4 minutes ago, ColDayMan said:

So can we assume this new hotel is going to be a Hilton property due to the Netherland thing?

No the new convention hotel will not be a Hilton brand. I can promise you that.

2 hours ago, Dev said:

Presentation slide deck now available on city council's website.

Hotel Program

• International, full-service hotel brand

• 700 keys including 36 suites

• 62,250+ SF of interior meeting space

• 17.445 SF outdoor event terrace including lawn and deck

• Full-service 3 meal restaurant

• Hotel bar with outdoor terrace overlooking 5th street

• Skybridge connecting to convention center

Anticipated Timeline

• January 2025: Construction initiated

• Summer 2025: Public approval of development, room block agreements

• November 2025: Close on financing, begin fall construction

• June 2028: Construction complete

Later:

"Portman Holdings is under contract to purchase a prominent, well-position downtown hotel and is on schedule to close in June 2025."

This has to be Netherland Plaza, right?

Well it wasn't downsized as much as I was thinking it would. So that’s good at least.

39 minutes ago, Ucgrad2015 said:

Well it wasn't downsized as much as I was thinking it would. So that’s good at least.

700 rooms is still decent but a more than 10 percent reduction from the prior proposal. I got a look and it still looks very nice. I’m mostly disappointed that it’s a 2028 opening was really hoping for 2027.

36 minutes ago, 646empire said:

still looks very nice

Height reduction?

6 minutes ago, richNcincy said:

Height reduction?

I didn’t notice any, the structure looked generally the same, but I didn’t count the floors. Although the structure looked the same the exterior did look different but that makes sense as these are finals reflecting material choices.

1 hour ago, 646empire said:

700 rooms is still decent but a more than 10 percent reduction from the prior proposal. I got a look and it still looks very nice. I’m mostly disappointed that it’s a 2028 opening was really hoping for 2027.

Wasn't there some confusion a few months back about 700 rooms and 800 beds?

1 hour ago, RJohnson said:

Wasn't there some confusion a few months back about 700 rooms and 800 beds?

Kind of, if I recall correctly Alicia Reese County Commission got upset when she “heard” the hotel was going to be 600ish rooms and said 3CDC/Portman promised more. 3CDC came out and said they are committed to 800 or so. I haven’t heard any thing yet about this current room reduction. With this new info getting out it feels like an official announcement with flag is in the works soon.

Edited Monday at 11:18 PM1 day by 646empire

1 hour ago, RJohnson said:

Wasn't there some confusion a few months back about 700 rooms and 800 beds?

What’s going to be annoying is the building pushing or eclipsing 500 Million Dollars but with less rooms than originally planned.

2 hours ago, 646empire said:

What’s going to be annoying is the building pushing or eclipsing 500 Million Dollars but with less rooms than originally planned.

i went to Wendy's today lunch cost 11.99. the dollar is worthless. Too bad we don't get automatic matching increases.

If this means Cincinnati gets a 700-room headquarters hotel and a stabilized Netherland/Hilton to supplement, that seems like a good outcome to me.

8 hours ago, ink said:

If this means Cincinnati gets a 700-room headquarters hotel and a stabilized Netherland/Hilton to supplement, that seems like a good outcome to me.

I agree.

Would the stabilized Netherland/Hilton mean that complex would get a major facelift? Is it in need of one? I am a bit naive about this.

11 minutes ago, IAGuy39 said:

I agree.

Would the stabilized Netherland/Hilton mean that complex would get a major facelift? Is it in need of one? I am a bit naive about this.

The common spaces are of course stunning but the guest rooms are a dusty dated mess for the most part. They did some renovations years back but not at all what it really needed. I’m told a big renovation is in the future. What’s interesting is a very high end flag was considered at some point but not sure what Portman is cooking up.

The Netherland deserves to be second to none. What a great building.

On 6/16/2025 at 7:15 PM, 646empire said:

With this new info getting out it feels like an official announcement with flag is in the works soon.

530 Million Dollars and 700 Rooms.

New HQ convention hotel images released with financing plan, updated opening date

Cincinnati’s new headquarters hotel will be ready later than expected, but the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. and the hotel developer, Portman Holdings, have a stopgap plan: Buy an existing downtown hotel.

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/06/18/convention-center-hotel-financing-plan-opening.html

Edited 8 hours ago8 hr by 646empire

New HQ convention hotel images released with financing plan, updated opening date

By Chris Wetterich – Staff reporter and columnist, Cincinnati Business Courier

Cincinnati’s new headquarters hotel will not be ready until the second quarter of 2028, more than two years after the reimagined convention center, but the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. and the hotel developer, Portman Holdings, have a stopgap plan: Buy an existing downtown hotel.

The name and flag of the new hotel has not yet been disclosed but Portman expects to close sometime this month, according to a briefing 3CDC gave Cincinnati City Council on June 18. The convention center itself is expected to open in January 2026. Previous estimates for the hotel's completion year centered on 2027.

Also as a result of the purchase of the existing hotel, the new hotel at the southeast corner of West Fifth and Plum will have 100 fewer rooms, 700 instead of 800.

