Cleveland: A New Horizon

A New

HORIZON

Dear Visitors, Hello from the beautiful shore of Lake Erie!

More people are discovering that hosting an event in Cleveland is like no other experience. Our lakefront setting, well-connected downtown and compact convention campus combined with incredible cultural assets and genuine hospitality continually exceeds attendees’ expectations. Our community embraces events, and Destination Cleveland’s creative and hardworking team pursues unparalleled success every step of the way.

From the 2016 Republican National Convention to the safe hosting of 160,000 football fans at the 2021 NFL Draft, major events of all sizes shine when hosted COVER: AERIAL AGENTS; ALL STAR CITY: NATHAN MIGAL; CLEVELAND SKYLINE, NFL DRAFT SITE: WIL LINDSEY

here. We will again show the world our capabilities as we welcome the 2022 NBA All-Star Game and the 2024 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition.

We invite you for a visit — and to read on – to learn more about planning your next event in The Land.

Sincerely,

David Gilbert President & CEO Destination Cleveland

3

PROUD HOST CITY OF ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY

NBA ALLSTAR GAME Feb. 18-20, 2022

NCAA

ASAE

WOMEN’S ANNUAL BASKETBALL MEETING & FINAL FOUR EXPOSITION April 5-7, 2024

Aug. 10-13, 2024

NCAA D1 MEN’S BASKETBALL 1ST & 2ND ROUNDS March 2025

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS CONFERENCE 2025

Oct. 30, 2021

Connect with Destination Cleveland’s

Sales & Services Team Let’s be on a first-name basis. Any good partnership starts with great communication.

We want to get to know you and your convention/meeting needs, just as much as you want to know the very people who’ll be along with you for the ride. Let’s chat. Visit www.thisiscleveland.com/meetings/contact-us to reach our team.

4

ThisisCleveland.com

Gordon Taylor III

Sharrona Burns

V.P. of Convention Sales and Services

Senior Director of Convention Sales

gtaylor@destinationcle.org

sburns@destinationcle.org

216.875.6615

216.875.6630

CLEVELAND SKYLINE: WIL LINDSEY

TOP

Pick

Minutes after each NFL Draft, everyone from experts to armchair quarterbacks are eager to hand out letter grades to each team based on how well they think the teams did at bringing in new talent.

Cleveland received top marks across the board for successfully hosting the Draft, April 29-May 1. Not only was it a showcase for Cleveland, it brought together 160,000 people and signaled a much-needed shift back to inperson, large-scale events.

Community Coordination, Collaboration and Activation With Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam on board, the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission began a six-month bid process with the support of community partners Destination Cleveland, Downtown Cleveland Alliance and the City of Cleveland.

After a few discussions with the NFL and several site visits, Cleveland was awarded the 2021 Draft in May 2019 after going up against Kansas City and Denver.

“We knew we were really well positioned to host a great event,” said Michael Mulhall, the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission’s Vice President of Business Development, who helped make MALL C ACTIVATION SITE: DREW SHIPLEY, NFL FANS: NATHAN MIGAL, TERMINAL TOWER DRAFT SIGNAGE: NATHAN MIGAL

THE 2021 NFL DRAFT SHOWED CLEVELAND'S CAPACITY TO HOST LARGE EVENTS.

the event a reality. “Nashville had just hosted it in 2019 and had more than 500,000 people there and $133 million of economic impact."

Aubrey Walton, the NFL's Director of Event Location Strategy and Planning, agreed that geography was a factor, but also the Browns' 75th anniversary, passionate fan base and community buy-in also played a role.

“They put forth a very succinct and strong bid compared to other cities that they were competing against,” she said. “We had all the various hotel rooms that we needed, all the venues. They were an incredible partnership team in terms of working with us to find out where our main stage would end up.”

Walton was also impressed with the communication from Cleveland’s event team, which Mulhall credits to the synergy and partnership formed between the Sports Commission, the City of Cleveland, the Browns, Destination Cleveland and the Downtown Cleveland Alliance.

"You have to have synergy," Mulhall said. “It can't feel like five separate organizations working together. It has to feel like one in terms of your communication and working with the NFL, and I think we do that really well. We've hosted enough of these big events now

where we know all the players, we know what we have to do to pull permits, close roads and all those things that come with an event of this magnitude.”

The Cleveland Draft team also worked to activate three major event sites — Mall C, the Flats and Playhouse Square — with food trucks, entertainment and more. The city came to life with event signage throughout Downtown, the Terminal Tower lit up in different team colors, and a citywide public art project featuring NFL teams’ helmets.

Event and Site Management A number of Downtown sites were under consideration, including Public Hall and a floating barge near Voinovich Park. The final site, chosen for its walkability and proximity to Downtown hotels and attractions, included the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Great Lakes Science Center, FirstEnergy Stadium and 2.5 million square feet of North Coast Harbor.

To make the site possible, the Sports Commission worked with the city to demolish two underutilized port buildings along the lake to make way for the largest stage the NFL had ever constructed for the draft.

Part of the magnitude of the planning process was what Mulhall

5

calls the 800-pound gorilla: the COVID-19 pandemic.

Working with the NFL (after a successful 16-game season) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as, state and local health officials, the Sports Commission set up vaccination checks and made sure there was enough space for social distancing within the event’s footprint.

As vaccines started rolling out, everyone worked together to continue to update protocols around the event.

The event itself included three days of the Draft, a red carpet event at the Rock Hall and live concerts from acts like Black Pumas and Cleveland’s own Machine Gun Kelly.

