Music of every genre, including rock, classical and jazz, is represented throughout Northern Ohio, where groups can easily include an activity or off-site gathering that incorporates a musical element.
From Cleveland’s distinguished Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to music performances staged at Bowling Green State University’s new Wolfe Center for the Arts, the region’s music scene will be a hit with groups that would like to enhance the meeting with a melodic experience.
Cleveland
People travel to Cleveland from far and wide to visit the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which is a must-visit attraction for music lovers.
“It’s great for groups because any music fan will find a favorite artist featured in the exhibits,” said Mike Burns, senior vice president of convention sales and services for Destination Cleveland. “Plus, the glass-enclosed building is a popular event space for cocktail receptions and dinners with a spectacular view of the Lake Erie waterfront and a unique setting offered by the building’s iconic architecture.”
Among the highlights here is the new Power of Rock Experience, an immersive exhibit that puts visitors in front-row seats to a Rock Hall Induction Ceremony.
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The Music Box Supper Club, located on the West Bank of the Cuyahoga River, is another great place for groups interested in a music outing.
“This two-story concert club and restaurant features huge walls of windows and gorgeous views from the riverfront decks,” Burns said.
The flexible event space, he added, accommodates from 30 to 650 people, making it ideal for group gatherings with a local flair and focus on music.
“When you hold a daytime meeting at Music Box, groups are invited to stay afterward for a concert, as the venue hosts both local and nationally acclaimed acts on a nightly basis,” Burns said.
Cleveland also appeals to groups that prefer classical music.
“Another impressive group outing is attending a performance of the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra at the landmark Severance Hall located in Cleveland’s University Circle neighborhood,” Burns said. This elegant space, he added, also hosts events, and on-site catering is available.
Greater Akron
An array of live music venues awaits music aficionados in Greater Akron, including downtown Akron’s popular BLU Jazz+, a DownBeat magazine award-winning venue with comfortable seating, a full bar, a photography gallery and a new restaurant, BLU Plate.
“BLU Jazz+ is the place jazz music was meant to be played,” said Jim Mahon, vice president of marketing and brand management for Akron/Summit CVB. “There’s never a lull in the caliber of artists gracing its stage, so visitors will always experience the very best in live music.”
Located about 20 miles north of Akron in Northfield is Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park, which according to Mahon is designed for a multifaceted group experience.
“The musical lineup is a who’s who of our nation’s most popular acts,” he said. “Flexible private function space is available to create a personalized event experience for your attendees. Gaming, the Comedy Zone and Club Velvet Bar round out every visit.”
Additionally, before or after a live performance, groups might grab a meal at one of the on-site dining outlets, including Kosar’s Wood-Fired Grill and Concerto Italian Kitchen.
And situated on 800 acres of wooded land within the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio’s only national park, is Cuyahoga Falls-based Blossom Music Center.
This outdoor amphitheater-style venue, with pavilion seats and a grand lawn, is the summer home of the Cleveland Orchestra, and various rock/pop acts perform here as well.
“Blossom offers guests an array of private dining options, as well as a variety of concession favorites,” Mahon said. “Groups of all sizes are promised an experience like no other!”
Canton
Music experiences for groups in and around Canton include the Concert for Legends, which is the newest addition to a lineup of annual events each August for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls.
According to Mary Vlahos, vice president of sales for Visit Canton, the concert, held inside the new Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium sports/entertainment complex, is the grand finale for the induction of new Hall of Fame members.
“There are many event space options for VIP group experiences before and during events,” she said.
Among them are terrace spaces, luxury suites and lounges.
Located nearby Canton is the Experience Hartville campus, where groups can plan on a wonderful day of shopping and exploring, according to Vlahos. Afterward, they can enjoy delicious food and an entertaining concert at the Hartville Kitchen dinner concert series.
“Hartville Kitchen offers multiple party rooms perfect for small gatherings, as well as their largest venue that’s ideal for groups up to 500,” she said. “Each space is well-equipped with the latest in presentation equipment.”
Finally, the Canton Symphony Orchestra, one of the most highly respected small-budget symphony orchestras in the U.S., stages classical as well as contemporary pops concerts at Zimmerman Symphony Center.
Vlahos recommended arriving early and checking out Club Z, an event space with a reception area to mingle with other concertgoers and enjoy refreshments.
Toledo
Located in the heart of downtown Toledo is the Huntington Center Arena, which hosts a variety of national musical acts, from rock to country.
“The smaller size of the Huntington Center allows for performances in a more intimate setting so there’s not a bad seat in the house, and with over 8,000 seats to choose from, it can hold groups of many sizes,” said Sherri Hudson, convention services manager for Destination Toledo CVB.
The arena, which is accessible via the SeaGate Convention Centre by a walkway, can accommodate small groups in a private suite and up to 600 in the Club Level Lounge.
Located at the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium is the Toledo Zoo Amphitheater, an open-air venue that hosts a summer concert series groups can check out.
The zoo has a variety of facilities for events, Hudson said, including everything from an intimate boardroom setting to large reception space.
And in downtown Toledo at Fleetwood’s Tap Room, which stages local and regional musical acts, groups can toast a craft beer on the outdoor patio overlooking Hensville Park, which has its own great lineup of entertainment during the spring, summer and fall.
Groups can reserve the Armory above Fleetwood’s Tap Room or meet on Fleetwood’s rooftop patio “for a breathtaking view of the on-field action during a Mud Hens game, or just to enjoy the view of the Toledo riverfront,” Hudson said.
Bowling Green
Bowling Green State University (BGSU) is home to the new Wolfe Center for the Arts, where groups will find an exciting events calendar, including musical performances.
According to Wendy Chambers, executive director for the Bowling Green CVB, the venue features theaters of various sizes, event/meeting space and a beautiful wide-open lobby.
She added that larger banquets and meetings are accommodated at the Bowen-Thompson Student Union, which is also located on the BGSU campus.
CVB CONTACT INFORMATION
Akron/Summit CVB
330.374.7560
Bowling Green CVB
419.353.9445
Destination Cleveland
800.321.1001
Destination Toledo CVB
419.321.6404
Visit Canton
330.454.1439
Click over to Page 2 for the Latest & Greatest hotel updates in Northern Ohio.
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Cleveland
The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland completed an extensive remodel in October 2017, including updates to its 206 guest rooms, a reconfiguration of its lobby and the addition of the new LINKS interactive kitchen space, which will appeal to groups interested in culinary teambuilding and other events.
Canton
Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium opened in August 2017 with more than 28,000 square feet of event space. The venue is part of the ongoing development of Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village, a nearly $800 million mixed-use project of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which is on track to open a four-star 243-room hotel and conference center this May.
Gervasi Vineyard will be expanding Gervasi Village with the addition of a luxury 24-suite boutique hotel and a distillery on its 55-acre estate. The construction of this two-building expansion, which will begin this spring, is scheduled for completion by early 2019. This destination resort currently features two large event spaces, The Pavilion and Villa Grande, and two lodging facilities, The Villas and The Farmhouse.
Toledo
The 241-room Marriott Renaissance Toledo Downtown Hotel opened in August 2017 after a two-year, multimillion-dollar renovation, including updates to its 18,000 square feet of meeting space.
