21c Museum Hotels Announces Plans for Downtown Cincinnati Location

Project is part of continuing revitalization of city's downtown, restoring the historic landmark former Metropole Hotel

LOUISVILLE, KY (November 4, 2009) — The trademark penguins and cutting edge contemporary art collection will soon travel up the Ohio River as 21c Museum Hotels announces a new location. The former Metropole Hotel—a historic landmark in downtown Cincinnati—will be renovated and restored to its original purpose as a hotel and a centerpiece of the city. The project furthers the vision of founders Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson to engage the public with contemporary art in new ways and to preserve the country's rural lands by supporting the revitalization of American downtowns. The unique combination of contemporary art museum, boutique hotel, and award-winning restaurant has proven a successful model in Louisville. 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville was recently selected as the #1 hotel in the United States and #6 hotel in the world in the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards for 2009.

The new 21c Museum Hotel in Cincinnati will be located adjacent to the Lois and Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art and across the street from the Aronoff Center for the Arts and will foster the ongoing revival of the city and strengthen its role as a cultural destination. 21c Museum Hotels is working with the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) on the restoration, which is scheduled to begin next fall. Total cost for the project is expected to be $45 million.

The Cincinnati facility will feature 160 rooms, a contemporary art museum with more than 8,000 square feet of exhibition space open to the public free of charge, a Proof restaurant and bar, and meeting spaces. Deborah Berke & Partners Architects, the firm that designed the 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville, will serve as design architect to restore the Metropole building, recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places, following federal standards for historic rehabilitation. Berke will be collaborating with Alan Weiskopf of Perfido Weiskopf Wagstaff + Goettel, a firm noted for their significant experience in historic preservation projects, who will serve as executive architect.

The original 21c Museum Hotel—housed in a series of renovated 19th-century tobacco and bourbon warehouse buildings on the corner of 7th and Main Streets in downtown Louisville—plays a key role in the life of the city and has helped to further raise national recognition for Louisville's arts and theater district. The critical and financial success of 21c Museum Hotel has established it as the market leader in the hospitality industry in Louisville and as a nationally recognized destination. More than 200,000 people visited 21c Museum Hotel in 2008, some to stay in the hotel, some to have a meal or a cocktail at Proof on Main, some to view a special exhibition in 21c Museum or attend a live event.

"Based on our success in Louisville, we realized 21c can enliven the cultural and civic life in urban centers across the country," said Steve Wilson, Founder and Chairman of 21c Museum Hotels. "We're very excited about the opportunity to bring a 21c Museum Hotel to Cincinnati and look forward to being part of the downtown revitalization being led by 3CDC."

Since opening in 2006, 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville has received local and national acclaim for its innovative concept and strong execution. Michael Bonadies, President and CEO of 21c Museum Hotels, feels that the company is well-positioned for growth. "In the past few years, we have exceeded all business expectations and proven that art truly can drive commerce. Our team is excited to take this model to new markets and look forward to enhancing the cultural life of the community for residents and visitors alike."

21c Museum Hotel will be the first hotel to open in downtown Cincinnati in over 20 years.

About 21c Museum Hotels Team

In addition to Brown, Wilson, and Bonadies, the other principals of 21c Museum Hotels include Vice Chair Craig Greenberg, Vice President and COO Chett Abramson, and Vice President Sarah Robbins. Before joining 21c Museum Hotels, Bonadies, Abramson, and Robbins were formerly of the Myriad Restaurant Group. Myriad built a national reputation for innovative food and dining with such acclaimed restaurants as Nobu, Montrachet, Tribeca Grill, and Rubicon.

About 21c Museum Hotel Louisville

21c Museum Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky was the first of its kind – a 90-room boutique hotel dedicated to accessible luxury, Southern-style hospitality and contemporary art of the 21st century. Art is integral to the unique character of 21c Museum Hotel. It is not simply decoration. The exhibitions and installations of 21c Museum Hotel are woven into the fabric of the building and the surrounding streetscape, with works of art filtering into both public space and unexpected places. Works of art appear in elevators, sunken courtyards, hallways, the Proof restaurant and bar, public restrooms, and on the floor, windowsills, roof, and city sidewalk. The guest rooms at 21c are spacious and comfortable. Furnishings include plush bedding, bespoke furniture and lighting, and a few surprises. From the cheery rubber duck to the Malin + Goetz bath amenities to the mint julep cups, 21c treats its guests to Southern Hospitality at its finest. While standard hotel features - including fully stocked minibars, nightly turndown, and in-room gourmet coffee makers - are never overlooked, it is the luxurious extras like 100% Egyptian cotton sheets, 42" HDTV flat screen televisions, and iPods preprogrammed with a wide variety of music that please even the most discerning travelers. Business travelers appreciate the spacious work desks, Herman Miller ergonomic chairs, complimentary high speed Internet access, and executive business center. All guests have access to the in-house spa, complete with sauna, steam room, and workout facility. For additional information, please visit www.21cmuseumhotel.com.

About Deborah Berke & Partners Architects

In addition to 21c Museum Hotel, Deborah Berke & Partners Architects' other projects include the James Hotels in Chicago and Scottsdale, the Yale School of Art & New Theater, and the Marianne Boesky Gallery in New York. Berke was named an "Emerging Voice" by the Architecture League of New York in 1993, and her residential project, Baron Loft, won an AIA New York Chapter Design Award in 2001. She was a finalist for the 2008 National Design Award for Interior Design. The award is given by the Smithsonian Institution's Cooper-Hewitt Museum for exceptional and exemplary work in domestic, corporate, cultural, or interior design.

About the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC)

The Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) is a private, non-profit corporation. Its mission is to revitalize Cincinnati's Center City as a regional center of high value employment and real estate by developing a diverse mix of housing, culture and entertainment. It was formed in July 2003 as part of the overall system to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of development activities in the City as recommended by The Cincinnati Economic Development Task Force. 3CDC is funded privately through business contributions, foundations and other philanthropic sources. For more information, visit www.3cdc.org.