For the first time, the NFL was able to use a team’s stadium as part of its Draft Experience, an event filled with football-themed games and activities. Food and beverage zones were set up around the site highlighting Cleveland businesses including Anna in the Raw, Cocky’s Bagels and Nuevo Modern Mexican & Tequila Bar. "We had all the various activities

happening on the field such as people kicking field goals,” says Eric Finkelstein, NFL Senior Director of Events Planning. “Everything was happening in the actual stadium where the Browns play.”

Marketing and Communications Support To make the event the success that it was, Destination Cleveland drove awareness of Cleveland as a visitor destination and attracted NFL fans from surrounding markets to be part of the lakefront event.

Part of that was building on work

that Destination Cleveland started in 2014 with a branding approach that aimed to change prevailing attitudes about the city.

“With this NFL Draft campaign, we amplified our paid media efforts to change Cleveland’s narrative on a broader scale and spark curiosity about Cleveland for future visits,” says David Gilbert, President and CEO of Destination Cleveland.

The organization collaborated with the NFL to ensure a consistent look and feel, from advertising to the online and app experience, to the event experience. A big part

Think Beyond the Possible • 7,500 square ft. ballroom • Four meeting rooms • Food court with five dining options • Full-service restaurant • Floor-to-ceiling windows • Advanced A/V technology

11038 Bellflower Road • Cleveland, Ohio 44106 case.edu/universitycenter • 216.368.5681

6

ThisisCleveland.com

NFL DRAFT EXPERIENCE AT FIRSTENERGY STADIUM, NFL DRAFT THEATRE, NFL DRAFT SITE: NATHAN MIGAL

of its effort was centered around storytelling.

Destination Cleveland invested $250,000 into a paid advertising campaign promoting the Draft Experience. The campaign kicked off on March 22, when the NFL announced the first Draft event details, and ran up to the Draft.

To illustrate how the city is poised to safely host future meetings, events and conventions, Destination Cleveland also organized a meeting planner familiarization tour with 16 meeting planners around the Draft.

The tours included visiting primary meeting facilities, a reception at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a city tour, access to the Draft Experience, and time for the planners to explore the city as a visitor.

“I thought the event went extremely well and the city showed great (despite the weather),” says Robert Deluca, a Senior Vice President and Team Leader at ConferenceDirect. A Northeast Ohio native, Deluca added that the convention center and hotel

accommodations have really improved over the years.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Efforts In a continued effort to highlight diversity, equity and inclusion, the Sports Commission held the Power of Sport Summit at Progressive Field. Held throughout the three days of the Draft, the event featured a series of workshops, exhibits, panel discussions and keynote speakers, covering topics such as adaptive sports, gender equity, LGBTQIA+ athletes, mental health and racial equity in sports.

Panelists included Browns owner Dee Haslam, as well as Kevin Clayton, Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement at the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“When we get a platform like this, I think we have a responsibility to not just focus on economic impact, but how we can positively impact the community beyond that,” said Mulhall.

BY

THE

NUMBERS

160,000 FANS IN ATTENDENCE

$42 million ESTIMATED ECONOMIC IMPACT

3RD

MOST-WATCHED NFL DRAFT

40.1 million TV VIEWERSHIP

220’ X 200’ X 65’ TALL

THE LARGEST NFL DRAFT THEATRE STAGE EVER CONSTRUCTED

838

ACCREDITED MEDIA

2,000

VOLUNTEERS MADE UP OF NFL DRAFT TEAMMATES AND CLEVELAND AMBASSADORS, WITH 100% VOLUNTEER ATTENDANCE

14

NFL COMMUNITY EVENTS HOTEL ROOM BLOCK

26

PROPERTIES TOTALING 6,000 ROOMS

7

Committed to Cleveland venues take innovative hygiene measures to keep meetings safe.

Clean In Cleveland, hospitality venues have gone well beyond masks, sanitizer stations and social distancing to adopt two additional imperatives: “innovate and improve.” The results are new hygiene protocols that will remain in place long after the pandemic, ensuring a future in which conventions and conferences will be cleaner and safer than ever.

Convention Center Hotel For the Hilton Cleveland Downtown, some solutions are high-tech. Filters throughout the hotel polarize and ionize air, eliminating pathogens. Want contactless check-in and check-out, and even a digital room key on your smartphone? They have an app for that, enabling guests to go straight from the door to their chosen suite (with no need to visit the front desk).

Other solutions look more human. The front line keeping hotels clean has always been housekeeping staff. Prior to the pandemic, Hilton strove to keep sanitation practices as invisible as possible, but now, transparency is key. Housekeepers busily tidying public spaces are a common sight, reassuring guests that an army of germ fighters is at work around the clock. Those extra efforts extend to guest rooms, where Hilton partnered with Lysol and the Mayo Clinic to develop additional surface sanitation procedures, using hospital-grade products.

Event spaces haven’t been neglected either, thanks to a customized “Event Ready” checklist for planners that covers socially distanced conference rooms, no-contact food service, enhanced cleaning and more.

Convention Center Similarly rigorous measures are in place next door at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland — thanks

8

ThisisCleveland.com

to VenueShield, a comprehensive new set of sanitation protocols. Convention attendees will notice changes in traffic flow (with dedicated sets of doors for entering and exiting the building) and in the physical layout of events (with reduced capacity in meeting rooms and higher dividers between booths). Throughout the facility, visitors will also find custodial and food service staff clad in personal protective equipment sanitizing surfaces on a more frequent timetable.

ASM Global, the event management company overseeing operations at the convention center, also invested in many structural upgrades. Two such upgrades include bipolar ionization in the Convention Center’s air filtration system and anti-microbial handrails on all escalators. (Those handrails also pass under UV lights for next-level disinfection.) Additionally, guests will discover that the facility has become completely touchless from water fountains to faucets to bottle fillers; also, all doors are now motion-activated and can be operated with a wave of the hand.

