CINCINNATI, OH (CelebrityAccess) — Venue development and management giant, ASM Global, has been tapped to operate Duke Energy Convention Center (DECC) by the City of Cincinnati.
Located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati, DECC is currently undergoing a $240 million modernization and is scheduled to re-open its doors on January 1st, 2026.
Planned upgrades include upgrades to meeting spaces and ballrooms with an eye towards enhancing event flexibility, as well as upgrading infrastructure and technologic capabilities. The refurb will include the addition of an expansive rooftop terrace along with an expansion into a neighboring street creating a two-acre park and outdoor convention area that will be available for event activations and breakout sessions.
Following its rehabilitation, the DECC will be part of a new convention district that will include a new convention headquarters hotel to support the travel and hospitality industry. The hotel, being built on the site of an adjacent parking lot, will offer 800 guest rooms, along with 80,000 square feet of event and meeting space, including both junior and senior ballrooms, 15,000 square feet of retail, a pool, and outdoor amenity deck.
The DECC, which first opened its doors in 1967, last went a major refurb in 2006 when it was known as the Albert B. Sabin Convention and Exposition Center.
“We are so thrilled to begin a new chapter for DECC, which will be a truly world-class facility and attract more events than ever before. The role of the newly renovated DECC in welcoming visitors, driving economic activity downtown and showcasing Cincinnati to the world will be nothing short of extraordinary,” stated City Manager Sheryl M.M. Long.
“We are honored that the City of Cincinnati has entrusted ASM Global to unveil and share the new DECC with clients the world over and drive unprecedented growth for the venue. This is a watershed moment in the history of Cincinnati convention business, and we are ready for the moment,” added Dan Hoffend, ASM Global’s executive vice president, convention centers.
