October | Northern Kentucky | D. Fran Morley
Northern Kentucky
Meeting Groups’ Expectations—It’s Guaranteed
Northern Kentucky continues to meet and exceed the expectations of planners and attendees, said Barbara Dozier, vice president of sales and marketing for the
Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). “We implemented the guaranteed meetings program some years ago, and to this day, we’ve not had to pay out any money. We believe this is tied to our good product, our prime location and our solid level of service.”
The service provided by a destination is important to Geaunita Caylor, program coordinator at the College of Engineering at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. “I can’t say enough good about the people at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center and the CVB. We started planning our 2007 World of Coal Ash Conference in 2005; we had many planning meetings with them, and they stayed right on top of all of our needs.”
The conference drew more than 500 attendees from around the United States and abroad. “We used 1,000 guest rooms between the Marriott (Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter) and the Embassy Suites (
Embassy Suites Hotel RiverCenter), both at RiverCenter, and at the Holiday Inn Cincinnati - Riverfront. One night we rented out a riverboat from B&B Riverboats, and that was great fun.”
Caylor said the region exceeded her expectations. “Northern Kentucky has a small-town atmosphere, but with downtown Cincinnati right across the river, you’ve got plenty of big-city amenities.”
One big-city amenity has plentiful and even expanding meeting space. “We have plans that are under advisement for a $51 million expansion of our convention center,” Dozier said, explaining that details of the possible expansion are currently being formulated. Currently, the Northern Kentucky Convention Center offers a 46,200-square-foot exhibit hall among its 110,000 square feet of meeting space. The facility is located in Covington on the banks of the Ohio River and is part of the RiverCenter, which also includes several hotels and a parking garage.
Dozier also said that work is continuing on the $64 million, 10,000-seat Bank of Kentucky Arena at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights. “We’re excited about what that means for the sports market, but we’re also looking at how other organizations might use the space.” The arena is expected to open in fall 2008.
While these projects are under way, other event venues have already opened their doors to new or enhanced meeting areas. The new Currents Ballroom at Newport Aquarium in Newport, part of Newport on the Levee, a shopping, dining and entertainment complex, opened in September and is available for daytime and evening events, said Julie Clayton, director of sales. “With the new 6,000-square-foot Currents Ballroom, we can host seated dinners for up to 240 and receptions for up to 350 in a beautiful room that overlooks the Ohio River and Cincinnati.”
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Animated dinosaurs roam the main hall of The Creation Museum, which opened in Petersburg, Ky., in May with various event spaces.
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The Northern Kentucky University METS Center for Corporate Learning in Erlanger recently added computerized lighting systems that can alter the look and feel of the banquet rooms, said General Manager Mark Wallisa. “We can create a warm and elegant atmosphere for a black-tie fundraiser, set a high-energy environment for an awards banquet, project an organization’s logo throughout the room, and even create animated effects.” The 43,000-square-foot facility can seat 400 for banquets. In addition, there are 18 classrooms and a 150-seat auditorium.
In May, the Creation Museum opened in Petersburg, which is located about 14 miles west of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. According to Ken Ham, the co-founder and president of Answers in Genesis, the ministry that built the museum, visitors can experience a Bible-based “walk through history.” The museum has four picnic pavilions, seating between 72 and 144 people, a classroom that can seat up to 96, theater style, and additional spaces.
Receptions Inc. South, an events venue in Erlanger with 20,000 square feet of function space in multiple rooms, has added new ceiling-mounted LCD projectors, said Jef Schachleiter, owner.
Northern Kentucky hotels are doing their part to keep up with area growth such as the 321-room Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter, which begins a renovation cycle this fall, according to new Director of Sales Julie Dixon. “We’re adding new guest room soft goods and hard goods, including flat-screen TVs,” she said, adding that plans also call for the renovation of public areas and restaurants in 2008. The hotel is connected to the convention center via a covered skywalk and has 9,000 square feet of on-site event space.
Also in Covington, the 226-room Embassy Suites Hotel RiverCenter is under new ownership and expects to begin a full renovation in 2008, said Sarah Rahn, event coordinator. The hotel has 6,200 square feet of event space, including the Roebling Ballroom and Captain’s View, an intimate dinner space for up to 50 people.
This year, Holiday Inn Cincinnati - Riverfront, located in Covington, completed a renovation of all 155 guest rooms and 3,000 square feet of meeting space, said Alexander Blust, general manager. “Our product’s quality now matches our high quality of customer service. After renovating, we have moved up significantly in our customer satisfaction scores.” The hotel has also hired a new executive chef, Chas Baracato, who oversees the hotel’s restaurant and banquet services.
The Radisson Hotel Cincinnati Riverfront is under new ownership with a return to former management. “General Manager Pete Jordan and I were here when the hotel opened in the 1980s, and we’re back now to revamp the hotel and restaurants and return them to the high level for which they were known,” said Diane Spurlock, the director of sales and marketing. “In March, we’ll be starting a major overhaul of all guest rooms.” The 236-room hotel in Covington has 10,500 square feet of event space.
Comfort Suites Riverfront - Newport has 124 guest rooms and can seat up to 100 for meetings. Danielle Alley, guest services agent, said the hotel has created a new business center/media room with a flat-screen TV, computers and couches. Suites will feature new bedding packages this fall.
Key Info · Sales Tax: 6 percent
· Hotel Tax: 5.24 percent
· Accommodations: There are more than 7,000 hotel rooms in the Northern Kentucky area. According to the CVB, the average group room rate is $90.
· Getting Around: The Southbank Shuttle stops at attractions and hotels every 15 min., at a cost of $1.25 per trip. And, groups can walk across the Ohio River to Cincinnati along a pedestrian bridge. |
Renovations are being completed at the 382-room
Drawbridge Inn and Convention Center, according to Carol Cooper, vice president of sales and marketing. “We are redoing all of our public space, meeting rooms and lobbies, and adding upgraded bedding and soft goods to our guest rooms. We expect everything to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2008.” Situated on 17 acres near the airport, the inn has more than 30,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space, including the column-free, 13,500-square-foot London Hall.
Holiday Inn Cincinnati Airport added new bedding and soft goods to all 305 guest rooms last year, said David Smith, general manager, noting that the hotel has consistently been ranked in the top 20 for Holiday Inns nationwide and is a nine-time winner of the chain’s Torch Bearer Award. The hotel’s 16,000 square feet of event space includes a 7,000-square-foot ballroom.
Sheraton Cincinnati Airport Hotel completed a full renovation of all 177 guest rooms, public spaces and the lobby, according to hotel officials. The hotel’s Concord Ballroom can seat up to 450 for banquets.