Clean Committed The visitors who are spending time out and about in the city are also front of mind. Destination Cleveland is helping guests feel safe visiting restaurants, shops and other businesses with its Clean Committed program.

Nearly 1,000 local businesses have signed on to this voluntary set of science- and public-health-based enhanced cleaning measures, developed in partnership with the city’s premier health care organizations including the Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth Medical Center and University Hospitals. A full — and growing — list of participating venues can be found at thisiscleveland.com so visitors can rest assured of safety while exploring and enjoying the city’s attractions.

ABOVE (L-R): NATHAN MIGAL, SHANE HESSON, DANNY PYTELL, DREW SHIPLEY, DREW SHIPLEY; SKYLINE: AERIAL AGENTS

M A K E WAV ES with your next event Your next meeting is important. And so is your meeting place. The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake delivers an ideal setting in Ohio Wine Country. Our lakeside resort offers 8,500 feet of flexible event space and access to popular wine shuttles.

With an inspiring setting right on the lake’s shore, you’ve found a destination everyone will be excited to explore.

TheLodgeAtGeneva.com | 866.387.9907 4888 North Broadway, Geneva-on-the-Lake, OH 44041

BEST OF BOTH Worlds CLEVELAND IS WELL POSITIONED TO EVOLVE WITH THE EVENTS INDUSTRY AND THE RISE OF HYBRID MEETINGS.

While as life as we know it came to a grinding halt in 2020, the show went on for many events here in Cleveland, with annual events like the Cleveland International Film Festival, the Female Entrepreneur Summit, and Cleveland Museum of Art’s “MIX” series all going fully virtual.

And even as in-person gatherings start to take shape once again in 2021, the benefits of online events are now well established — leaving many event planners inspired to explore hybrid meetings moving forward.

“Right now, our world has been almost all-virtual for the last year, but now that venues are starting to

open up for live events, hybrids are where the industry is headed,” said Bob Leon, owner of Cleveland-based Colortone Staging & Rentals, which has worked with Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and Cuyahoga Community College to stage hybrid events.

So what does that look like in practice? Hybrid events combine the best of both worlds by combining a traditional live in-person event with an online component. Attendees have more options for participation, and the virtual piece breaks down financial, geographic, time-based and other types of barriers for those who may not otherwise have been able to attend.

“Until the pandemic, the virtual component [of a live event] was always an afterthought,” said Mike Yearling, VP of Sales and Marketing for Mills James, recently named the official on-site audiovisual and rigging provider for Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.

“The pandemic has absolutely inverted that model.”

ATTENDANCE BOOSTER Hybrid meetings can also boost attendee numbers — for instance, the American Society of Association Executives attendance soared from 4,000 to 9,000 when its annual meeting went virtual in 2020. Sponsors may also be more

MEMORABLE MEETINGS. INSPIRING EVENTS. Captivate your audience at InterContinental Cleveland. From our high-tech, 500-seat Bank of America Amphitheater to our glamorous 8,000-square-foot Founders Ballroom, experience unrivaled amenities in an unforgettable destination.

Live the InterContinental life.

For additional information, visit iccleveland.com or contact our Sales Department at 216.707.4168. facebook.com/InterConCLE twitter.com/InterConCLE instagram.com/InterConCLE

10

ThisisCleveland.com

ROCK THE HOUSE ENTERTAINMENT

Five to Thrive likely to sign on due to increased reach from both in-person and online attendees, and hybrid events also broaden sponsorship packages with the chance to sponsor livestreams and event apps in addition to live collateral.

HUB-AND-SPOKE In embracing hybrid events, many planners are moving toward a huband-spoke model, which spans multiple venues with one main destination and several satellite locations (along with online offerings). With approximately 2,100 partner venues around the globe, companies such as Encore Global can help execute this model seamlessly across numerous cities with the benefit of a single point of contact alongside local teams to help on-site.

The team at Mills James is currently working on a hub-andspoke event for a major Ohio-based manufacturing company that will incorporate its international locations. “We’re going to use a ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’-style model, where we’ll throw to other places throughout the day and check in with those folks,” said Yearling. “It helps people feel connected because you’re bringing them onto the stage and into the show.”

MAXIMIZE ENGAGEMENT According to the 2020 Virtual Events Report for Membership Organizations, 38% of event planners say their biggest challenge

is that people are tired of online meetings and calls. Seasoned audiovisual partners like Tailored Virtual can maximize engagement and help keep Zoom fatigue at bay with offerings like interactive game show experiences and surprise celebrity drop-ins, plus interactive polling and live scribes who provide digital drawings of the day. Rock the House Entertainment has similar offerings, along with virtual photo booths and virtual fundraisers.

Custom design also plays a role in helping avoid the “Zoom room” look and feel, according to Leon of Colortone. “We’re able to make it look more like the evening news with crawls, logos, lower-thirds, boxes and templates,” said Leon. “We’re also able to control the experience so that we don’t have people who are unmuted or who have trouble sharing their screen.”

Another unique component of a hybrid event is the ability to keep it going long beyond the confines of the scheduled event. The addition of a virtual platform lends itself to year-round learning and engagement, with attendees able to access the event in retrospect. Tailored Virtual provides an on-demand library for event playback, while Encore Global’s ChimeLive app gives attendees post-event access and resources (and planners the ability to track event data and analytics).

As hybrid events become more commonplace, it’s important to place both the live and virtual components on an equal playing field. Yearling of Mills James likened the approach to a televised Cleveland Browns game: “When 80,000 people show up at FirstEnergy Stadium for a live sporting event, there is a different crew for the TV audience and that piece is executed differently.”

