Northern Ohio

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There seems to be a bit of northern Ohio in everyone’s daily life nowadays, from the rock music on your iPod to Sunday’s big game, so it’s easy to see why attendees feel at ease in this part of the Buckeye State. The area wins over meeting planners with its history, diverse dining, thriving art scene, and some of the biggest shrines to national icons, from Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Toledo’s Firefighters Museum to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton and the Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron.

Cleveland

While Cleveland already enjoys a well-deserved reputation as a solid meetings destination, new projects could increase the diverse range of conventions the city currently pulls in each year.

Work continues on the Medical Mart and Convention Center proposal, and construction could start as early as next year. Based on Chicago’s Merchandise Mart, the Medical Mart would be a facility showcasing the latest in medical equipment and technology; since the city already has the famed Cleveland Clinic and University Hospital, Cleveland could become the next hot spot for medical meetings.

Cleveland currently serves a mix of markets, according to Ellen Kelley, senior account executive for Positively Cleveland.

“We have a little of everything, with associations, some corporate and quite a bit of government business,” she says.

Accessibility and diverse attractions give Cleveland an edge, according to Kelley.

“The hub for Continental Airlines is here, so people can take rapid transit from the airport straight to downtown, and when the Euclid Corridor comes on-line, visitors can go from Public Square to the museums on University Circle in 10 minutes,” she says.

The Euclid Corridor transportation project, which will streamline city transit along Euclid Avenue, is expected to be finished by the end of this year.

While the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Browns Stadium, home of the Cleveland Browns football team, are must-sees for visitors, the city also offers unique off-site venues like the Botanical Garden and the Western Reserve Historical Society, which offers galleries, gardens and the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum for events.

Fishing and other outdoor activities are also big in Cleveland, the self-proclaimed “Walleye Capital of the World,” according to Kelley.

“We have great fishing, or visitors can just go down to the beach,” she says.

For those who prefer the fish after it’s been caught, Cleveland also has a stellar dining scene, including Lola and Lolita, two eateries owned by Food Network star and Iron Chef Michael Symon. Another popular stop is the West Side Market, a tasty paradise with nearly 200 vendors offering ethnic delicacies and fresh treats from local bakeries and farms.

The city’s major meeting facilities include the Cleveland Convention Center, the International Exposition Center and the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University.

Akron

A city of innovation, Akron continues to mix history with progress, reinventing itself for the meetings and tourism markets.

One new initiative for 2008 is Access Adventures, which provides interpretation for venues, attractions and historic sites to the visually and hearing-impaired. The project will open up off-site activities for disabled attendees, according to Greg Murvis, vice president and COO for the Akron-Summit CVB.

“They can visit attractions and enjoy all the same sights and sounds as our non-impaired guests,” he says, adding that the project is representative of Akron’s hospitality and overall appeal, which also includes affordability and accessibility.

Home to dozens of Fortune 500 companies, including Goodyear Tire and Rubber, the area is popular with associations and corporate groups, and can handle from 250 to 1,500 attendees.

New developments in area hotel properties include the recently opened Staybridge Suites and Cambria Suites as well as the reflagging of the Crowne Plaza Hotel Akron–Quaker Square to the Quaker Square Inn at University of Akron late last year.

Inspirational attractions abound in Akron, giving attendees plenty to enjoy during downtime, from the youthful diversions of the American Marble and Toy Museum to Dr. Bob’s House, where Alcoholics Anonymous was born. Off-site venues include the Goodyear World of Rubber Museum, the National Inventors Hall of Fame and the Akron Art Museum.

Meeting facilities include the John S. Knight Center and the Radisson Hotel Akron City Centre.

Canton

With a rich mix of historic sites, bustling city entertainment and soul-soothing rural escapes, Stark County has something for every group.

“Canton is very urban, and within 15 minutes, you’re in the country, experiencing rural charm that makes this area great,” says Allyson Bussey, tourism marketing manager for the Canton/Stark County CVB.

