Two major convention centers established and expanded agreements with service providers while a Midwestern destination previewed its expanded outdoor offerings for meeting and convention groups alike. 

ASM Global Tapped to Operate Reimagined Duke Energy Convention Center, Extended Its Contract to Manage Detroit’s Huntington Place

Full-service venue management company ASM Global has been awarded the contract by the City of Cincinnati to launch and operate the reimagined Duke Energy Convention Center (DECC), which recently closed its doors for renovation on July 1.

Currently undergoing a $240 million transformation that is scheduled to be unveiled Jan. 1, 2026, the downtown venue now joins ASM Global’s robust and steadily growing convention and conference portfolio of more than 300 venues. Leading convention centers operated by the global company include Pittsburgh’s David L. Lawrence Convention Center; Los Angeles Convention Center; Hawai’i 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 the world over and drive unprecedented growth for the venue,” said ASM Global Executive Vice President, Convention Centers Dan Hoffend. “This is a watershed moment in the history of Cincinnati convention business, and we are ready for the moment.”

Undergoing significant updates and renovations to become more modern, flexible, functional, and environmentally friendly, the completed facility will feature upgraded meeting space and ballrooms, an expansive rooftop terrace, and major improvements to building systems and technology to make it more energy efficient.

The development will pour over to a neighboring street, creating a two-acre park and outdoor convention area for event activations and breakouts.

The upgraded facility will be part of a new, elevated convention district that will include a new convention headquarters hotel, which is being built on a current surface parking lot south of the convention center. The hotel will include up to 800 rooms, 80,000 square feet of flexible meeting space with junior and senior ballrooms, 15,000 square feet of retail, a pool, and outdoor amenity deck.

Before closing for the new construction, the venue’s 750,000 square feet hosted 63 events that drew in more than 292,540 attendees in 2024, according to Visit Cincy officials.

“The operations and management of the reinvented DECC will be a key part of our ability to attract new conventions and drive economic impact,” said Julie Calvert, president and CEO of Visit Cincy. “ASM Global’s unmatched experience in this space and network of convention centers in their portfolio will be a key factor in achieving our collective goals.”

The Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) awarded a contract extension to ASM Global in July to manage Huntington Place, Michigan’s largest convention center.

According to DRCFA CEO Bryan Crowe, ASM Global – in partnership with the DRCFA – has been instrumental in positioning Huntington Place as a world-class meetings and conventions destination welcoming more than 1 million annual visitors to high-profile events, such as the Detroit Auto Show. 

“ASM Global will play a vital role in supporting the DRCFA’s upcoming strategic initiatives, including the Convention Center Expansion Project and developing a new convention center hotel to maintain and bolster Detroit’s competitiveness in attracting major local, state, national, and international events,” Crowe said. “They will also be key to generating new non-event revenue streams while continuously enhancing operational efficiencies to deliver an exceptional client experience.” 

The downtown Detroit venue, which offers more than 723,000 square feet of exhibit 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 Detroit continues to grow as a premier destination for conventions, trade shows, and events and win over audiences with its unique blend of grit and innovation.”

Huntington Place Renews Agreement with Preferred AV Vendor

Huntington Place also extended its preferred audio-visual contract with Premier Creative Group for five more years.

As part of the renewed contract, Premier Creative Group will continue as the preferred vendor providing comprehensive audio-visual services for events hosted at the ASM Global-managed facility, 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, Huntington Place interim general manager. “Their expertise in audio-visual production has significantly elevated the quality of our events. We look forward to growing our affiliation even more and bridging that 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 alike will soon be able to enjoy the reimagined Barney Allis Plaza, located just steps from the Kansas City Convention Center (KCCC), Municipal Auditorium, and adjacent hotels.

Already under construction and set to open in 2026, the revitalized plaza in the city’s convention district will also boast a roster of spaces for standalone events and add-on opportunities for groups at the KCCC and other venues. 

Areas at the new Barney Allis Plaza designed for events and activations include: 

• A 9,300-square-foot event plaza on the south end of Barney Allis Plaza for large events, pop-up festivals and more.
• An 11,500-square-foot sloped lawn, boasting terraces and views onto the event plaza.
• An 8,800-square-foot pavilion plaza, intended 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, offering a flat and flexible green space for casual events and informal gatherings.

The new Barney Allis Plaza will also include a family-friendly play area and dog park, and below the multipurpose gathering space, a parking garage will offer roughly 580 parking spots, connecting to the Kansas City Marriott Downtown and Municipal Auditorium via tunnels.

Lead image: rendering of reimagined Duke Energy Convention Center

Have some trade show and conference venue news to share? Reach out to lisa.savas@informa.com.

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