Hotel & Travel Information

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Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza Hotel

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Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza (Host Hotel)

35 West Fifth St
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513-421-9100
Hotel website

Room rate is $156 per night plus tax 

Online Reservations

For phone reservations please use the rate code SFAA23

Group rate booking deadline Mar 7, 2023. 

A landmark hotel, known for its French art deco elegance and modern conveniences

The Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) is pleased to hold its 2023 annual meeting March 28-April 1 in the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza. Built by William Starrett, known for Washington, DC’s Union Station and Lincoln Memorial, New York City’s Empire State Building and Penn Station; and William Ahlschlager, who designed the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, the Netherland Plaza opened in 1931. 

In 1985, the Netherland Plaza was placed on the National Historic Register and named a National Landmark. In 1989 it became a charter member of the Historic Hotels of America. The Netherland combines the elegance of one of the world’s grandest hotels with the modern conveniences and amenities today’s travelers expect, including free high-speed internet in guest rooms, meeting rooms, and the lobby. The hotel’s 561 guest rooms, including 71 suites, provide a work desk, Cuisinart coffee maker, in-room refrigerator and safe. Accessible rooms are available. A 13,000 sq. foot fitness club is complimentary for guests and includes whirlpool, steam, and sauna rooms. 

The Netherland has a AAA Four Diamond rating. The lobby’s Palm Court offers ample opportunities to eat, drink, and mingle in splendid surroundings. The bar is a must, not only for the elegant art deco surroundings, good food, and creative cocktails, but for the bartenders themselves—Morgan serves up great conversation, and a good pour. 

The Netherland is but a few steps from Fountain Square, the focal point of downtown Cincinnati, with its food trucks and nightly entertainment. A wide choice of places to eat, drink, and shop are also close at hand. And it is only a 15-minute drive from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, with shuttle, cab, and bus service to downtown hotels. The Netherland offers valet parking, and there are several parking garages within a short walk. 

Book your room at the Netherland early. You won’t want to miss the Cincinnati Reds Opening Day parade on Thursday, March 30, which goes right by the hotel. The conference room rate of $156 is a bargain, and by booking at the Netherland you help the SfAA meet its room block obligations. [And if something does come up to change your plans, the hotel offers free cancellation up to 48 hours in advance, with no advance credit card charge.
 

Video on City and Hotel

COVID Policy

We look forward to seeing you onsite or online at our 83rd annual meeting in Cincinnati. For those of you attending in person, protecting your health remains one of our highest priorities. While infection rates for COVID have declined significantly in the United States, including the Cincinnati area, COVID still warrants our attention and action. Below is information and guidance SfAA asks participants to follow. 

COVID-19 Vaccination

We strongly encourage all attendees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to the meeting.​​​​​​​

COVID-19 Testing before Travel

Please consider taking a COVID test before traveling to Cincinnati. These test kits are inexpensive or free and widely available. This request is particularly important if you are experiencing any COVID symptoms prior to travel. If you test positive for COVID, do not attend the meeting. Inform the SfAA office, and we will refund your registration fee.​​​​​​​

Face Masks

The use of face masks is encouraged in all indoor settings during the meeting. Extra surgical masks and small bottles of hand sanitizer will be available at the meeting registration desk. Use of masks will vary at the meeting. In the interest of collegiality, please respect individual decisions on the use of masks.​​​​​​​

Social Distancing

Please respect any participant’s request to maintain social distance throughout the conference venue.​​​​​​​

COVID Updates 

Cincinnati: https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/health/covid-19/cincinnati-covid-19-case-tracker/

Ohio: https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/dashboards/overview

Local Tours

Descriptions of Local Tours Offered by Other Organizations

VisitCincy

https://www.visitcincy.com/things-to-do/tours/

Get A Local’s Look Into The Cincy Region On Foot, By Boat, By Air, And By Bike

Take in the sights, sounds, and history of Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and the Ohio River valley on one of several tour options. Get your steps in and enjoy Cincy’s beautiful architecture with walking tours or take to the sky in a helicopter. Sip your way through Cincy’s rich bourbon and beer heritage and even tour your way around town on a Segway or pedal along the riverfront. You might even be tempted to cruise the Ohio River on a riverboat tour.

American Legacy Tours

https://www.americanlegacytours.com/about-us

Newport Gangster Tour
Explore the streets where the mob made their millions, gamblers lost their lives, and ladies of the night earned their reputations. Join our gangster guides for a raucous, high energy presentation inside an old casino to explain the historical significance of Newport, and discover how this little town gave birth to the modern day gaming industry.
Cost: $29
Location: Begins at Gangsters Dueling Piano Bar, 18 E, 5th St., Newport, KY.  
Days Available: Saturday 4/1, 11:00am.
Duration: 90 minutes. 

1919—The Year that Changed Baseball
Tour focuses on the 1919 World Series and the Black Sox Scandal. 
Cost: $29
Location: begins on Fountain Square; ¾ mile walking
Days Available: Saturday 4/1, 10:30am 
Duration: 90 minutes 

GPSMYCITY

https://www.gpsmycity.com/gps-tour-guides/cincinnati-1582.html

Follow 4 expert-designed self-guided walking tours to explore Cincinnati, Ohio on foot at your own pace. You can also create your own self-guided walk to visit the city attractions which interest you the most.

