Destination Guides

Guide to Meeting & Event Planning in
Northern Kentucky

Learn why you should host your next meeting, event or conference in Northern Kentucky.

February 12, 2025

Why Northern Kentucky for Your Next Meeting or Event?

From its warm hospitality to its convenient location and array of group-friendly attractions and venues, Northern Kentucky offers countless ways for meeting planners to drive engagement and build excitement.

The region’s prime location is a significant advantage for meeting planners. The destination, in fact, is within a day’s drive or a two-hour flight for 60 percent of the U.S. population, making it easily accessible. And the destination is especially well connected to points around the country and abroad, thanks to the extensive air service at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

Northern Kentucky — which, along with nearby Cincinnati, makes up the Cincy Region — is anchored by three cities: Covington and Newport, both of which sit on the Ohio River, and Florence, which is located a few miles south. All three cities are home to a variety of meeting venues, major-brand hotels and exciting attractions that are well versed at welcoming groups.

Only in Northern Kentucky

Northern Kentucky offers a unique, multi-city destination on the banks of the Ohio River. Groups can bask in the small-town warmth and hospitality of Northern Kentucky while also making use of the big-city amenities and attractions of Cincinnati, which is just a bridge-walk across the Ohio River.

Transportation In & Around Northern Kentucky

Northern Kentucky is served by Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, about 12 miles from downtown Covington and roughly 13 miles from downtown Cincinnati. Ground transportation from the airport to downtown Covington costs approximately $30 by Uber or taxi; Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky bus service, $2.

Travel Essentials

Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time

Taxes: Room tax, 12.36%; sales tax, 6%; total tax on hotel rooms, 12.36%

Convention Center: Northern Kentucky Convention Center; exhibit space: 46,200 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 10; ballroom, 17,000 square feet (divisible into four rooms); high-tech amphitheater, 400 seats

Contact: Northern Kentucky CVB

New and Coming Soon to Northern Kentucky

Northern Kentucky showcased its ability to handle groups of various sizes in 2024, with events including the World of Bluegrass Festival and the International Bourbon Festival. In 2025, the destination will reveal a new, group-friendly venues at attractions like T he Banks, an 18-acre, mixed-use development that includes restaurants and entertainment options. Hotels, office space and additional retail are in the works for this site.
Among the newest hotels in the works in region is the Drury Plaza Hotel Cincinnati Florence, which is slated to open in early 2025. The 187-room property will have a restaurant, business center, indoor pool and a 1,297-square-foot meeting room.
Northern Kentucky CVB News
The Northern Kentucky CVB offers the Covington Convention Package, which provides up to 800 committable rooms and use of the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. Planners receive personalized support to customize the package to fit group needs and budget.

The 2024 Cincy Region Official Visitors Guide offers recommendations about the local music, food, sports and artistic scenes; it also includes suggestions for a variety of attractions and activities that groups can enjoy.
Also scheduled to open in 2025 is the 133-room Homewood Suites by Hilton Newport Cincinnati, which will have a business center and fitness center.
Opening in 2026 is the 264-room Margaritaville Hotel Newport, which will have four food and beverage outlets, a rooftop bar and more than 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space. The property is being constructed at Newport on the Levee, on the south bank of the Ohio River.
The 123-room Hilton Garden Inn Florence Cincinnati Airport South, recently opened in Florence. The property features a business center, restaurant, outdoor swimming pool and 1,500 square feet of meeting space.
Among the newest group-friendly attractions in Northern Kentucky is Par3, a 16,927-square-foot miniature golf complex that is to open in August 2024. Located at Newport on the Levee, the facility features three nine-hole golf courses, each with a different theme. Par3 also has indoor and outdoor dining areas, a bar and a VIP section for private groups; meeting planners can also arrange teambuilding programs.
West Sixth Covington Haus, a brewery and restaurant, will debut this fall in a historic building in Covington, replacing the company’s former location at Bridge View Box Park in Newport. The new venue is the latest development by West Sixth Brewing, a Lexington-based brewery that specializes in craft beers.
Another new group venue is Covington's Opal Rooftop Restaurant & Bar. The restaurant serves local fare while the open-air bar offers impressive views of downtown Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
New Riff Distilling, one of the region’s bourbon distilleries, has completed a renovation of its facilities, including a tasting room where groups can sample cocktails, flights, and pours of a variety of spirits. New Riff is known for its Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey.

