NEWPORT, Ky. — The ongoing development of the $1 billion dollar Ovation project in Newport has reached a new milestone, as one of the first businesses has officially opened.

What You Need To Know

  • Homewood Suites by Hilton Newport Cincinnati at Ovation has opened

  • The hotel is a five-story, 133 room hotel features a workout facilities and continental breakfast

  • The top employment center in Northern Kentucky is Florence with over 53,000 jobs

  • While Hebron ranked first as the fastest growing employment centers

The Ovation development has been years in the making and now, community members are seeing the first sign of life as Homewood Suites by Hilton Newport Cincinnati opened its door for business.

The five-story, 133 room hotel features a workout facility and continental breakfast which hotel manager Brian Jungling said is the prime example of southern hospitality.

“Kentucky is the southern side of the river, and we embrace many of those cultural and entertainment values within northern Kentucky,” Jungling said. “Our bourbon traditions are wonderful, and we get a lot of tourism based on that.”

The hotel opening is just the beginning. Ovation developed by Corporex and Commonwealth Hotels will feature offices, retail and residential spaces. Corporex Marketing Vice President, Suzanna Deathrage said the hotel plays a major role in the development's success.

“The vision from the get-go has always been about transforming this piece of the waterfront property here in Newport,” she said. “This empty land really has been transformed into a community of connectivity.”

BE NKY President, Lee Crume stressed the hotel is not only increasing tourism but adding to the job market as well.

. “You think about tourism as projects like this come out of the ground, you’re driving new employment,” Crume said. “We often see a correlation between people who visit the city... who then consider living here and being a part of the community long term.”

According to a 2024 report from the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, the top employment center in northern Kentucky is Florence with over 53,000 jobs. Hebron ranked first as the fastest growing employment center. The city added over 5,000 jobs in the last five years. This represents just under 23% growth.

Jungling said the hotel is ready to welcome guest.

“We’re very excited to have the whole community put together and service. Not only by our hotel, but all the other services that are coming in,” Jungling said.

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