Two major convention centers established and expanded agreements with service providers while a Midwest destination previewed its expanded outdoor offerings for meeting and convention groups.
ASM Global Selected to Operate Reimagined Duke Energy Convention Center and Extends Contract to Manage Huntington Place in Detroit
Full Service Venue Management Company ASM Global was awarded the contract by the City of Cincinnati to launch and operate the new Duke Energy Convention Center (DECC), which recently closed for renovations on July 1.
Currently undergoing a $240 million transformation, scheduled to open January 1, 2026, the downtown area now joins ASM Global’s robust and growing convention and conference portfolio of more than 300 venues. Key convention centers operated by the global company include the Pittsburgh Convention Center, the David L. Lawrence Convention Center; Los Angeles Convention Center; Hawaii Convention Center; and the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.
“We are honored that the City of Cincinnati has entrusted ASM Global to unveil and share the new DECC with clients around the world and drive unprecedented growth for the venue,” said Dan Hoffend, executive vice president of convention centers for ASM Global. “This is a defining moment in Cincinnati’s convention industry, and we are ready to embrace it.”
Undergoing significant updates and renovations to become more modern, flexible, functional and environmentally friendly, the completed facility will include modernized meeting spaces and ballrooms, an expansive rooftop terrace and major upgrades to the building’s systems and technology to make it more energy efficient.
The development will extend onto a nearby street, creating a two-acre park and outdoor convention area for activations and events.
The modernized property will be part of a new elevated convention district that will include a new convention headquarters hotel, which is being built on an existing surface parking lot south of the convention center. The hotel will feature up to 800 guest rooms, 80,000 square feet of flexible meeting space with junior and senior ballrooms, 15,000 square feet of retail, a pool and an outdoor terrace.
Before it closed for new construction, the 750,000-square-foot venue hosted 63 events that drew more than 292,540 attendees in 2024, according to Visit Cincy officials.
“Operating and managing the reimagined DECC will be a key component of our ability to attract new conventions and generate economic impact,” said Julie Calvert, president and CEO of Visit Cincy. “ASM Global’s unmatched experience in this space and the network of convention centers in its portfolio will be a key factor in achieving our collective goals.”
Detroit Regional Convention Center Authority (DRCFA) awarded a contract extension to ASM Global in July to manage Huntington SquareMichigan’s largest convention center.
According to Bryan Crowe, CEO of DRCFA, ASM Global, in partnership with DRCFA, has been instrumental in positioning Huntington Place as a world-class meetings and convention destination, welcoming more than one million annual visitors to major events, such as the Detroit Auto Show.
“ASM Global will play a critical role in supporting DRCFA’s upcoming strategic initiatives, including the convention center expansion project and the development of a new convention center hotel to maintain and strengthen Detroit’s competitiveness in attracting major local, state, national and international events,” Crowe said. “They will also be instrumental in generating new non-event revenue streams while continually improving operational efficiencies to deliver an exceptional customer experience.”
The downtown Detroit venue, which offers more than 723,000 square feet of exhibition space, hosted 146 events with more than 457,000 attendees in 2023.
“We are honored by the DRCFA’s continued confidence in our team at Huntington Place,” said Hoffend. “This extension allows us to build on our successes and ensure that Detroit continues to grow as a premier convention, trade show and event destination and engages audiences with its unique blend of courage and innovation.”
Huntington Place Renews Agreement with Preferred AV Vendor
Huntington Place has also extended its preferred audiovisual contract with First creative group for five more years.
Under the renewed contract, Premier Creative Group will continue to be the preferred vendor providing full audiovisual services for events held at ASM Global-managed facilities, including trade shows, corporate meetings, conferences and galas.
“We are thrilled to continue our successful partnership with Premier Creative Group for another five years,” said Becky Bixby, Interim General Manager of Huntington Place. “Their expertise in audiovisual production has significantly enhanced the quality of our events. We look forward to further expanding our affiliation and strengthening our collaboration with our clients to create unforgettable experiences here at Huntington Place.”
New Outdoor Event Spaces Coming to Kansas City
In downtown Kansas City, visitors and convention attendees will soon be able to enjoy the new Barney Allis Placelocated within walking distance of the Kansas City Convention Center (KCCC), Municipal Auditorium and adjacent hotels.
Already under construction and slated to open in 2026, the revitalized plaza in the city’s convention district will also include a slate of stand-alone event spaces and complementary opportunities for groups at KCCC and other venues.
Spaces in the new Barney Allis Plaza designed for events and activations include:
- A 9,300 square foot event space on the south end of Barney Allis Plaza for large events, pop-up festivals and more.
- An 11,500 square foot sloping lawn with terraces and views of the event plaza.
- An 8,800-square-foot pavilion, designed to host food trucks and other pop-up events, as well as a variety of artwork throughout the space.
- A 10,100 square foot oval lawn, providing a flat, flexible green space for casual events and informal gatherings.
The new Barney Allis Plaza will also include a family playground and dog park, and beneath the multi-use gathering space will be a parking garage with approximately 580 parking spaces, connected to the Kansas City Marriott Downtown and Municipal Auditorium by tunnels.
Main image: Rendering of the reimagined Duke Energy Convention Center
Do you have information to share about trade shows and conferences? Contact us at lisa.savas@informa.com.
Don’t miss any news related to the event: subscribe to our weekly newsletter HERElisten to our latest podcast HERE and engage with us on LinkedIn!