“Wait, they got HOW much money?”
That was the reaction of basically every Cincinnatian reading the headlines last week when national development group Portman announced it had secured $540 million in financing to develop a Marriott hotel in downtown Cincinnati.
The new, full-service hotel will anchor the city’s reimagined Convention District, bringing 700 rooms, 60,000 square feet of meeting space, a 17,000-square-foot events terrace and upscale amenities to serve the needs of group, business and leisure travelers. The hotel will be connected to the new First Financial convention center downtown via skybridge, and will also feature various retail shops and several ballrooms.
“The upcoming Cincinnati Downtown Marriott Hotel groundbreaking represents a major milestone in the continued transformation of downtown Cincinnati,” said Katie Westbrook, Executive Vice President of Development at Cincinnati Center City Development Corp (3CDC). “This project will not only strengthen the city’s ability to attract large-scale events, but also enhance the overall visitor experience, supporting local businesses and driving long-term economic growth in the urban core. We’re looking forward to seeing the energy and momentum it will bring to the Convention District and the city as a whole.”…