As Yearling sees it, the key to virtual success is to “think like a broadcast television producer.” He suggested the following five rules of engagement to maximize virtual impact:

1. Find the narrative impact. Yearling encourages planners to view their event as somewhat of a three-act play guided by story structure with a definitive beginning, middle and end.

“It’s the difference between an event agenda and an event narrative,” said Yearling.

2. Think in terms of visual storytelling. Yearling boils this concept down to three simple words: “Show, don’t tell.” Striking visual imagery that deepens understanding — masterfully interspersed with speaker footage — can draw in the audience more effectively.

3. Use seamless pacing. The typical Zoom meeting has no shortage of awkward moments, from muting issues to lag time while trying to share one’s screen. Planning and rehearsing transitions can make all the difference.

4. Gather proof of engagement. A virtual setting makes it easier than ever to gauge what keeps an audience’s attention — from polling to chat to other interactive elements. “Any kind of instant feedback loops you can generate with your audience will inspire them to participate rather than passively watching,” said Yearling.

5. Practice smart promotion. With the current volume of virtual events, it’s important to think about ways your event can stand out from the pack.

Yearling suggested getting creative with event promotion to maximize RSVPs and get attendees hyped to set the stage for high engagement.

CREDIT

11

Spectacular soaring ceilings, light-filled spaces and stunning views of the Cleveland skyline and Northcoast Harbor create a one-of-a-kind setting for your private event, business gathering, or wedding reception. Sophisticate or casual, we can do it all.

Amenities include: • Attached parking garage and VIP drop-off at front entrance • Modern, upscale catering options • Dedicated catering and event staff

216-696-4941 SpecialEvents@glsc.org GreatScience.com

Business Friendly Companies that are seeing success in Cleveland:

Health Care + BioMed Cleveland Clinic University Hospitals BioEnterprise GE Healthcare Philips Steris

Aerospace + Aviation Arconic Eaton GrafTech International Lockheed Martin NASA Glenn The Timken Co.

Manufacturing + Innovation Cleveland Cliffs Diebold GE Lighting GOJO Industries, Inc. Goodyear Nestle USA Parker Hannifin PolyOne Sherwin-Williams Shurtech Swagelok

I.T. BrandMuscle Hyland Software LeanDog Plug and Play

Health-Tech/High-Tech

INDUSTRIES

BUILDING ON A MANUFACTURING HERITAGE, WORLD-CLASS HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY AND VIBRANT ENTREPRENEURIAL CULTURE, CLEVELAND IS A RICH HUB FOR INNOVATION.

Cleveland’s 21st-century economic and employment environment builds on the city’s rich industrial and entrepreneurial heritage. It’s now the 15th largest U.S. economic region with $238 billion in gross regional product. There are 109,000 diverse companies, many of which have a health-tech or high-tech focus.

Health Care Cleveland has the most concentrated area of hospitals and medical research centers in the nation. Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals alone are the city’s largest employers with a combined workforce of more than 49,000. Cleveland Clinic’s main campus is essentially a city within itself, requiring its own zip code, and its physical expansion shows no signs of slowing down.

In particular, Cleveland Clinic is capitalizing on IBM’s latest development, IBM Watson Health.

It is a cognitive system enabling a new partnership between people and computers as health care becomes

even more dependent on technology.

“People from around the world who have the means to go anywhere in the world for care choose to come here,” said Baiju Shah, president and CEO of Greater Cleveland Partnership, which serves as the region’s chamber of commerce, supporting local businesses and weighing in on major issues affecting the community. “They do so because our clinicians, our caregivers and our researchers are not only excellent, but are also on the frontiers of medicine.”

Advanced Manufacturing Cleveland’s manufacturing past started with John D. Rockefeller founding Standard Oil of Ohio in 1870. That success has endured in Cleveland, but it has evolved in recent years to occupy other sectors, including advanced manufacturing.

The value of exports from the region’s 18 counties rings in at $87 billion, with the largest manufacturing export sectors being transportation equipment, chemical engineering, chemical manufacturing and primary-metal

CLEVELAND CLINIC: PHIL SCALIA

13

manufacturing. Advances in technology, including the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and additive manufacturing, continue to change the face of manufacturing in Northeast Ohio. Cleveland-Cliffs, the 173-year-old company that’s the largest flat-rolled steel company in North America, has joined the ranks of the Fortune 500. In 2020, the company acquired two steel-making firms — Cincinnati-area-based AK Steel and Chicago’s ArcelorMIttal USA. The transactions ensure the company will continue to thrive over the next century and excel in U.S. markets that include automotive production and manufacturing, construction, machinery and equipment.

“Cleveland has banded together to accelerate the growth and prosperity that leads to a thriving region,” Shah said. “We’ve adopted a series of values that begin with the word ‘in’ — innovative, involved, inclusive, inspired, integrity, interconnected and most importantly, unity — which ensures we are ‘all-in’ — to make Cleveland great.”

Technology Ranked No. 2 in the country with a 19.9% inflow of tech workers, it’s easy to see why Cleveland is quickly becoming a hub for innovation and technology.

Downtown's growing cluster of tech-focused companies includes BrandMuscle, Robot & Pencils and TPA Stream, while startup accelerator Plug and Play has helped attract cutting-edge startups like BrightEdge.

“Cleveland is home to one of the most diverse industrial regions in the country,” Shah said. “Companies have always been leaders in metals, materials, electronics and controls.

Now, they’re at the forefront of adopting technology to create better and innovative products.”

