Several predominantly Black summer events in Cincinnati generated more than $150 million in visitor spending, based on new figures released by Visit Cincy.
A new economic impact analysis from Visit Cincy found that the 85th Grand Conclave of the historically Black Omega Psi Phi Fraternity,Inc. generated $43.25 million in total business sales during its visit to Cincinnati this summer.
That was second only to the 2026 Cincinnati Music Festivalofficially presented by Procter & Gamble, which drew more than 50,000 mostly Black attendees and generated an estimated $107.4 million in annual economic impact for the city and surrounding region, according to Visit Cincy.
The annual music festival has historically been the biggest weekend of the summer in
Cincinnati.
Black visitors drive millions in Cincinnati summer spending
The Omega Psi Phi convention was among the first major citywide gatherings held after the reopening of the reimagined First Financial Center, a centerpiece of the region’s effort to attract larger national meetings and conventions.
“Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.’s Grand Conclave is a powerful example of how investments in our visitor economy can create benefits that are felt throughout the community,” Mayor Aftab Pureval said in statement.
The Omega Psi Phi conclave was part of a broader calendar of conventions that brought visitors to the region throughout the summer.
TheInternational Association of Black Professional Fire Fightersgenerated approximately $733,000 in economic impact, while the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers generated about $1.3 million, according to Visit Cincy.
Black spending is big business for Cincinnati
Spending for the Omega Psi Phi convention was spread across Cincinnati’s hospitality economy, with lodging businesses receiving more than $11.1 million; restaurants and food-and-beverage establishments taking in roughly $5.2 million; transportation companies generating more than $3 million; and business services firms receiving about $2.3 million.
The event also produced an estimated 50,025 hotel room nights and more than 75,000 visitor days, highlighting the broad reach of convention-related spending beyond downtown meeting halls.
“This is exactly why communities invest in tourism infrastructure,” said Julie Kirkpatrick, Interim President & CEO of Visit Cincy.“A convention isn’t simply people meeting inside a building. Those visitors stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants, use local transportation, shop in our neighborhoods, and support people whose livelihoods are connected to the visitor economy.''
Push to attract larger conventions beginning to pay off
The results arrive as Cincinnati moves forward with more than $800 million in convention district investments, including upgrades to the First Financial Center, the Elm Street Convention Plaza and plans for a 700-room Cincinnati Downtown Marriott headquarters hotel.
The projects are intended to help the city compete for larger conventions and events that bring visitors and spending into the region.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Predominantly Black summer conventions drew $150M to Cincinnati
