Local tourism officials are counting on Tall Stacks to wow the likes of the Tree Care Industry Association and the American Academy of Professional Coders.

Meeting planners representing 15 conventions and trade groups will visit Cincinnati next week during the riverboat music and arts festival. The Greater Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau wants to land some of these conventions for 2006 or beyond when the $160 million expansion of the downtown convention center is complete.

"It's our goal to show them that Cincinnati is the place they want to be," said Lisa Haller, the bureau's president and chief executive.

That could mean adapting to the needs of finicky planners or besting offers from other cities.

For instance, one meeting planner will return to Cincinnati after describing the city as "dirty" following a 1996 convention. A competing city offered another convention special perks - discounted room rates, concierge-level service and a free presidential suite with connecting rooms.

Tourism officials say such special requests are all part of the high-stakes game of luring lucrative conventions. Haller wants meeting planners to leave with a favorable impression of a city bustling with full hotel rooms and restaurants and big-name entertainment.

It's Cincinnati's largest tour of meeting planners in two years. These planners will get special convention center construction update and a chance to schmooze with City Manager Valerie Lemmie and Mayor Charlie Luken.

Ken Alltucker