Entertainment such as the ballet, symphony and museums are a short walk from the Canton Memorial Civic Center and close to lodging and restaurants, giving attendees plenty to explore on their own.

New developments in Canton include Courtyard by Marriott Canton (formerly Four Points by Sheraton), which reopened last fall after an $8 million renovation, and a Hampton Inn and Suites that is slated to open in Canton later this year.

From the Pro Football Hall of Fame to the William McKinley Presidential Library and the National First Ladies Library, the only museum of its kind celebrating White House women, Canton has unique attractions and off-site venues. A tour through Harry London Candies and the Chocolate Hall of Fame is wildly popular with groups, and the Maize Valley Winery offers a group-only pitchfork fondue dinner, a fun event that is receiving rave reviews from attendees, according to Bussey. The winery will also open a ballroom for group events in May. For a one-of-a-kind treat, groups can rent a private dining car aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.

Facilities in Canton include the Canton Memorial Civic Center; the Barrett Business and Community Center at Walsh University; the Gateway Event and Conference Center; and the Professional Education and Conference Center at Kent State University’s Stark Campus.

Toledo

Toledo combines history with intriguing art and family-friendly attractions. Thanks to endless reruns of the TV show M*A*S*H, everyone knows the Toledo Mud Hens at Fifth Third Field and Tony Packo’s Cafe, but once they’ve arrived, attendees also discover the Victorian delights of the historic West End and all-American diversions like the Toledo Firefighters Museum and the Henry Ford Museum, which documents the country’s path to industrialization.

“We have big-city assets and small-town benefits,” says Carolyn Schermbeck, senior vice president of the Greater Toledo CVB. “It’s easy to get around, yet we still have national and international attractions.”

Toledo is anxiously awaiting a new $100 million, 8,000-seat sports arena, opening next fall by the SeaGate Convention Centre. The arena and convention center will be connected via skyway, allowing the city to attract larger meetings and events.

“The arena will be a huge partnership for us,” Schermbeck says. “We continue to pursue associations and religious markets, and now we have our eye on medical and educational markets as well.”

As the opening date for the arena draws closer, renovation projects are picking up, according to Schermbeck. Renovations on the Park Inn Toledo are nearing completion, and the Toledo Riverfront is currently under renovation and will reopen this summer as a Crowne Plaza. The Holiday Inn French Quarter wrapped up a $4 million renovation earlier this year, and the Hilton Toledo, having finished a major renovation 18 months ago, is now updating guest rooms with luxury amenities.

In addition to special packages and meeting space at Fifth Third Field, the city also has unique event space available at the Toledo Zoo and the Toledo Museum of Art. The museum’s Glass Pavilion, built to commemorate the city’s glass-manufacturing heritage, is now open for group events.

Nine thousand acres of park land, known collectively as the Metroparks, dot the area and are available for group events. The Metroparks preserve unique natural and historic sites, from prairies to the grand Manor House, a Georgian colonial home.

In addition to the SeaGate Convention Centre, Toledo also has the Dana Conference Center, the Event Center and the new Parkway Place Banquet and Event Center.

Just a short drive away is Bowling Green, which offers unique attractions like the American Civil War Museum and Snook’s Dream Cars, which showcases sharp-looking autos and is a popular venue for group events.

Several sites at Bowling Green State University offer meeting space.

Lake Erie Shores and Islands

Halfway between Toledo and Cleveland, the scenic region known as Lake Erie Shores and Islands encompasses several communities and features 150 miles of coastline. Recreational activities such as boating, golfing and fishing are popular, while attractions include Cedar Point amusement park and several waterparks.

Among the region’s many meetings-ready properties are Kalahari Resort–Sandusky, which boasts a 95,000-square-foot convention center and a newly expanded, 173,000-square-foot waterpark, and Great Wolf Lodge, also in Sandusky, with more than 5,000 square feet of function space.

For More Info

Akron/Summit County CVB 330.374.7560 www.visitakron-summit.org