantaged and small businesses, earning accolades such as "System of the Year" by the Ohio Department of Transportation Division of Opportunity, Diversity, & Inclusion, and "Best Place to Work for Women of Color." Metro also sponsors local community events that align with its mission of fostering DEI throughout the region.
Partnership Award recognizes an individual or organization that partnered with the CVB to make significant contributions to the local meetings and tourism industry. This honoree was:
Bogart’s
Bogart's, a venue synonymous with legendary concerts, demonstrated its versatility as an event venue by partnering with us to host 'Meetings Made Cincy: Live at Bogart's.' This innovative event showcased Cincinnati’s unique venues and services to regional meeting professionals in a setting that many could not have envisioned. The message to attendees: Cincy is open for meetings business. Their generous sponsorship and willingness to reimagine their iconic venue wowed attendees and united the industry. The event welcomed more than 200 people, including dozens of meeting planners and the media, highlighting the incredible experiences the Cincy region offers.
The Wendell P. Dabney Award recognizes an individual or organization that has diversified the hospitality industry. The honoree was:
Alandes Powell, Black Art Speaks
Alandes Powell has made a remarkable impact as the visionary and founder of Black Art Speaks, an arts collective designed to promote black culture, social justice, and expression through the uplifting of Black artists' voices through every form of art. From leading powerful BLINK projects to creating the Black Lives Matter mural and the thought-provoking film 'We Love Us,' Powell has amplified the voices of Cincinnati’s Black community in ways that inspire and resonate.
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. The honoree was:
Novella Nimmo-Black, Community Engagement Manager at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
Novella Nimmo-Black, Community Engagement Manager at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, goes beyond her daily responsibilities to bring the stories of the Underground Railroad to life for visitors and journalists on specialized tours, delving into the important message of the Center and its location. Novella learned of her own ancestors' enslavement and journey at the Freedom Center’s research facility, and tells others her story to make very real human connections to our history. With her passion and intensity, it's not uncommon for her audience to be moved to tears.