14

ThisisCleveland.com

UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS; PORT OF CLEVELAND: CODY YORK; UNIVERSITY CIRCLE: AERIAL AGENTS; TIMKEN; SHERWIN-WILLIAMS; NASA; FREIGHTER SHIP: WIL LINDSEY; TIMKEN

BY

THE

NUMBERS 15th largest U.S. ECONOMIC REGION WITH $238 BILLION IN GROSS REGIONAL PRODUCT

49,000

#1

combined workforce

CONCENTRATED AREA OF HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL RESEARCH CENTERS IN THE NATION

AT CLEVELAND CLINIC AND UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS (WITHIN CLEVELAND)

109,000

COMPANIES, MANY WITH HEALTH-TECH/HIGH-TECH FOCUS

$2.3 billion ATTRACTED BY HEALTH CARE AND BIOSCIENCE I.T. ENTREPRENEURS SINCE 2005

700

#34

BIOMEDICAL COMPANIES MAKE UP A $5.6 BILLION SECTOR OF NORTHEAST OHIO’S GROSS REGIONAL PRODUCT (GRP)

15,729

CLEVELAND’S RANKING ON A LIST OF THE 50 MOST ENTREPRENEURFRIENDLY CITIES IN THE WORLD, AHEAD OF DENVER, SALT LAKE CITY AND ATLANTA

MINORITY-OWNED

BUSINESSES IN CLEVELAND, WHILE CUYAHOGA COUNTY AS A WHOLE HAS

#4

FASTEST GROWING MARKET FOR TECH TALENT

30,216

#5

CITY FOR NEW JOB OPENINGS

BY GLASSDOOR

#2

IN THE COUNTRY WITH A 19.9% INFLOW OF TECH WORKERS (2020 LINKEDIN) UNIVCERSITY CIRCLE CAMPUS: AERIAL AGENTS, NASA GLENN ORION TEST: NASA CHRISTOPHER J. LYNCH, TIMKEN WHQ PRODUCT SHOWROOM: TIMKEN

15

DOWNTOWN’S MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR MAKEOVER CONTINUES, ALL WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF 5,000 HOTEL ROOMS AND THE HUNTINGTON CONVENTION CENTER OF CLEVELAND.

16

ThisisCleveland.com

Downtown Cleveland On the Rise Downtown is growing stronger every quarter, attracting more residents and businesses that support the city center. The evidence of Cleveland’s economic renaissance can be seen in the $8.5 billion in investments spent here since 2008, including a reinvented Public Square unveiled in the summer of 2016 and expanding development on the shore of Lake Erie and the banks of the Cuyahoga River.

Sherwin-Williams Headquarters: The world-renowned paint and coatings company, staffed by 3,500 employees, will break ground in 2021 on a one-million-square-foot development adjacent to Public Square that will be completed in 2024. Plans call for a 36-story, 616-foot tower, hotel and retail.

Neighboring developments will include: the Magellan-Westin Tower, a proposed 30-story residential tower and five-star hotel tower by Chicago’s Magellan Development Group and the Weston Group of Warrensville Heights; a $100 million redevelopment of the 116-year-old Rockefeller Building featuring 436 apartments, offices and ground-level dining and retail; and a redevelopment of 55 Public Square for residential and office space, as well as a restaurant.

Flats East Bank Phase 3: A bastion of dining and entertainment options converge where the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie meet. A new Asian fusion concept eatery will be joined by a nightclub/restaurant and a country music bar topped by a cigar/whiskey bar. Kenect Cleveland will be home to micro-apartments, co-working space and retail.

Tower City Riverview: Following the Quicken Loans/Rocket

Mortgage announcement that the company plans to add more than 700 jobs, a site along the Cuyahoga River is under consideration for a new office building for employees, as well as hotel and residential development and public greenspace.

Downtown Business Relocations: The heart of the city is once again becoming the hub for businesses that include iHeart Media Cleveland (more than 100 employees), which is moving to lower Euclid Avenue and FM Global (more than 100 employees) moving to North Point Tower on Lakeside Avenue.

Fathom (100 employees) moved to Stonebridge Plaza in The Flats, and CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC — the biggest suburb-toDowntown move with 500 headquarters employees — has relocated to the Tap packaging complex following the building’s $40 million renovation.

Lakefront Development: City leaders are considering a master plan being developed by The Haslam Sports Group, owners of the Cleveland Browns. It calls for expanding public access between Downtown and the lakefront by creating a $236 million, 350-foot-wide land bridge (plinth) off of Mall C that would soar over the train tracks and Shoreway (Ohio Rte. 2).

The proposal includes nearly 30 acres of green space adjacent to FirstEnergy Stadium, as well as mix of housing, hotel and commercial development.

Downtown Residential Developments From 2010 to 2020, Downtown saw a 31% population increase and an expected 30,000 residents will call Downtown home by 2030 with continued development.

The rich history and diversity of Cleveland’s entire region is

HARBOR + SKYLINE: AERIAL AGENTS; MALL C FIREWORKS: WIL LINDSEY; THE LUMEN: AERIAL AGENTS; CONVENTION CENTER: NATHAN MIGAL

BY

THE

NUMBERS $8.5 billion INVESTMENT IN ANNOUNCED OR COMPLETED DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND DEVELOPMENTS (2008-2019)

$320 million IN DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT COMPLETED IN 2020 A RECORD

19.6 million visitors TRAVELED TO CUYAHOGA COUNTY IN 2019

30,000 DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS BY 2030

14th Most welcoming city FOR IMMIGRANTS IN AMERICA

27 Accredited COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

22 Fortune 1000 COMPANIES LOCATED IN NORTHEAST OHIO

2 million SKILLED LABOR FORCE IN BIOMEDICAL AND MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES THAT ARE WITHIN A 45-MINUTE COMMUTE – CREATING A BUILT-IN ATTENDANCE BASE.

17

reflected in the ethnicity of Downtown’s growing population: 56% are White, 39% are Black, 7% are Asian and 5% are Hispanic, non-white.

