On Site: The Ultimate Planning Guide for Trade Shows in CincinnatiOn Site: The Ultimate Planning Guide for Trade Shows in Cincinnati
Here’s what you need to know about this vibrant Ohio city if you plan, attend, and exhibit at business events.
August 29, 2025
In August, we spent two days in Cincinnati to check out what the city has to offer trade shows. Here’s what you need to know if you plan, attend, and exhibit at business events in this Ohio city.
Context: It was my first time to Cincinnati, which is home to several Fortune 500 companies, including Proctor & Gamble, Kroger, Fifth Third Bank, American Financial Group and Cincinnati Financial. Other notable companies based in Cincinnati include Cintas Corp., Western Southern Financial Group and Gorilla Glue.
Well-preserved 19th-century buildings pepper historic Over-the-Rhine, a onetime working-class German neighborhood now home to craft breweries, hip gastropubs, and trendy bars.
The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
Getting there: The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) is located in Boone County, Ken., about 13 miles south of downtown Cincinnati where Duke Energy Convention Center (DECC) is situated. In 2024, CVG served 9.2 million passengers, which marked a 15-year high in total passenger traffic, according to CVG’s website. Currently CVG offers 55 non-stops with 14 airlines each day from destinations like Los Angeles, Miami, and New York. Unfortunately, there were no direct flights from Kansas City, Mo., where I am based. I flew American Airlines through Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
Where we stayed: The Westin Cincinnati.Located near Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati's central business district, the 456-room hotel is convenient to area shopping, dining, museums, sports stadiums, concert venues, theaters, and other city attractions. Overlooking the historic Fountain Square, the 17-story hotel offers a variety of event spaces, including 14 meeting rooms with 30,000 square feet. In July, Portman Holdings acquired the hotel, which was last renovated 16 years ago.
Overlooking the historic Fountain Square, the 17-story Westin offers 456 rooms.
Where to meet
Duke Energy Convention Center. Set to reopen in January 2026 after a massive renovation, the convention center is the keystone for the reimagined Convention District, an $800 million development that will include the construction of a new 700-room connected Marriott headquarters hotel, which is expected to break ground later this year, and multiple mixed-use development projects on key properties in the surrounding area. The new Elm Street Plaza features two acres of outdoor activation space just outside the renovated convention center, offering a great spot for receptions, parties, live music, and food trucks. We got a sneak peek at Convention District during a hard hat tour.
Sharonville Convention Center. The Sharonville Convention Center recently completed a $24 million expansion project, doubling the space in the expo hall. This suburban convention venue hosts a variety of consumer and trade shows, including HorrorHound, a fan fest that will celebrate its 20th anniversary in September.
The rendering of what the outside of the Duke Energy Convention Center will look like when construction is completed in Janaury 2026.
The ballroom at the Sharonville Convention Center
Where to host off-site events
Mercantile Immersive. Our group had lunch outside at this new venue, Cincinnati's first 360° multi-sensory event space that brings IMAX-quality cinematic experiences to events. Set inside the city’s original Mercantile Building, this historic venue has been reimagined with cutting-edge LED displays, spatial audio, and dynamic lighting. Two adjoining rooms feature floor-to-ceiling LED displays with hundreds of millions of pixels. The venue is set to open in September.
Lytle Park Hotel. Housed in a historic 1909 building, the Lytle Park Hotel juxtaposes classic, historic, and creative in its unique space within Lytle Park, once an enclave for Cincinnati’s elite and home to the Taft Museum of Art. The hotel features a restaurant and a rooftop bar with panoramic views of the park and downtown Cincinnati. Our group enjoyed tasty appetizers, like pork belly on cornbread, and mocktails, like Sapphire House with blueberry syrup, lemon, basil, edible glitter and lyre’s classico, on the rooftop as a summer thunderstorm rolled in.