More Meeting & Event Venues in Northern Kentucky

Among the area's meetings properties are the Hotel Covington and North by Hotel Covington which are set in two adjacent historic buildings in the city of Covington. The 114-room Hotel Covington is known for its boutique vibe, while North by Hotel Covington has 53 apartment-style, one- and two-bedroom lofts and suites. The connected hotels share meeting space including a 2,890-square-foot ballroom, a 40-person meeting and dining room, a 500-person event room and a courtyard that includes a 220-person lawn and 250-person patio. Onsite F&B outlets include Coppin’s Restaurant + Bar, which features seasonal menus, and Knowledge Bar & Social Room, a bar with an extensive cocktail menu.
November through February is value season for meetings in Northern Kentucky. In addition to lower costs, these months offer smaller crowds and more personalized service at the region’s events venues. Groups can enjoy unique seasonal venue set-ups, with options including holiday-themed events at a variety of locations and heated tents at Bridgeview Box Park, an open-air shipping container park that opened in 2020 at the redeveloped Levee.
The 321-room Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter, located in Covington, is connected to the Northern Kentucky Convention Center and has 14,451 square feet of meeting space as well as a fitness center, indoor pool and restaurant.
Also near the convention center is the 227-room Embassy Suites by Hilton Cincinnati RiverCenter, which has an outdoor pool, fitness center and 8,076 square feet of meeting space.
Group-friendly hotels in Newport include the 144-room Aloft Newport on the Levee, located in the Newport on the Levee entertainment district; it features a restaurant and bar, an indoor swimming pool, fitness center and more than 2,200 square feet of meeting and event space.
Near the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is the 302-room Marriott Cincinnati Airport. The property offers 10,600 square feet of meeting and event space, an indoor pool, fitness center and restaurant.
A myriad of group-friendly venues can be found in the area near the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. Located across the street is Honey Uninhibited, which is owned by former Cincinnati Bengals player Carlos Dunlap and specializes in Southern cuisine including fish and grits, oxtail omelets, and red velvet pancakes. Groups of eight or more are accommodated.
In Covington’s Roebling Point District, which is also close to the convention center, attendees can satisfy their palates at a variety of venues. Among the options is Smoke Justis, which is in the historic Citizens Telephone Building. The menu features smoked meats, bourbon and craft beer, and the restaurant has private dining and entertainment areas that accommodate up to 90 guests.
Two new restaurants are coming to Roebling Point: By Golly’s Bar and Grill and The Works. By Golly’s will open on Greenup Street and The Works, which specializes in pizza, will be located in the Hayden apartment building.
Also located in the Roebling Point District is Molly Malone’s, a three-story Irish pub and sports bar that serves lunch and dinner throughout the week, as well as brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Two floors of the facility are available for private rentals, with a capacity of up to 100 guests on the second floor and 125 guests on the third floor.
The MegaCorp Pavilion at OVATION can host events for up to 5,000. Located on the Ohio River in Newport, Kentucky, the multi-level venue has an indoor music hall, indoor club, outdoor amphitheater and an open-air cocktail bar that faces downtown Cincinnati. The pavilion offers house stage, lighting, sound & video facilities.
The Truist Arena, located on the Northern Kentucky University campus in Highland Heights, is a 9,000-seat arena that features 12 luxury suites, two party suites, three conference rooms and two press and media rooms. Capacities range from 250 for a banquet in a conference room to 9,000 for full use of the arena seating.
The Madison Event Center in Covington features six event spaces; the largest — The Grande — can host up to 374 guests.
The Event Center at Boone County Distilling near Florence includes three spaces for private group events. The WhiteHall Ballroom accommodates 150 seated guests and the Barrel Room can host up to 20 people; outdoor events can be held on the venue's Veranda.
Turfway Park Racing and Gaming in Florence offers gaming,live thoroughbred and simulcast racing, two restaurants and live entertainment. Turfway also has a 17,000-square-foot meeting room.

The region offers an abundance of unique cultural attractions. Among them are the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, which has seven private event spaces, and the Vent Haven Museum, which is billed as the world’s only ventriloquism museum.
Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati host a number of festivals. One of the best-known events is BLINK, Illuminated by ArtsWave, a biennial festival that brings light, art and projection-mapping to the streets and buildings of Cincinnati; in 2024, the event takes place Oct. 17-20. Hundreds of artists from around the world are involved in this immersive art experience, which includes more than 80 projects. Among the highlights is projection mapping at the historic Cincinnati Music Hall.
Wellness is a hot topic for meetings and events, and in Northern Kentucky, planners will find a number of ways to incorporate healthy activities into their programs. Among standalone facilities that feature wellness offerings are 501 Salon & Spa , Greenline Salon and Zoe Grace Salon & Med Spa. The Northern Kentucky CVB can connect planner with other suppliers that offer group yoga sessions, guided nature walks, mindfulness workshops and other health-conscious options.
One of the top entertainment destinations in Northern Kentucky is Newport on the Levee, a waterfront development on the Ohio River that offers an abundance of year-round diversions. Shopping and dining are big draws here, and groups can also test their skills at Velocity eSportsand Immersive Gamebox or view the marine life and walk across the one-of-a-kind Shark Bridge at the Newport Aquarium. The aquarium offers event space for 200 guests; buyouts of the venue, which can accommodate 800 people, are also available.
The B-Line, Northern Kentucky’s 25-stop, passport-guided bourbon tour and an Official Gateway to the renowned Kentucky Bourbon Trail, consists of seven craft distilleries, nine bourbon bars and nine bourbon-centric restaurants. People can get their B-Line passport stamped at two distilleries, two bars and two restaurants and earn free B-Line swag.
In Covington, Mainstrasse Village is a lovely neighborhood just a few blocks from the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. This designated national historic district exudes the vibes of its German-American roots, and visitors can admire street art, duck into small shops for unique finds and sample food and drinks at a variety of one-of-a-kind restaurants and bars.
In the town of Williamstown, about 39 miles from Covington, is the Ark Encounter, a Christian theme park centered around a massive structure that represents Noah’s Ark, built based on dimensions found in the Bible. The attraction offers discounted admission rates for groups of 15 or more.
BB Riverboats offers scenic cruises on the Ohio River. The company offers private sightseeing excursions for groups of 50 or more guests. Private dining events are available for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. The company’s fleet includes the Belle of Cincinnati, an 800-passenger vessel offering three decks with various event spaces, and the River Queen, which has two decks. Planners can also make use of River’s Edge, the company’s new event center, which hosts up to 225 attendees and offers city and river views at the Newport Landing dock facility.
Groups can take in a Florence Y'alls game at Thomas More Stadium. The Y'alls, which belong to the West Division of the independent Frontier League, play a full summer season. Planners can work directly with the team’s staff to pick the best seating, arrange for promotions and ticketing, and select food & beverage for group events.

Guide to Meeting & Event Planning inNorthern Kentucky