1.3 million-square-foot Union Trust Bank into 868 workforce apartments, 95,000 square feet of offices and 20,000 square feet of retail.

struction and a new MetroHealth Economic Opportunity Center, offering job, financial and digital literacy training, and access to Tri-C classes.

Euclid Grand: Located steps away from Playhouse Square, this new complex features 240 luxury apartments.

Neighborhood Growth

Cleveland Innovation District: When ground is broken next spring for Cleveland Clinic’s $500 million, 1,000-employee Global Center for Pathogen Research & Human Health, it will be the district’s first step toward fostering 20,000 jobs over the next 15 years.

75 Public Square: The 15-story historic landmark has experienced a $40 million renovation that has converted it into 114 residential units.

City Club Tower: Rising 23 stories above lower Euclid Avenue, the new $92.5 million development will feature 300 apartments.

Tower at Erieview: Upscale residences and a possible hotel will occupy 13 stories within the 40-story complex.

The Centennial: A $450 million redevelopment project is converting the iconic 21-story,

INTRO: One of the country's tallest timber-frame building is across from the historic West Side Market in Ohio City with 288 apartments, 10 penthouses, 35,000 square feet of dining and retail space, 12,000 square feet of event space and 1 acre of public greenspace.

Circle Square: At 250 feet tall, the 24-story Artisan Tower, located near Cleveland Clinic’s main campus, will be the tallest building in University Circle.

Construction of Library Lofts, a 205-unit, mixed-income 11-story apartment building that will stand 115 feet tall and be built over the Cleveland Public Library’s Martin Luther King Jr. branch, coincides with that of the Artisan.

Woodhill/Buckeye: A $35 million HUD grant is replacing a 487unit public housing complex with 800 mixed-income rental homes.

Fairfax/Hough/Slavic Village: Innovation Square, Chester 75 and 5115 The Rising are several of the ambitious projects currently underway.

Additional City Developments MetroHealth: The soon-tobe-completed, LEED-certified, 11-story Glick Center anchors the 585-acre EcoDistrict and a new medical office building that’s part of MetroHealth’s $946 million campus transformation plan that includes new residential con-

18

ThisisCleveland.com

Airport Development: Plans are underway for a comprehensive $2 billion investment that adds four new concourses, relocates the U.S. Customs station and provides more parking options and modern amenities for travelers.

Making Connections: Links between neighborhoods and attractions to Lake Erie are growing, thanks to the completion of projects that include the 2.1-mile Red Line Greenway, Stage 3 of the Towpath Trail, the North Coast Harbor pedestrian bridge and the Wendy Park Bridge.

Cinema City: Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood is slated to set the scene for a 150,000-squarefoot studio, complete with four sound stages for film and TV production. The $45 million development will be located on 25 acres adjacent to Gordon Park.

Studio West 117: One of Cleveland’s newest spots is envisioned to become a hub for the LGBTQ community. The complex features a performance space, dance studio, bar, concert club and the FieldHouse for sports, as well as dining and retail options.

Completion of the $70 million venue is scheduled for 2023.

ROCK HALL: ROCK HALL, TOWPATH TRAIL: CANALWAY PARTNERS, ROCKET MORTGAGE FIELDHOUSE: TREPAL PHOTOGRAPHY CLEVELAND CAVALIERS, SHERWIN WILLIAMS HQ MODEL: SHERWIN-WILLIAMS, THE FLATS: DESTINATION CLEVELAND, VAN AKEN: NATHAN MIGAL, EAST 4TH: NATHAN MIGAL

Making a

Better Cleveland Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiatives

Destination Cleveland is committed to learning and acting to ensure our work equitably, intentionally and inclusively addresses systemic racism and recognizes, celebrates and contributes to our destination city’s diversity.

Continual Listening: In partnership with Black Travel Alliance and a local facilitator, Destination Cleveland initially engaged Black and Latinx residents to understand the challenges faced by people of color (POC)-owned businesses and perceptions of how we promote Cleveland. The organization is committed to ongoing listening and learning to enrich our work.

Attract People: Destination Cleveland’s paid marketing and meetings and conventions attraction efforts will have an increasing and significant focus on garnering visitors from geographic markets with dominant POC populations and conferences with majority POC attendees.

Improve Perceptions: Destination Cleveland will demonstrate that representation matters in marketing and storytelling. Its marketing creative, content and imagery will reflect Cleveland’s diverse communities, from under-represented groups to LGBTQ+ and residents with disabilities.

Enhance Experiences: To ensure all businesses can benefit from a growing tourism economy, Destination Cleveland will intentionally and regularly support, build relationships and engage with and amplify more businesses owned by the community’s diverse populations.

The organization will educate the hospitality workforce about DEI and collaborate with civic partners to ensure experiences reflect the city’s POC history.

Organizational Foundation: To represent the community accurately and fully, the organization must look like the community. Destination Cleveland will enhance recruiting and sourcing practices to increase diversity among its employees, Board of Directors and vendors.

CREDIT

19

Hallmark VENUE

THE HUNTINGTON CONVENTION CENTER OF CLEVELAND'S VAST OFFERING OF FLEXIBLE MEETING SPACE CAN HOST A WIDE RANGE OF EVENTS. The place can make or break any meeting. Cleveland offers an array of attractive, easy-to-navigate options that work for everyone — a few people, a few hundred or a few thousand.

Whether you want an outside, parklike location with a side of skyline views and cocktails or flexible indoor rooms minutes away from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the city’s convention center campus has got you covered.