Cont.

……Looks very much like all the other new Omni Hotel properties…… But I could be wrong haha…

Edited 7 hours ago7 hr by 646empire

Ummm...meh.

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/06/18/convention-center-hotel-financing-plan-opening.html

Mediocrity holds sway!

5 minutes ago, ColDayMan said:

Ummm...meh.

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/06/18/convention-center-hotel-financing-plan-opening.html

Very much looking forward to the development at 5th and Elm to block the east facing base of the building, they obviously left if blank because of that. Overall the exterior is pretty basic but looks good. At 530 Million Dollars I just want it DONE. The interiors look fantastic from what I’ve seen and I’m just happy it’s not another Hilton property.

Downsized and delayed again. So mediocre which is so on brand for Cincy. Whatever, just get it actually built.

19 minutes ago, Cincy513 said:

Downsized and delayed again. So mediocre which is so on brand for Cincy. Whatever, just get it actually built.

Breath lol. My guess is the hotel is an Omni again I may be wrong. But IF true it’s going to be far from mediocre. Omni hotels are well run and much nicer than basic Hiltons for example. Trust me I’m very familiar and have worked in the business. Omni doesn’t really do bold exteriors (the new property in Fort Lauderdale is an exception) Cincinnati’s exterior is veryyyy much in line with the rest such as OKC, Louisville etc. BUT again they are great properties and the interiors are warm and top notch. Below are Nashville, OKC, Frisco and a couple interiors too.

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by 646empire

I like the 5th street side a lot. Combined with The Convention Center new design with the new park/ plaza the area is going to look and feel great.

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by 646empire

From the renderings I wonder how the development will appear from the east side. With the existing Whex garage (not sure how the rehab will or will not integrate into the hotel design) or improve appearance, and the former vacant convention place mall space on the corner of Elm looks like there will be generally a solid wall as the base facing the east, except for frontage along 5th street. It would have been much better if the hotel occupied the corner on Elm opposite the Hyatt, but I understand it is what it is. Just curious about the views looking southwest from "Elm Street Plaza" and the sense of connectivity along 5th to the east.

Surprised the Whex garage and the 6th/Elm garages are staying intact (as far as I can tell)

also has anyone told Hustler and Tire Discounters they are being bulldozed?

6 minutes ago, GHOST TRACKS said:

It would have been much better if the hotel occupied the corner on Elm opposite the Hyatt

Then the hotel would have a parking/valet problem. They would have had to demolish the Whex Garage and build a new one the west side of the building adding 10s of millions to the cost.

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by 646empire

1 minute ago, dotunderscore said:

also has anyone told Hustler and Tire Discounters they are being bulldozed?

They aren’t on this block. They are to the west along 4th Street

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by 646empire

9 minutes ago, dotunderscore said:

Surprised the Whex garage and the 6th/Elm garages are staying intact (as far as I can tell)

Design work is underway, The Whex is getting renovated and used by the Hotel/Valet etc.

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by 646empire

On 6/17/2025 at 9:09 AM, 646empire said:

I’m told a big renovation is in the future.

Turns out to be a blockbuster deal for Cincy to get the new hotel built and a stable big time new owner to renovate the 500 Plus Room Netherland Plaza. That’s super!

”Portman plans to renovate the unnamed hotel it is purchasing, Scott said, showing the company's commitment to Cincinnati. The new headquarters hotel plus the existing one will deliver an "enhanced and renovated and reinvigorated supply" of hotel rooms downtown”

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/06/18/convention-center-hotel-financing-plan-opening.html?utm_source=sy&utm_medium=ptr&utm_campaign=local12

1 hour ago, dotunderscore said:

also has anyone told Hustler and Tire Discounters they are being bulldozed?

I was just thinking "where are they putting all this additional park down Elm??"

2 hours ago, dotunderscore said:

also has anyone told Hustler and Tire Discounters they are being bulldozed?

Yeah - that is a sloppy rendering. Also, I really hope that corner of Elm/5th (where the old mall was) doesn't sit vacant for long. Has anything been rumored or announced for that site? It's obviously an important corner for the whole area, with the main entrance to the Convention Center right across the street. Really hope something significant gets built here (at least as tall as the Whex garage).

2 hours ago, 646empire said:

They aren’t on this block. They are to the west

I think you're mistaken. The aerial rendering is taken from roughly above the intersection of Elm and 4th, looking north. Here is Google Street View from Elm and 4th, looking north showing the Tire Discounters building and the Hustler: https://maps.app.goo.gl/e6eFdYkp79mUs6P97

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by jwulsin

52 minutes ago, jwulsin said:

I think you're mistaken. The aerial rendering is taken from roughly above the intersection of Elm and 4th, looking north.

Ohhhh I see, I was picturing 4th and Race in my head not Elm.

One final update for today:

“3CDC requested a 3% city loan that would come from proceeds a $40 million bond issue and $10 million in savings from the renovation of Duke Energy Convention Center. City council unanimously approved the plan by authorizing the bond issue on June 18”

https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/i-team/developer-seeks-50m-city-loan-for-convention-headquarters-hotel