Fiscal Impact of Large and Medium Conventions

The Cincinnati Convention Center is an important component in the local economy.  By hosting conventions and trade shows in Cincinnati, it generates economic activity that occurs as a result of spending by organizations and exhibitors.  These conventions also attract thousands of delegates/visitors from outside the region who also have an economic impact on the community through their spending.

The Economics Center analyzed a sample of conventions occurring in 2006.  The Greater Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau (GCCVB) provided information about 10 medium and 12 large conventions.

Economic Impact of the Cincinnati Conventions

• With a typical medium convention attracting nearly 1,000 attendees from outside the region and a typical large convention attracting nearly 2,700 visitors from outside, new money is brought into the region.
• On average, each medium convention has an estimated total economic impact of $1.9 million and every large convention has an estimated total economic impact of $6.8 million in Hamilton County.
• Every medium convention supports the equivalent of 23 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs while every large convention supports nearly 81 jobs.
• An average medium convention generates $58,000 in local tax revenues (City and County combined) and an average large convention generates $177,000 in local tax revenues.
• By bringing four additional conventions to Cincinnati (two in each category), the GCCVB would produce an incremental new fiscal impact of over $470,000 in local tax revenue, as a result of $17.4 million in new economic activity in Hamilton County.

The GCCVB also makes a significant economic contribution to the downtown Cincinnati area. Because it is situated in the downtown area, most of the visitors stay in the downtown area. Most spending by both visitors and local delegates is also concentrated in this area.