How it works: Download the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from iTunes App Store or Google Play to your mobile phone or tablet. Each walk comes with a detailed tour map as well as photos and background information for the featured attractions. The app's navigation functions guide you from one attraction to the next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Over-the-Rhine District Walking Tour (https://www.gpsmycity.com/gps-tour-guides/cincinnati-1582.html)

Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing) 
# of Attractions: 8 
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s) 
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles 
Author: Eveline 
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:

  • Washington Park
  • Music Hall
  • Memorial Hall
  • Taste of Belgium OTR
  • Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati
  • Graeter’s Ice Cream
  • Findlay Market
  • Rhinegeist Brewery

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center 

https://freedomcenter.org

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is a museum of conscience, an education center, a convener of dialogue, and a bea­con of light for inclusive freedom around the globe. Our physical location in downtown Cincinnati is just a few steps from the banks of the Ohio River, the great natural barrier that separated the slave states of the South from the free states of the North. Since opening in 2004, we have filled a substantial void in our nation’s cultural heritage. Rooted in the stories of the Underground Railroad, we illuminate the true meaning of inclusive freedom by presenting permanent and special exhibits that inspire, public programming that provoke dialogue and action, and educational resources that equip modern abolitionists.

Location: 50 E. Freedom Way (8-minute walk from the Netherland Plaza straight down Vine St.)
Open: Wed.-Sun. 10:00-5:00pm. 
Tickets: $16.50 adults; $14 seniors (60+). $2 discount for students and educators with ID.  

Riverside Food Tours

https://www.riversidefoodtours.com/tours/

Book a tasty food tour in Cincinnati, OH or Covington, KY with Riverside Food Tours! Sample the flavors that make these cities so unique while learning the history of each location. Several food and drink tours are available, including:

Cincinnati Streetcar + Findlay Market (from $65) Experience a 3-hour city tour on the Cincinnati Streetcar. Enjoy local dishes at 6 eateries and a trip to Findlay Market.

Over the Rhine Cocktail Tour (from $69): Jump-start your Saturday night on a Happy Hour Tour in Over the Rhine!  Enjoy cocktails at 4 locations and 3 snacks too!

Ethnic Eats in Over the Rhine Food Tour  (from $65) Enjoy a Saturday afternoon stroll through Cincy’s Over the Rhine neighborhood and enjoy the best ethnic food Cincinnati has to offer! 

Cincinnati Food Tours

https://www.cincinnatifoodtours.com

 Cincinati Food Tours launched in 2012 as a way to introduce visitors to Findlay Market, share culinary experiences, and spread enthusiasm for the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Cincinnati Food Tours continues to grow, exploring new neighborhoods and adding new small business partners. They invite you to join them as we share food, culture, and history one step at a time.

Original Findlay Market Food Tour - https://www.cincinnatifoodtours.com/tours/original-findlay-market-tour/

Taste your way around historic Findlay Market, Cincinnati’s only surviving public market and one of the top 10 markets in the world. Meet 5 merchants and sample their wares; Savor samples and small bites from five specialty merchants. Stops include such popular merchants as The OTR Bagel Bar, Dean’s Mediterranean Imports, Eckerlin’s Meats, Churchill’s Fine Teas, Makers Bakers, Taste of Belgium, Em’s Sourdough Bread, Maverick Chocolate, Harmony Plant Fare and more.

Duration: (90 minutes)
Days Available: Fri & Sat
Cost: $39: $8 add-on for 1 wine/beer.

Self-guided Tasting Tour of Findlay Market - https://www.cincinnatifoodtours.com/tours/self-guided-tour/

Take a self-guided audio tour at historic Findlay Market. Listen to the stories surrounding this historic landmark as you work your way from one tasting sample to another. Or be your own guide using the printed script and navigational map included in the packet.

  • Get to know the merchants and discover why Findlay Market is one of the most visited attractions in Cincinnati.
  • Taste local specialties and foods from around the world. Choose your own stops for samples, stop to shop along the way, or take a break for a glass of wine or beer.
  • The price of $25 includes audio download to your smartphone, Findlay Market map, guide booklet, and a set of five tokens to redeem for samples from Findlay Market merchants.
  • The audio download is available on all your favorite platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Anchor, and Radio Public. Easy to do!
  • Visiting with others? Add friends or family members to your order so that everyone has his/her own set of tokens. If you run out of tokens before your appetite runs out, purchase additional samples directly from our merchants for only $2.
  • Purchase your self-guided tour any time, download the audio to your smartphone from the link in your confirmation email, and take the tour at Findlay Market whenever it works for you. Pick up your tour packet and tokens at the Market Center when you arrive.

Findlay Market Hours

  • Tuesday–Friday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. 
  • Saturday: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. 
  • Sunday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. 
  • Closed on Monday

Note: For the best experience, we suggest taking the self-guided tour on weekdays when Findlay Market moves at a little slower pace. Weekends can be extremely busy for the merchants.

The B-Line: N. Kentucky’s self-guided Bourbon Trail

https://thebline.com/do-the-line/

5 craft distilleries, 8 Bourbon bars, 6 Bourbon-centric restaurants. 19 stops from Covington and Newport (across the Ohio River from Cincinnati through Augusta (George Clooney’s hometown) to Maysville, KY, 80 miles or so to the east. 

Brewing Heritage Trail

https://brewingheritagetrail.org

The Brewing Heritage Trail is an urban walking trail and series of guided tours that tells the story of Cincinnati and America through the lens of BEER. Our history is shared with embedded trail markers, signage with photos and stories, public art, a free smartphone app, and guided tours. Our guided tours lets you experience Cincinnati's brewing heritage up close and personal, led by our personable and knowledgeable guides. We do private and group tours.
 

©Society for Applied Anthropology 

P.O. Box 2436 • Oklahoma City, OK 73101 • 405.843.5113 • info@appliedanthro.org