More than just a convenient crossroads between the East and Midwest, Ohio is polishing its image as an affordable, fun destination for meetings. From the redeveloped sophistication of Fountain Square in Cincinnati to the pop glitz of Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with Toledo’s buzzing arts scene and the historic aviation sites in Dayton, the state is full of wonderful, delegate-pleasing surprises.
Southwest Ohio
The big news in Cincinnati is the recent completion of the city’s Fountain Square entertainment district, according to Dan Lincoln, president and CEO of the Cincinnati USA CVB.
“This $43 million redevelopment has meant an explosion of expansion in downtown,” he says. “Most of the hotels have undergone renovations, and that spawned a major rebirth of restaurants around the square.”
Fountain Square also now has a 24-foot by 42-foot video screen that displays welcome messages for conventions and groups, as well as news and sporting events.
While the progress has been brisk, Lincoln says Fountain Square still retains its historic charm.
“It’s still a quaint, historic downtown, with the Tyler Davidson fountain in the middle of the square,” he says. “Our downtown is very compact, and the entertainment district is just a few blocks away from 3,000 hotel rooms and the Duke Energy Center.”
The Duke Energy Center also recently completed an expansion and renovation and now offers 200,000 square feet of exhibit space, along with 100,000 square feet of meeting space and two ballrooms.
“With the new expansion, we can target and host 75 percent of all meetings,” Lincoln says.
Popular options for off-site events are the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the American Sign Museum and the Cincinnati Museum at Union Terminal.
North of Cincinnati, the Sharonville Convention Center recently announced a $20 million expansion that will double its space to 54,000 square feet.
Additionally, the 95-room Hamilton Hotel opened last spring adjacent to the event-friendly CoCo Key Water Resort.
In the nearby town of Mason, downtown revitalization continues, and the area recently welcomed the new Great Wolf Lodge adjacent to Kings Island amusement and theme park. The 401-room resort offers a 40,000-square-foot conference center and a 75,000-square-foot indoor waterpark.
Northeast of Mason is Dayton, where groups can explore the “Birthplace of Aviation” at the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Park, which includes historic sites dedicated to the Wright Brothers and Paul Dunbar, or pay tribute to those who flew boldly for their country at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. For a special treat, attendees can enjoy dinner under the wings of historic planes.
Dayton’s meetings business is also flying high. The Dayton Convention Center recently underwent a $2.5 million renovation, which gave the building’s exterior a modern, up-to-the-minute look. The center is connected via skywalk to the 283-room Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Aside from the Dayton Convention Center, large gatherings are accommodated at area facilities such as the David H. Ponitz Sinclair Center, the Hara Arena, Conference and Exhibition Center, and the Exposition Center at Dayton International Airport.
Central Ohio
In Columbus, new development and a diverse collection of attractions make the capital city attractive to groups.
Construction has begun on a mixed-use development at Broad and High Streets. The project will give Columbus a taste of Times Square with a multimedia display atop the development, while a live NBC broadcast studio will be set behind a glass wall, a la The Today Show. The project will also bring in luxury condos, cafes and retail businesses.
Another project may also be on the horizon, according to Brian Ross, vice president of sales for Experience Columbus, the Greater Columbus CVB.
“A 500-room, full-service hotel is currently in the discussion stages,” he says, adding that it would be attached via walkway to the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
In the meantime, the city offers several meetings-ready properties, including the venerable Westin Great Southern, which originally opened in 1897.
Meanwhile, Huntington Park is slated to open in spring 2009 as the home of the Columbus Clippers baseball team, and the historic Lincoln Theatre will open in late 2008 after an $11 million restoration.
North of Columbus is the charming, historic town of Delaware, which is home to Ohio Wesleyan University and the birthplace of President Rutherford B. Hayes, and features area meeting facilities such as the Conference Center at NorthPointe and the Delaware County Fairgrounds.
In Marion County, attendees can tour the Wyandot Popcorn Museum and see the Mysterious Revolving Ball, a 5,200-pound polished black granite ball that has slowly spun on its pedestal for more than 100 years.
Developers are also on the ball in Marion County, according to Diane Watson, director of the Marion Area CVB, who says recently opened hotels include the Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Marion and the Fairfield Inn Marion.
“Also, the Palace Theater will add a 350-person room for dining or meetings [this year],” she says.
Other facilities include the Carousel Convention Center and the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Arts and crafts rule in Zanesville and Muskingum County, featuring galleries, artist studios, the Zanesville Art Center, and Longaberger Homestead, home to the country’s largest manufacturer of handmade baskets.
