Much like an individual, a city has a pulse. Taking Cleveland’s pulse, we find that the city is the picture of health and growth, with a portfolio of freshly renovated hotels and a new convention center and medical mart on the horizon. Called the “Comeback City” since its initial waves of renewal in the 1980s and ’90s, Cleveland has made a full recovery from its industrial days.
As the capital of Northeast Ohio’s rapidly growing medical and biotech sector and a hub for fuel cell and alternative energy research, Cleveland displays every symptom of an up-and-coming new high-tech powerhouse. Similar trends in North Carolina and Silicon Valley proved a shot in the arm for the meetings markets in those regions, and it’s logical to make the same prognosis here.
Finally, relaxing leisure activities are necessary to relieve stress and promote well-being, and Cleveland offers the fishing and boating of Lake Erie, a wealth of museums and cultural opportunities, and proximity to great golf, a handful of unique theme parks and dozens of wineries.
Combined with the affordability and accessibility of the area—within 500 miles of 43 percent of the country’s population—a meeting in Cleveland is just what the doctor ordered for successful meetings.
“There’s a lot of excitement about the prospect of a new convention center in Cleveland by 2012,” says Dennis Roche, president of Positively Cleveland. “Cuyahoga County is partnering with Chicago-based Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. to develop a ‘medical mart’—a permanent, state-of-the-art showroom for medical devices and technology capitalizing on Northeast Ohio’s medical and bioscience assets—and a new, competitive convention center. We really believe that with a new convention center in place, this city will really take off for meetings.”
These adjacent developments would create a stronger draw than ever for larger meetings in Cleveland, especially for groups related to the fields of health and biotechnology. Resources such as Cleveland Clinic, the county’s largest employer as well as one of the nation’s top hospitals and the home of a brand-new $500 million heart care center, University Hospitals of Cleveland and the research brain trusts and facilities of Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland State University already create appeal for medical-related groups.
Besides the lure of health, there’s also wealth to consider. Cleveland positions itself as affordable for every budget.
“We’re a value destination,” Roche says. “Your money goes further here. Cleveland has everything any meeting planner would want at a price that is more affordable than bigger cities. You can dine in a restaurant of a Food Network Iron Chef here. You can see a Broadway play. You can cheer on LeBron James when he takes the court. You can shop at Nordstrom or in a small artsy gallery, and it’s not going to break your group’s budget. Also, Cleveland is both easy to get to and easy to get around.”
The city’s largest group venues are the 375,000-square-foot Cleveland Convention Center, the 1.6 million-square-foot International Exposition Center and the 14,000-seat Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University.
Larger meetings hotels include Crowne Plaza Cleveland City Centre, Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center and Wyndham Cleveland at PlayhouseSquare.
Top meetings hotels include Renaissance Cleveland Hotel; the recently renovated Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland; Crowne Plaza Cleveland City Centre; Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center; and Wyndham Cleveland at PlayhouseSquare.
The new eco-friendly HealthLine bus line launched in October to provide an easy connection from downtown to the museums and concert halls of University Circle. The diesel-electric transit system whisks attendees from downtown meeting venues to the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cleveland Orchestra’s Severance Hall, Cleveland Museum of Natural History and other cultural gems.
Cleveland Museum of Art, in the midst of an ambitious renovation and expansion, has begun opening its newly completed galleries. The museum will unveil other newly completed sections this spring and fall, and continue additional phases of its expansion through 2012.
In more arts scene news, Hanna Theatre in PlayhouseSquare, Cleveland’s theater district, recently reopened after a $19 million restoration. Built in the 1920s, the 548-seat theater is home to the Great Lakes Theater Festival. The theater is pursuing a Silver LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. PlayHouse Square can accommodate events as large as 1,000 people.
The city has a variety of other unique off-site venues. A perennial favorite is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Groups can rent the entire facility for a rockin’ reception of as many as 2,500 or a banquet for 320, or use the lobby for smaller events.
Groups can take to the water on the 1,000-passenger Goodtime III, a luxury vessel offering dinner cruises with a DJ or live entertainment.
Great Lakes Brewing Company, crafters of fine porters, lagers and pale ales, offers private “beer school” classes, tours and tastings, as well as banquet space for up to 50 people.
Sports are another major draw, as Cleveland is home to baseball’s Indians and football’s Browns. The Gridiron Grill at the Cleveland Browns Stadium welcomes banquets as large as 1,500. Meanwhile, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in nearby Canton is available for private rental and can arrange customized gifts for groups.
Outlying Options
Within just half an hour’s drive of Cleveland-Hopkins Airport, groups can enjoy wine tasting, lake cruises, roller coasters, water slides, world-class golf and full-service resorts.
“You can have your meeting in downtown Cleveland in the morning and be hiking in a national park in the afternoon,” Roche says. “You can have a trade show at the I-X Center near the airport and hold a reception at the Rock Hall at Northcoast Harbor on the lakefront.”
West of Cleveland, a variety of theme parks and waterparks bring out the kid in everyone. Sandusky and the Lake Erie Islands are home to several lake resorts, including the African-themed Kalahari Resort, which boasts 884 guest rooms and 100,000 square feet of meeting space as well as one of the largest waterparks in the U.S. In Huron, the 235-acre Lodge at Sawmill Creek Resort and Conference Center boasts 240 guest rooms, 35,000 square feet of meeting space, an 18-hole golf course and a marina.
To the east, more than a dozen wineries cluster around the town of Geneva, and many welcome groups for tastings. Bertram Hotel & Conference Center, located in the historic town of Aurora, has 224 guest rooms and 24,000 square feet of meeting space.
The airport area itself offers another option for meetings, with the attractions of downtown Cleveland just 15 minutes away and a range of meetings hotels to choose from, including Sheraton Cleveland Airport Hotel; Cleveland Airport Marriott, which is undergoing renovations; and Crowne Plaza Cleveland Airport.
For More Info
Positively Cleveland 216.875.6600 www.positivelycleveland.com
