US-based developer Portman has closed $540m in funds to develop the Cincinnati Downtown Marriott, a 700-room, full-service hotel planned as a key element of the city’s Convention District overhaul.
The project is being delivered as a public-private partnership with Cincinnati Center City Development Corp (3CDC), the City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, the State of Ohio, The Port of Greater Cincinnati and Visit Cincy.
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Aimbridge Hospitality is serving as manager and equity partner.
Ground-breaking for the hotel is scheduled on 21 July 2026.
Expected to be completed by the end of 2028, the project will provide 60,000ft² of meeting space, a 17,000ft² events terrace, multiple ballrooms and a ground-floor retail unit. It will be linked by skybridge to the renovated First Financial Center.
Cooper Carry will lead the design and construction works while Moody Nolan will serve as the local architect.
Swedish firm Skanska has been selected as the construction manager.
Portman chairman and CEO Ambrish Baisiwala said: “This milestone is the result of the vision and collaborative effort from the City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, the Port of Greater Cincinnati, and the State of Ohio to advance the transformation of the Convention Center District.
“We are also pleased to continue our longstanding relationship with Marriott on a project that represents one of the largest and most significant hotel developments in the region and will help support downtown Cincinnati’s continued growth.”
The development sits within Cincinnati’s $828m Convention District Revitalization Plan, which includes $264m in upgrades to the First Financial Center and improvements to nearby public spaces and Elm Street Plaza.
