Northern Hamilton County officials are ready to lavish attention on a flurry of convention planners who will be coming their way Thursday because of the Greater Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau.

After long feeling ignored by the downtown bureau, they're thankful that the “Up Close and Personal” tour is heading north and wondering if their ruckus over the expansion of the Albert B. Sabin Cincinnati Convention Center made the difference.

“They've done (these tours) before, but this time they've done it with much more energy and much more support for the suburban properties,” said Sharonville Mayor Virgil Lovitt. He was a vocal critic of the downtown bureau's efforts to promote the suburbs, and questioned whether the Sabin expansion could lead to the downfall of some suburban hotels.

A new, offshoot northern Hamilton County bureau will be receiving $500,000 from the downtown bureau.

“We're going to need a lot more than a tour, but it's a good start,” Mr. Lovitt said. “We'll get these (representatives) to realize that there's so much to offer in this area. We have great golf courses, great shopping and great restaurants right out here in the northern suburbs of Hamilton County.”

Representatives from Ohio Baptist Convention of Dayton, Fraternal Order of Eagles of Beavercreek, Ohio Federation of Teachers of Columbia Station, Vietnam Veterans of America of Columbus and Ohio Dermatological Association of Hilliard will tour the Sharonville Convention Center and northern Hamilton County's hotels and restaurants during their Thursday-through-Saturday stay.

Julie Harrison Calvert, spokeswoman for the downtown bureau, said the northern suburbs caught the office's attention more than a year ago. Only one group had visited Greater Cincinnati before, she said.

“You have a major airport close. It's well-centered. It's a good logical choice,” said Lee Fisher, president of the veterans group, which is looking for a convention site.

E-mail svela@enquirer.com

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