Area group facilities include the Muskingum County Fairgrounds Veterans Complex.
Just 30 minutes south of Columbus, Deer Creek Resort and Conference Center provides a tranquil setting for groups and 12,000 square feet of meeting space.
Northeast Ohio
Cleveland rocks with pop culture attractions, from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The city also boasts one of the largest concentrations of theaters outside New York City, and a staggering variety of museums and cultural sites, from the Cleveland Museum of Art to the Christmas Story House, the original house used in the famous holiday movie.
Meanwhile, Cleveland is on the verge of a construction boom, with a proposed convention center development and numerous expansions and renovations on the horizon. The proposed Medical Mart and Convention Center may take Cleveland’s meetings business to a whole new level, according to Dennis Roche, president of Positively Cleveland, the CVB of Greater Cleveland.
“Our economy is evolving,” Roche says. “Currently, we’re in a small group market, from 500 to 1,000 attendees, but we see that as a temporary number that will go up dramatically when this development happens.”
The Medical Mart would serve as a showroom for the latest in medical equipment, bringing in related meetings and conventions. Building the mart hinges on construction of a new convention center as well.
Other new developments include a proposed $50 million arts complex by Cleveland State University; a proposed $120 million makeover of University Circle’s Triangle section with new dining and retail; and a $3 million remodeling of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The city’s primary group facilities are the Cleveland Convention Center, the International Exposition Center and the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University.
The cities of Akron and Canton are within an easy hour’s drive of Cleveland. Historic sites like the National First Ladies museum, abolitionist John Brown’s home and the William McKinley monument are must-sees for heritage buffs, and who could resist a tour through Harry London Candies and the Chocolate Hall of Fame?
“We’re affordable, accessible, and offer nice hotels within 10 minutes of meeting venues,” says Allyson Bussey, tourism marketing manager for the Canton/Stark County CVB.
New hotels are popping up throughout the area, including the Courtyard Marriott Canton (formerly Four Points by Sheraton), which reopened last fall after an $8 million renovation. A Hampton Inn and Suites is expected to open in Canton this year. The Akron area recently welcomed a new Staybridge Suites and Cambria Suites, and the Crowne Plaza Hotel Akron–Quaker Square was reflagged in November as the Quaker Square Inn at University of Akron.
The John S. Knight Center is Akron’s major group venue, while Canton offers the Canton Memorial Civic Center, the Barrett Business and Community Center at Walsh University, the Gateway Event and Conference Center, and the Conference Center at Kent State University’s Stark Campus.
Northwest Ohio
Toledo, known for its Toledo Mud Hens, one of the country’s most popular minor-league baseball teams, is a refreshing mix of history and art.
The Toledo Museum of Art houses more than 30,000 works and also celebrates the city’s glass-manufacturing heritage with the new Glass Pavilion. History buffs will enjoy the Firefighters Museum and the Victorian charm of the Old West End neighborhood.
A $100 million, 8,000-seat sports arena is slated to open downtown by September 2009. The arena will be connected via walkway with the SeaGate Convention Centre.
Toledo is a natural for meetings, according to Jim Donnelly, president and CEO of the Greater Toledo CVB.
“We’re family-friendly, and we love meetings of 500 to 1,500, since we can accommodate several at the same time,” he says.
Just south of Toledo is the town of Bowling Green. A popular off-site venue is Snook’s Dream Cars, an auto museum devoted to the classic days of cool rides. Larger meetings can be accommodated on the grounds of Bowling Green State University.
For More Info
Akron/Summit County CVB 330.374.7560
www.visitakron-summit.org
Bowling Green CVB 419.353.9445
www.visitbgohio.org
Canton/Stark County CVB 330.454.1439
www.cantonstarkcvb.com
Cincinnati USA CVB 513.621.2142
www.cincyusa.com
Dayton/Montgomery County CVB 937.226.8211
www.daytoncvb.com
Delaware County CVB 740.368.4748
www.visitdelohio.com
Experience Columbus 614.221.6623
www.experiencecolumbus.com
Greater Toledo CVB 419.321.6404
www.dotoledo.org
Marion Area CVB 740.389.9770
www.visitmarionohio.com
Positively Cleveland 216.621.4110
www.clevelandmeetings.com
Zanesville–Muskingum County CVB 740.455.8282
www.visitzanesville.com
