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Marriott to Operate New Cincinnati Convention Center HQ Hotel
By Jonathan Trager
A $536 million hotel being developed across from the Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown Cincinnati will bear the Marriott name, developer Portman Holdings announced on July 15.
The 700-room hotel will be connected to the renovated convention center via skybridge. It will include 62,000 square feet of meeting space, a 17,000-square-foot terrace overlooking Fifth Street, multiple ballrooms, and ground floor retail space.
“Marriott Hotels is an iconic brand that brings global recognition, best-in-class service, and a strong customer loyalty network,” said Kaunteya Chitnis, Managing Director of Hospitality for Portman Holdings. “Marriott’s involvement will help deliver a world-class hospitality experience in the heart of Cincinnati’s Convention District.”
The hotel is being funded through a public-private partnership with financial support from the city of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, and the state of Ohio.
Construction on the project is set to begin later this year, with an opening planned for 2028.
“Not only are we proud to expand hospitality offerings for guests and visitors of this iconic city, but we are immensely proud to be part of the revitalization of this district and Cincinnati’s continued growth,” said Lisa Sexton, Marriott International Sr. Vice President, Full-Service Brands, U.S. East Region & Canada.
The hotel is one element of the $828 million transformation of the downtown convention district. Also included are a $264 million renovation of the convention center and $28 million for a convention center garage that’s already under construction.
“We look forward to working alongside Marriott, Portman and our local partners to showcase everything Cincinnati has to offer,” said Julie Calvert, President & CEO of Visit Cincy. “This collaboration will help elevate the city’s profile as a premier destination for large-scale events and create a meaningful economic impact for our community.”
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