Duke Energy Convention Center

If implemented, the new tax rate will go into effect at the start of November. Currently, the tax applies to all facilities with at least five guest rooms, including Airbnbs.

The Duke Energy Convention Center will undergo a $200 million renovation and expansion starting next year. But producers of some of the center's popular consumer shows are raising questions about the project.

A planned $470 million convention hotel has a financing gap of about $178 million that the developer wants Hamilton County and the city of Cincinnati to help fill. But officials say that doesn't mean cutting a check from the county or city general fund.

Cincinnati and Hamilton County officials are kicking in annual funds to help 3CDC purchase the parking garage.

Local officials are closer to building a new convention hotel in Cincinnati, but funding for the project is still a bit uncertain.

Cincinnati will spend $3 million to purchase the now-empty location of the former Saks Fifth Avenue Downtown. The department store permanently closed at the end of last year.

The Hamilton County Convention Facilities Authority on Friday heard about four developers with proposals for a new convention hotel, plus a $200 million idea to renovate the convention center itself.

Plus, four developers have ideas for building a $500-million convention hotel to replace the Millennium.

3CDC this week unveiled initial plans for a convention center district in Cincinnati. The plans include redesigning the Duke Energy Convention Center and building a new 800-room hotel to replace the now-demolished Millennium.

3CDC President Steve Leeper told Hamilton County commissioners he hopes to select a developer by the end of the year with construction starting by the first half of 2023.