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57 B M & T ••• November/December 2023 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com AREA GUIDES O H I O MEETING IN THE BUCKEYE STATE, WHERE AFFORDABILITY AND TOP LEVEL HOSPITALITY CROSS PATHS B Y C L E T U S R A M E S Y Whether you're in Ohio for a leisure trip with family or you're a delegate in the state for a convention, you'll find endless opportunities to share memorable experi- ences with those who mean the most to you. Each destination with its own charm and unique meeting spaces will surely ful- fill your group's needs. Larger cities like Cleveland or Cincinnati will provide plenty of accommodations for any group size with contemporary venues as well as unique meeting spaces. Cities like Dayton and Columbus will allow planners to get more bang for their clients buck with a more affordable pallet of accommoda- tions in comparison to the states larger more prominent cities. • • CINCINNATI • • From large-scale national conventions to intimate leadership conferences, Cincinnati is the perfect destination for your next meeting. With convention cen- ters and a variety of unique venues to fit your needs, the city is equipped to help you give every attendee the VIP treat- ment–every event, every industry, every time. There are plenty of reasons to meet here. Cincy is within 500 miles of 60% of the US population. The walkable conven- tion district footprints make it easy to get around. The city offers stunning meeting spaces and vibrant experiences. Cincinnati's Duke Energy Convention Center underwent a $135 million renova- tion to become the Midwest's best-in- class center. Cincinnati can accommodate 75 percent of the existing convention, conference, and meetings market in the United States. The venue has a gross square footage of 750,000, including setup and support space and an exhibi- tion space of 200,000 contiguous square feet. The Grand Ballroom is equipped with 40,000 square feet, one of the largest in the Midwest as well as an addi- tional Ballroom boasting 17,400 square feet to comfortably host smaller groups. This site has 30 deluxe breakout rooms with flexibility to accommodate 24 to 4,100. In Cincy, your hotel is only a short stroll away – that's because there are nearly 3,200 hotel rooms in just three blocks right next to the Duke Energy Convention Center. Eleven downtown hotels and thousands more rooms are a few minutes away throughout Cincinnati and on the Kentucky riverfront. The Cincy Region combines a rich his- tory and diverse, multicultural heritage, with Midwestern sensibility and southern charm, making Cincy culture like no other, and it's because of the people that live there. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center www.nurfc.org is a one- of-a-kind museum built on the banks of the Ohio River, working to inspire today's civil rights movement and promote under- standing through exhibits, programs, research, and interactive experiences. • • CLEVELAND • • Cleveland is 'The Land' that's easy to get to and even easier to get around in. Spend less and experience more in a city that's down for living it up with world- class museums, internationally recognized restaurants and thousands of acres of gor- geous green spaces. Big, small or somewhere in between, no matter your event size, this city has got a meeting space with your name on it. In fact, The Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland offers all the exhibit and meetings space you'll ever need, ameni- ties to spare and a host of hotels just a short walk away. Located in the heart of Downtown Cleveland, the facility offers 225,000 sq. ft. of contiguous exhibit space, and more than 140,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space including: 30 • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Hyatt Regency Cincinnati 496 Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza 488 Westin Hotel Cincinnati 450 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Duke Energy Convention Center Total Space 750,000 sq. ft. Largest Hall 200,000 sq. ft. Largest Ballroom 40,000 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 30 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Cincy - 800 543-2613 www.cincyusa.com Duke Energy Center photo credit: Duke Energy CC