Northern Kentucky
MeetNKY.com; @MeetNKY—“Providing a unique two-state destination, with downtown Cincinnati just across the Ohio River, the northern Kentucky cities of Covington, Florence, and Newport offer planners a sense of community, small-town vibes, walkability, good public transit, great hotels and convention center, and delicious restaurants,” says Stefanie Wyckoff, director of convention sales for MeetNKY. “We offer a diverse heritage, rich history, and unique culture. We are also affordable and easy to get to, with more than 50 nonstop destinations from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), which is just 15 minutes from Covington.”
Planners wanting to sample local cuisine will enjoy the much-loved Cincinnati-style chili, served at more than 300 local chili parlors in the region, and Goetta, a German dish of ground meats, pin oats, and spices, cut and fried and served as sandwiches or on its own. The region has more than 80 local breweries and seven distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®. “We are lucky to be the home of many elevated dining experiences in our region, like Boca, Sotto, and Bouquet, as well as many James Beard Award-nominated chefs, plus some of the most interesting hole-in-the-wall diners serving a memorable food experience,” she says.
Family-friendly attractions include Cincinnati Reds baseball, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Ark Encounter, Newport Aquarium, BB Riverboats, and National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington sits in a rapidly expanding business and entertainment district adjacent to the 19th-century John A. Roebling suspension bridge, connecting the area to downtown Cincinnati. The center features a 17,500-square-foot ballroom, additional 12,760 square feet of meeting rooms, a 400-seat amphitheater, a 46,200-square-foot event center with a capacity of 3,900 guests, and additional public and pre-function space. The convention center connects to the 321-room Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter, offering 13,000 square feet of event space, with additional overflow hotels nearby. MeetNKY offers a convention package with up to 800 committable guest rooms.
A few blocks from the RiverCenter, the top-rated Hotel Covington has 114 guest rooms, plus 53 apartment-style accommodations in the recently opened NORTH by Hotel Covington. The property includes a 200-person capacity ballroom, a courtyard, and The Lightwell, with dining and event space to accommodate a 500-person reception.
Other event facilities include The Loft at Braxton Brewing Co., with space to host 120 reception guests; Madison Event Center, with six spaces to accommodate 400 guests; BB Riverboats, with decks and event rooms, or the whole boat available for private charters; and MegaCorp Pavilion, an indoor/outdoor concert venue with a capacity of 1,700 guests inside or up to 7,000 for an outdoor event. The 50,000-square-foot Newport Aquarium has a variety of spaces for parties, meetings, and special events, including the 6,000-square-foot Riverside Room, which seats 300. The entire aquarium is available for after-hours events.