BY

THE

NUMBERS 410,000

SQUARE FEET OF PRIME MEETING AND EVENT SPACE AN AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) COMPLIANT CENTER WITH ACCESSIBLE RESTROOMS, WALKWAYS, RAMPS, ELEVATORS, BRAILLE SIGNAGE AND WHEELCHAIR AVAILABILITY

45

MEETING ROOMS TOTALING MORE THAN 77,000 SQUARE FEET

1 million

SQUARE-FOOT CONVENTION CENTER CAMPUS CONNECTS TO HILTON CLEVELAND DOWNTOWN, PUBLIC AUDITORIUM AND OUTDOOR MALL GREEN SPACE

225,000

SQUARE FEET OF CLASS A EXHIBIT SPACE, DIVISIBLE INTO 3 EXHIBITION HALLS

32,000 SQUARE-FOOT COLUMN-FREE GRAND BALLROOM

15,000 DEVICES CAPABLE OF CONNECTING SIMULTANEOUSLY

17

INDOOR/ CLIMATECONTROLLED LOADING DOCK BAYS AND 3 DRIVE-IN DOORS (ONE FOR EACH HALL)

CONNECTED PUBLIC AUDITORIUM FEATURING 10,000 SEATS WITH THE 3,000-SEAT MUSIC HALL, 600-SEAT LITTLE THEATRE AND 17 ADDITIONAL MEETING ROOMS

11,000

SQUARE-FOOT ATRIUM BALLROOM FILLED WITH NATURAL LIGHT

#4

CONVENTION CENTER IN HIGHLY WALKABLE PLACES BY PCMA CONVENE MAGAZINE

20

ThisisCleveland.com

WELCOME SIGNAGE: CODY YORK, CONVENTION CENTER CAMPUS: NATHAN MIGAL, HUNTINGTON CONVENTION CENTER GRAND BALLROOM: NATHAN MIGAL, MLB PLAY BALL PARK AT HUNTINGTON CONVENTION CENTER: NATHAN MIGAL, CLEVELAND PUBLIC AUDITORIUM: NATHAN MIGAL

Welcome to

Hilton Cleveland Downtown With 600 beautifully appointed guest rooms, 50,000 sq ft of event space, and directly connected access to the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, Hilton Cleveland Downtown is the perfect base for e ploring the city.

Property highlights Largest hotel in Downtown Cleveland Features stunning lakefront views and floor-to-ceiling windows throughout LEED Silver Certified design for enhanced sustainability focus Connie Award winning property, named Hilton in the Americas two years in a row 0 & 0 Home to Cleveland's premiere rooftop bar, Bar Offers full service dining outlets plus a grab & go market Minutes from area attractions like the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, East th Street, Playhouse Square and more

hiltoncleveland.com

Hilton Garden Inn Cleveland Downtown Number of Rooms: 232

guestrooms & 8 suites Meeting Space: 11 meeting rooms totaling 11,169 sq. ft., largest meeting room size: 2,346 sq. ft.

Location: Gateway District Proximity to CC: 15-minute walk

The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland Number of Rooms: 175 rooms &

28 suites Meeting Space: 10 meeting

with a A THRIVING DOWNTOWN PROVIDES VISITORS WITH 18 HOTELS AND NEARLY 5,000 ROOMS.

Hilton Cleveland Downtown Number of Rooms: 563

guestrooms & 37 suites Meeting Space: 18 meeting rooms totaling 48,984 sq. ft., largest meeting room: 20,825 sq. ft.

Location: Civic Center District Proximity to CC: connected

Renaissance Cleveland Hotel Number of Rooms: 441

guestrooms & 50 suites Meeting Space: 31 meeting rooms totaling 59,888 sq. ft., largest meeting room size: 22,590 sq. ft.

Location: Tower City Center District Proximity to CC: 5-minute walk

The Westin Cleveland Downtown

Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Tower Number of Rooms: 385

guestrooms & 15 suites Meeting Space: 15 meeting rooms totaling 17,918 sq. ft., largest meeting room: 9,746 sq. ft.

Location: Civic Center District Proximity to CC: adjacent

rooms totaling 19,000 sq. ft., largest meeting room size: 7,565 sq. ft.

Location: Tower City Center District Proximity to CC: 10-minute walk

Crowne Plaza Cleveland at Playhouse Square Number of Rooms: 170 rooms &

34 suites Meeting Space: 8 meeting

rooms totaling 13,079 sq. ft., largest meeting room size: 5,104 sq. ft.

Location: Playhouse Square District Proximity to CC: 15-minute walk

DoubleTree by Hilton Cleveland Downtown Lakeside

Hampton Inn Cleveland Downtown

Number of Rooms: 374

Number of Rooms: 185

guestrooms & 5 suites Meeting Space: 10 meeting rooms totaling 10,389 sq. ft., largest meeting room size: 5,643 sq. ft.

Location: Civic Center District Proximity to CC: 5-minute walk

guestrooms & 9 suites Meeting Space: 2 meeting rooms totaling 1,032 sq. ft., largest meeting room size: 600 sq. ft.

Location: Civic Center District Proximity to CC: 5-minute walk

Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade

Drury Plaza Hotel Downtown Cleveland

Number of Rooms: 446 rooms &

Number of Rooms: 258

Number of Rooms: 177

38 suites

guestrooms & 35 suites Meeting Space: 14 meeting rooms totaling 14,100 sq. ft., largest meeting room size: 7,000 sq. ft.

Location: Gateway District Proximity to CC: 5-minute walk

guestrooms & 12 suites Meeting Space: 3 meeting rooms totaling 3,992 sq. ft., largest meeting room: 2,458 sq. ft.

Location: Civic Center District Proximity to CC: adjacent

Meeting Space: 18 meeting

rooms totaling 20,473 sq. ft., largest meeting room size: 9,047 sq. ft.

