Cincinnati's Downtown Convention District Transformation
When it comes to conventions, Cincy is just getting started. Cincinnati's compact downtown will undergo a $700 million transformation with the development of a first-class Convention District. With construction expected to begin in 2024, the Convention District marquees will be a reimagined Duke Energy Convention Center connected to a brand new, Headquarters Hotel. Below, you'll see why reinvention reigns in Cincy.
Reimagined Duke Energy Convention Center
On July 1, 2024, the Duke Energy Convention Center began significant updates and renovations to become more flexible, functional, cutting-edge, and environmentally friendly -- a meeting planner's dream space.
The upgraded Center will house an additional 12,000 square feet of modernized, extended exhibit hall space, upgraded meeting and ballrooms, an expansive rooftop terrace, as well as major improvements to building systems and technology making it much more energy efficient.
The development will pour over Elm Street to create a two-acre park and outdoor convention area convenient for event activations and relaxing breakouts.
The project is expected to cost $240 million and reopen by January 2026 making it one of the premier convention centers in the Midwest.
![Duke Energy Convention Center Elm Street Park](https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_fill,f_jpg,g_xy_center,h_360,q_65,w_640,x_759,y_494/v1/clients/cincy/Cincinnati_Convention_Center_Moody_Nolan_TVS_1_dc2b8c3f-e6d7-4286-bc1b-fab9a1aae8cf.jpg)
![Duke Energy Convention Center Rooftop Terrace](https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_fill,f_jpg,h_427,q_65,w_640/v1/clients/cincy/decc_rendering_rooftop_2_6b768867-1a78-4aeb-83ff-a64af13058a8.jpg)
![5th and Elm Exterior](https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_fill,f_jpg,g_xy_center,h_427,q_65,w_640,x_665,y_460/v1/clients/cincy/Cincinnati_Convention_Center_Moody_Nolan_TVS_2_sm_a902b1fc-b396-483f-b3b4-9a8eada35972.jpg)
![Duke Energy Convention Center Prefunction Space](https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_fill,f_jpg,g_xy_center,h_960,q_65,w_640,x_797,y_549/v1/clients/cincy/Cincinnati_Convention_Center_Moody_Nolan_Prefunction_sm6_5474a81e-d2dc-464b-aab5-657575091d23.jpg)
![Full Profile DECC Rendering](https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_fill,f_jpg,h_427,q_65,w_640/v1/clients/cincy/Cincinnati_Convention_Center_Moody_Nolan_TVS_3_sm_a8f95751-386f-43a3-9d0a-3656fbcd8fe9.jpg)
![Updated Meeting Space Rendering](https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_fill,f_jpg,h_427,q_65,w_640/v1/clients/cincy/Cincinnati_Convention_Center_Moody_Nolan_meeting_sm7_edb38dc7-e96d-4070-acbb-521c5011a804.jpg)
![5th Street Exterior | DECC Rendering](https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_fill,f_jpg,g_xy_center,h_427,q_65,w_640,x_840,y_528/v1/clients/cincy/Cincinnati_Convention_Center_Moody_Nolan_FifthSt_4_sm_83d8f1d5-b57d-4db6-90be-ffcbecdc3a84.jpg)
![Main Lobby DECC Rendering](https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_fill,f_jpg,g_xy_center,h_427,q_65,w_640,x_627,y_315/v1/clients/cincy/Cincinnati_Convention_Center_Moody_Nolan_Lobby_5_sm_2bf66ffd-a3be-404c-bfd0-aee6cc1a4e8f.jpg)
New Headquarters Hotel
Located directly across the street and south of the Convention Center, a brand new Headquarters Hotel will be built. It is expected to feature:
- 800 Hotel rooms
- Up to 80,000 square feet of meeting space with junior and senior ballrooms
- 15,000 square feet of retail space
- Panoramic outdoor terrace with a pool
Construction is expected to begin in 2024 and cost about $480 million. Portman Holdings is the developer and a hotel brand will be announced soon.
![New Downtown Headquarters Hotel](https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_fill,f_jpg,h_360,q_65,w_640/v1/clients/cincy/portman_convention_center_hotel_01_81cea24b-a66d-4618-be2e-b75fa3fee007.png)
![New Downtown Headquarters Hotel Entry](https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_fill,f_jpg,h_427,q_65,w_640/v1/clients/cincy/portman_convention_center_hotel_05_f3b89400-a46d-40cf-b304-4331cf3832c7.png)
![Headquarters Hotel Across from the Convention Center](https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_fill,f_jpg,h_427,q_65,w_640/v1/clients/cincy/portman_convention_center_hotel_06_6e32b1c9-b466-4a17-82ca-39f71a3e4176.jpg)
Key Development Dates
- Convention Center Renderings Finalized: September 2023
- Convention Center Groundbreaking: July 2024
- Hotel Groundbreaking: Q2 2024
- Convention Center Grand Reopening: January 2026
- Hotel Grand Opening: Q4 2026