Two States, One Destination

Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati give meeting planners two destinations united in one regional ethos, “where Cincinnati’s midwestern, urban vibrancy meets NKY’s southern charm and funky flavors.” The result of these colliding cultures? Wildly different, yet easily accessible experiences for your next meeting getaway.

“Meet the best of both worlds with a unique two-state destination just across the river from Cincinnati, one that has a sense of community, small-town vibes, walkability, good public transit, great hotels and convention center, and delicious restaurants,” said Carla Quercioli, meetNKY Services team Director of Destination Engagement.

Shake hands with a craft bourbon distiller at a distillery found on The B-Line®, Northern Kentucky's Bourbon experience and an Official Gateway to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®. Find quirky treasures at a unique magic boutique, Hierophany & Hedge. Bet on an afternoon of fun at Turfway Park Racing and Gaming. The world’s largest wooden structure? It’s here in NKY and ready for exploration at Ark Encounter. As is the world’s first suspended rope bridge, hovering above a shark tank at Newport Aquarium. (Cross if you dare!)

Meeting planners seeking authenticity and “only-here” experiences in a meeting site will find them in this destination, along with a more diverse heritage, rich history, and culture—not to mention 50-plus nonstop destinations from CVG (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport), offering nearly 200 peak-day departures. And let’s not forget about affordability. Meeting planners spend less to experience more in NKY.

One such experience is the Mainstrasse Village Food Tour, which highlights Covington’s rich German heritage.

“Many guests are unaware that Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine wasn’t the only significant German settlement in the region,” said Laura Noyes, owner of Riverside Food Tours. “Meanwhile, the Roebling Bridge Food Tour includes a walk across the iconic Roebling Bridge, delving into its fascinating history, followed by a stroll through Covington’s Licking Riverside Historic District—home to beautiful 19th-century mansions and stunning views of the riverfront.”

Another affordable experience delving into area culture is American Legacy Tours’ Newport Gangster Tour, which highlights differences between Cincinnati and Newport, such as the rich brewery history of Cincinnati as opposed to the thriving casino scene in Newport.

“It comes as a surprise to people that Newport was Vegas before Vegas,” said Craig Maness of American Legacy Tours. “It's like stumbling onto a huge secret that makes perfect sense for our region at the time. The lawlessness of Newport is also highly entertaining and sometimes provocative—as most things are when gangsters are involved!”

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center offers an experience you can’t find anywhere else. The architecturally stunning building sits on the banks of the Ohio River, which both divides and connects Ohio and Kentucky, as it has done for centuries.

“Nowhere else in the country is a museum so authentically connected to its location (not just the city, but the exact location in that city) and the stories it tells,” said Vice President of Marketing and Communications Cody Hefner. “After generations, the Freedom Center tells these stories to bridge the past and the present, much like the Roebling Bridge bridges the Ohio River, pulling the threads of these two locations even tighter.”

Also unique to the region is the culinary scene, a mash-up of cultures that gives visitors delicious ways to eat like a local, especially when pairing foods with a beer from one of 80-plus local breweries in the region or Kentucky bourbon from one of NKY’s nine distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®.

“Our world-famous Cincinnati chili originated with Greek and Macedonian immigrants to the region,” noted Quercioli. “Their original stew became the much-beloved Cincinnati chili that we serve over spaghetti with mounds of fluffy, shredded cheese. Our chili has amazing notes of cinnamon, cloves, and cumin.”

Goetta is another food that pays homage to the region’s German immigrant roots. A mélange of ground meats, pin oats, and spices cut and fried into a delicious culinary experience, goetta is typically served as a breakfast sausage, on sandwiches, or enjoyed by itself.

“We love our goetta so much in this region that we have an entire festival dedicated to variations of it in late July and early August,” Quercioli said.

Food and the sharing of a meal is a big tradition in NKY. From the epic Taste of Cincinnati in late May to the United States’ largest Oktoberfest in mid-September, food is the main ingredient of these events.

“We are lucky to be the home of many elevated dining experiences in our region, like Boca, Sotto, and Bouquet, as well as home to many James Beard Award-nominated chefs and some of the most unique hole-in-the-wall diners serving a memorable food experience,” said Quercioli.

The South literally begins at NKY’s front door, where the small-town warmth and hospitality of Northern Kentucky go together with the big-city amenities and attractions of Cincinnati, Ohio, just a bridge walk away across the Ohio River—a combination that delivers a regionally distinctive experience as a meeting site.

Plan your next meeting where two states, endless flavor, and unforgettable experiences come together—right here in NKY and Cincinnati.