The Franklin County Commissioners created the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority in 1988 to finance the construction and operation of a new Columbus convention center. As a unique government unit responsible for developing, building and operating convention facilities, the FCCFA today owns and operates the Greater Columbus Convention Center, the Hilton Columbus Downtown Hotel and Nationwide Arena, as well as our four parking facilities. In addition to the Convention Center, Hilton Columbus Downtown Hotel and Nationwide Arena, the FCCFA also owns land used to develop the Hyatt Regency, the Drury Inn and Suites and various parking facilities. The FCCFA is empowered to issue tax and lease revenue bonds backed by the hotel tax receipts, and currently levies a 4 percent countywide hotel occupancy tax and an additional 0.9 percent citywide hotel occupancy tax. These tax rates have remained unchanged since they were established in 1988. Completely self-sustaining, the FCCFA operates independently of other governmental units and is overseen by an 11-member board appointed by the Franklin County Commissioners (six members), the City of Columbus (three members) and suburban mayors (two members).