Alcove by MadTree. Located in Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, Alcove blends MadTree’s commitment to craft beer with a stylish, plant-filled cocktail and dining experience. The restored building has a storied past as one of the city’s original German beer halls. Visitors can enjoy MadTree beers alongside a chef-driven menu highlighting fresh, locally sourced ingredients, with creative cocktails that showcase Ohio spirits. Alcove also offers ample space for private events, with flexible indoor and outdoor areas that can accommodate gatherings of up to 150 guests. I enjoyed the cod sandwich for dinner.
Ghost Baby. More than 150 years ago (before refrigeration), brewing companies used underground lagering tunnels to cool and age the beer they produced. Four stories under Vine Street, Ghost Baby is located in the tunnels formerly used by a Cincinnati brewing company. With a speakeasy vibe, take an elevator or stairs down to the main bar—housed in an effervescently luminous, acoustically brilliant, half-domed underground tunnel. The spotlit, velvet-curtained stage welcomes a lineup of ever-changing and eclectic musicians and performers. Our group enjoyed cocktails and live music here after dinner, which was busy even on a Tuesday evening.
Hilton Netherland Plaza.The Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza is an Art Deco masterpiece in the heart of downtown. This National Historic Landmark blends 1930s French Art Deco design with modern amenities, featuring grand ballrooms like the Hall of Mirrors. Our group enjoyed breakfast at 1931, a setting that transports you back in time with its luxe Brazilian rosewood, soaring painted ceilings, and Rookwood pottery.
American Sign Museum. Step into a time capsule at this one-of-a-kind museum, where vintage neon signs illuminate the evolution of American advertising. From McDonald's and Route 66 to Holiday Inn and Howard Johnson’s, these retro roadside signs are on display in a recreated “Main Street USA.” Visitors can even watch neon-bending demonstrations at an on-site shop preserving this electrifying art form. The museum has two private event spaces, or the entire venue can be bought out. Glowing built-in photo backdrops are included (at no additional cost).
TQL Stadium. TQL Stadium is home to more than 10 indoor and outdoor event spaces with luxury amenities to accommodate guests from 15 to thousands. Led by FC Cincinnati VP of Events Allison Linkhart, the venue team offers full-service event management, catering coordination, and audio-visual support. The newest private event space: The Speakeasy. Perfect for groups of 40 or fewer, The Speakeasy embodies a refined experience perfect for corporate entertaining, social gatherings, and curated dining events.
Reds Hall of Fame & Museum. The entire venue can be bought out for private events that want to revisit the glory days of the Big Red Machine, when the Reds won back-to-back World Series in 1975 and 1976. With 1,040 square feet of space, the newly renovated MOM Conference Center includes two interactive white boards, two large LED TVs, a projector, and a video teleconference system.
Great American BallPark. The MLB stadium offers 16 unique event spaces—from The Handlebar at the Riverfront Club and the Lexus Diamond Club to Reds Clubhouse and the TriHealth Riverboat Deck. The Boone County Bourbon Press Club, the Great American Ball Park’s newest premium venue, is located behind home plate. This exclusive bourbon-themed club offers unparalleled views of the ballpark for up to 70 guests in the 3,100 square-foot space.
Lindner Family Tennis Center. On Aug. 26, 2024, one week after the 2024 final of the Cincinnati Open, work began on $260 million renovation of the 40-acre campus. Construction was completed in July. Beginning in 2026, the newly renovated facility will be open year-round for public use and events outside of tournament weeks. A new 16,000-square-foot shaded Pavilion features modular bays for custom activations, while the Garden Suites and Club, an ultra-premium hospitality space, offers an indoor and outdoor lounge with menus curated by celebrity chef Jet Tila.
TQL Stadium is home to more than 10 indoor and outdoor event spaces with luxury amenities to accommodate guests from 15 to thousands.
Step into a time capsule at the American Sign Museum, where vintage neon signs illuminate the evolution of American advertising.
The Lytle Park Hotel features a restaurant and a rooftop bar with panoramic views of the park and downtown Cincinnati. The space is available for events.
