In has been an unquestionably challenging time for the travel industry, but as people begin to venture out, Cincinnati is once again ranked as a top destination. May 2 marks the beginning of Travel & Tourism Week around the country and there’s no better time to re-discover the nationally ranked attractions and widely acclaimed restaurants we are fortunate to enjoy every day, not just on vacation.

If You Go

Kinley Hotel Cincinnati, 636 Race St. www.kinleycincinnati.com/offers

The Lytle Park Hotel, 311 Pike St.,
www.marriott.com/the-lytle-park-hotel

Graduate Hotel, 151 Goodman Drive, www.graduatehotels.com/cincinnati/

Marriott’s Delta Hotel , 11320 Chester Road, www.marriott.com/hotels/delta-hotels

Summit Hotel, 5345 Medpace Way, www.thesummithotel.com/

21c Museum Hotel, 609 Walnut St., www.21cmuseumhotels.com/cincinnati

“As tourism resumes, and our hotels, restaurants, and arts and cultural institutions and professional sports reopen under safety guidelines there is much to do in this region,” said Julie Calvert, president and CEO of the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Travel + Leisure picked Cincinnati as one of the top 20 places to visit in 2021. Forbes chose us as one of the best road trips, saying “a road trip kicking off in Cincinnati serves up a bona fide slice of Americana with an intriguing cultural bent many might not expect from the Buckeye State.”

Despite all the difficulties of the past year, three new hotels opened in the region and established hotels have special offers, so you can enjoy a change of scenery without a lot of travel time.

“A staycation provides our local residents the opportunity to get out and explore all that the Cincinnati region has to offer,” says Calvert. “By staying local and following the safety guidelines in place you can help our region come out the other side of this pandemic stronger and intact.”

One of the most anticipated restaurant openings of last year was in a hotel in Cincinnati. In the January 2020 issue of Vogue, the magazine expressed their excitement about Khora along with restaurant opening in Boston, Los Angeles, and New York, among other cities.

Now open in the Kinley Hotel Cincinnati, overnight guests can take advantage of Khora’s incredible menu by Chefs Kevin Ashworth and Edward Lee with the “Date Night In” package.

This food-centric stay includes a corner king suite outfitted with an in-room dining table, a five-course meal, and a bottle of red or white wine, to create a customized safe date night experience in a room that is used every five days, for an added safety measure. Rather have brunch? The package can be tailored to your choices, and the chefs will contact you to personalize the experience to your preferences. The menu showcases modern pasta dishes and small plates with a Midwest sensibility, including ancient grains sourced in the Ohio Valley and milled especially for the restaurant – which is named after the khorasan grain variety.

The Kinley partnered with Cincinnati Art Underground to curate works by local artists in the hotel, including a hand-painted mural by Andrey Kozakov in the lobby. The building, formerly the Jewelers Exchange Building, is home to the Allegro mural, originally painted by Barron Krody for the 1971 Urban Walls: Cincinnati series.

Across the street from the Taft Museum of Art, The Lytle Park Hotel, originally built in 1909, is in one of the most historic, and picturesque, parts of downtown.

After a $35 million renovation, the hotel retains a number of historic details, like a Rookwood water fountain, but also features a state-of-the-art retractable glass roof on a four-seasons room on the hotel’s roof.

The hotel’s restaurant, Subito, specializes in Northern Italian cuisine, with housemade pastas, scratch-made sauces and hand-selected, perfectly seared steaks, finished in an infrared broiler. Along with seafood flown in daily, Subito offers brick oven pizzas, a raw bar and traditional antipasti. These dishes can be enjoyed in the restaurants or in the lobby bar, which sits under a custom light fixture with 96 bulbs, dubbed the Crown of the Queen City.

One way to experience all of the elements in this gorgeous setting is with the “Celebrate the Love” package. Enjoy a romantic getaway, including a bottle of Prosecco and chocolate covered strawberries, in the hotel’s luxury accommodations. “Please Do Not Disturb” sign included.

The Graduate Hotel near the University of Cincinnati was another huge renovation that turned an old building into a grand hotel. The latest in a collection found in university towns across the country, the hotel’s decor has Ohio motifs that create a space that’s distinctly Cincinnati. Furniture channels some of the city’s standout buildings while custom art celebrates local legends, including a Columbia Pictures icon, an Ohio-born cowboy, a funkadelic bassist, and, of course, a hippo.

Fitting for a hotel on campus, you can book the “Room Savings 101” package and get a great rate by booking exclusively through their site.

Venture a bit farther from out to find the first Ohio location for Marriott’s Delta Hotel. The hotel offers amenities that appeal to both business travelers and tourists, with modern room designs with large work spaces that also provide room to relax and upgraded bedding and towels. Staying hydrated will not be an issue, with an indoor heated pool and complimentary, replenished bottles of water during your stay. Dining options include a Grab ’n’ Go Starbucks, On The Rocks Bourbon Bar & Restaurant, and even room service.

The Summit Hotel shines a spotlight on Cincinnati art with commissioned works by contemporary artists and a 5,800-square-foot art gallery with a rotating collection of thought-provoking works by local and regional artists. With the Cozy-in for Movie Night, you Grab your loved ones for a special night in at The Summit. Our Cozy-In for Movie Night Package includes deluxe accommodations, complimentary movie, gourmet hot chocolate, house-made cookies, and late check-out.

Designed to engage, enlighten and inspire our guests, The Summit promises a transformative journey from everyday to extraordinary. From thought-provoking works of art to chef-curated dining experiences, we'll spark your sense of creativity and self discovery at every turn.

You may not be the only one who needs a night away from your house. Your dog could use a change of scenery, too, and what better place than 21c Museum Hotel. The hotel is waiving all pet fees through June 30, when booking directly with 21c Cincinnati.

While your pooch is relaxing in those new surroundings, you can enjoy Cocktail Terrace at 21c, which recently reopened for the season. Boozy cocktails and sweeping downtown Cincinnati views are making a return, along with a new raw bar menu by Executive Chef Vanessa Miller of Metropole.

“With the changing of the season and the reopening of our doors, there’s no better time to showcase the flavors of spring,” says Chris Brown, Metropole’s assistant food and beverage director.

–Tricia Suit

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