More than six companies have already said they're interested in building a new hotel next to the convention center in downtown Cincinnati, according to Julie Calvert, the CEO of the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Some city and county officials have been pushing for a new hotel where there is now a parking lot across from the Duke Energy Convention Center at Fifth and Plum streets.
The formal request for proposals will be released in the next week or so. Calvert said the interested companies include both local and national firms.
While recording "This Week in Cincinnati" Friday, Calvert said the region needs the hotel to be competitive.
"We do have this on a fast track," she said. "We are about 10 years behind in terms of our headquarters hotel. This has been an ongoing issue, like I said, for well over 10 years, that we know we've needed a new hotel."
The company that will get to build the hotel will be named by the end of the year, according to Calvert.
Watch the full interview in the video player above.