What to do
Attend the Cincinnati Open Tennis Tournament. The Cincinnati Open, formerly known as the Western & Southern Open, is one of the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournaments in the U.S. First played in 1899, it’s the longest-running professional tennis tournament still held in its original city. Now hosted at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, the event is part of both the ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 tours, attracting the world’s top players each summer. Over the years, the tournament has grown into a major stop on the road to the U.S. Open. With more than 125 years of history, the Cincinnati Open is known for its world-class facilities and passionate fan base.
Visit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is located just steps from the banks of the Ohio River — the great natural barrier that separated the slave states of the South from the free states of the North. Open since 2004 and rooted in the stories of the Underground Railroad, the museum illuminates the true meaning of inclusive freedom by presenting permanent and special exhibits, including the rebuilt 1800s “Slave Pen,” a piece of the Berlin Wall.
Attend a soccer game, concert or event at TQL Stadium. Opening in 2021,TQL Stadium is the home of FC Cincinnati, the Major League Soccer team in Cincinnati. The stadium has hosted a number of trade shows on its concourse.
Check out the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame. Learn about the area’s innovative music history, including King Records and its connection to iconic Soul and Funk artists like James Brown and Bootsy Collins.
Walk Across the Roebling Suspension Bridge. The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge opened on Jan. 1, 1867, and its 1,075-foot span made it the longest bridge in the world at the time. Engineer John A. Roebling also designed and built the Brooklyn Bridge nearly 20 years later.
Visit the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum. The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum is the place where the story of Reds baseball comes alive each day. As the largest team museum in Major League Baseball, the Reds Hall of Fame features 16,000 square feet of historical, interactive and educational exhibits, highlighting the rich and storied tradition of the Reds for fans of all ages. Be sure to check out the Baseball Card Archive, featuring more than 5,000 cards.
Watch a Cincinnati Reds baseball game. Located on the banks of the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, Great American Ball Parkserves as the home of the Cincinnati Reds.
The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge opened on Jan. 1, 1867.
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The Cincinnati Open, formerly known as the Western & Southern Open, is one of the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournaments in the U.S.
The Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame is an international state-of-the-art, outdoor interactive tourism attraction.
Where to dine
Mita’s. Located on Fifth & Race in the heart of downtown, Mita’s, named for Chef José Salazar’s Colombian grandmother, dishes up Spanish and Latin American tapas, ceviche, paella, cured meats, cheeses, and Old World wines in a warm, Moorish‑inspired setting. Chef Salazar—a James Beard “Best New Chef” winner in 2011 and multiple‑year nominee for Best Chef: Great Lakes, also lauded by Food & Wine with a 5‑star review—has built a reputation for creative, season‑driven cuisine. His original flagship, Salazar, is relocating to a new space in the Convention District, re‑opening in fall 2025 with an elevated seafood‑focused menu and private dining rooms. My favorites were the short rib empanadas and paella.
Maplewood. This West Coast-style breakfast and lunch cafe offers everything from avocado toast and its nationally famous lemon ricotta pancakes (seen on the TODAY show) to brainstorm coffee and Bloody Mary’s. Located within walking distance of the convention center, the restaurant is ideal for groups of 40 to 125. My favorites were the lemon ricotta pancakes and coffee locally roasted by LaTerza.
Moerlein Lager House. Situated in the Smale Riverfront Park, the restaurant features a working microbrewery producing a full line of Moerlein craft brews and delectable fare reminiscent of foods served in the city’s celebrated 19th-century beer gardens. Private rooms are available, as well as a second floor for groups. For lunch, I enjoyed the Mexican Street Corn Dip and balsamic chopped salad.
Maplewood is known for its nationally famous lemon ricotta pancakes, as seen on the TODAY show.
Located on Fifth & Race in the heart of downtown, Mita’s dishes up Spanish and Latin American tapas, ceviche, paella, cured meats, cheeses, and Old World wines in a warm, Moorish‑inspired setting.
The view from balcony at Moerlein Lager House