Location: Civic Center District Proximity to CC: adjacent

CC = Convention Center

22

ThisisCleveland.com

THE WESTIN CLEVELAND DOWNTOWN: CODY YORK

BY

THE

NUMBERS

600 ROOMS CONNECTED TO THE HUNTINGTON CONVENTION CENTER OF CLEVELAND, PLUS ANOTHER 1,000+ ROOMS ADJACENT

Comfort Inn Downtown Number of Rooms: 139

guestrooms & 6 suites Meeting Space: 1 meeting room, largest meeting room size: 1,536 sq. ft.

Location: Playhouse Square District Proximity to CC: 15-minute walk

Residence Inn by Marriott Cleveland Downtown Number of Rooms: 175 suites Meeting Space: 2 meeting rooms

totaling 2,166 sq. ft., largest meeting room size: 1,680 sq. ft.

Location: Gateway District Proximity to CC: 10-minute walk

The Metropolitan Hotel at The 9 Number of Rooms: 67

guestrooms & 73 suites Meeting Space: 32 meeting rooms totaling 20,955 sq. ft., largest meeting room size: 5,122 sq. ft.

Location: Gateway District Proximity to CC: 10-minute walk

Aloft Cleveland Downtown Number of Rooms: 150

guestrooms Meeting Space: 6 meeting rooms

totaling 11,922 sq. ft., largest meeting room: 4,746 sq. ft.

Location: The Flats District Proximity to CC: 10-minute walk

Hotel Indigo Cleveland Downtown Number of Rooms: 137

guestrooms & 4 suites Meeting Space: 4 meeting rooms totaling 3,504 sq. ft., largest meeting room size: 1,800 sq. ft.

Location: Gateway District Proximity to CC: 10-minute walk

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Cleveland Downtown Number of Rooms: 129

guestrooms & 12 suites Meeting Space: 3 meeting rooms totaling 1,500 sq. ft.

Location: Gateway District Proximity to CC: 5-minute walk

Kimpton Schofield Number of Rooms: 116

guestrooms & 6 suites Meeting Space: 3 meeting rooms totaling 3,800 sq. ft., largest meeting room: 3,000 sq. ft.

Location: Gateway District Proximity to CC: 10-minute walk

CLEVELAND MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN AT KEY CENTER: NATHAN MIGAL; HILTON CLEVELAND DOWNTOWN GRAND BALLROOM: HILTON CLEVELAND

DOWNTOWN HOTEL MEETING SPACES UP TO

60,000 SQUARE FEET NEARLY

5,000 HOTEL ROOMS IN 18 DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND HOTELS ALL DOWNTOWN HOTELS WITHIN A

15-MINUTE WALK OF THE HUNTINGTON CONVENTION CENTER OF CLEVELAND

3,000 HOTEL ROOMS WITHIN 5-MILE RADIUS OF CLEVELAND HOPKINS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

25,000 HOTEL ROOMS IN THE NORTHEAST OHIO REGION

15+ NEW HOTEL PROPERTIES ARE PROPOSED AND/OR UNDER DEVELOPMENT IN NORTHEAST OHIO

23

ACCESSIBLE

Cleveland MAKING MEETINGS MORE INCLUSIVE

LUCKILY FOR MEETING AND EVENT PLANNERS considering Cleveland, Northeast Ohio has plenty of accessibility features, even leading the way on some, such as sensory inclusion. Here are just a few of the many locations that offer accessibility options for your next meeting.

Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, Hilton Cleveland Downtown As one of the city’s premier meeting and event locations, the 410,000-square-foot convention center in Downtown Cleveland is an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant center and makes welcoming all guests a priority. The convention center offers restrooms and water fountains throughout the space that are fully accessible, as well as walkways and ramps that make getting around easier for everyone. There are elevators on each level.

Signs within the convention center contain Braille text as well as raised characters for visually impaired visitors. Wheelchairs are also available upon request at guest services desks located at the Lakeside Avenue and St. Clair Avenue entrances.

24

ThisisCleveland.com

The Hilton Cleveland Downtown, which is connected to the convention center, offers dozens of accessibility options, including guest rooms with mobility features such as wide doors and roll-in showers. Hearing accessible guest rooms have a visual alarm, notification devices for the doorbell or door knock and incoming telephone calls.

Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame While rock music might be best played at a volume of 11, the Rock Hall knows that some music lovers might have sensory sensitivities or challenges. The venue offers weighted lap pads and sensory bags filled with fidget toys, noise-dampening headphones, communication cards and sunglasses, not to mention quiet areas for a brief rest.

Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, home to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Lake Erie Monsters, is one of the first arenas in North America to also offer sensory bags, lap blankets and quiet spaces for guests at any game or event.

“Invisible disabilities are the vast majority of disabilities out there,” said Patrick Scanlon, senior director of guest experience, guest services, Cleveland

Cavaliers and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. “So, the more we learn, the better environment we can create to truly be an inclusive venue.”

Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center Part of ADA compliance includes being inclusive to people who are deaf or hearing impaired.

The Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center, which was founded in 1921, offers certified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters to help organizations or groups provide for anyone who might benefit. Many of the center’s interpreters are nationally certified by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID).

Benjamin Rose Institute of Aging With an increased national focus on mental health, accessibility to behavioral health is also important. Benjamin Rose Institute of Aging offers a suite of mental and behavioral health services to individuals 55 and older, as well as events facilities for businesses of all kinds.

The institute offers therapeutic behavioral services, community psychiatric supportive treatment, counseling/psychotherapy and mental health day treatment.

SENSORY FRIENDLY PERFORMANCE: PLAYHOUSE SQUARE,ROCKET MORTGAGE FIELDHOUSE SENSORY ROOM: CLEVELAND CAVALIERS, DRURY PLAZA HOTEL: NATHAN MIGAL

Host your next event at

A unique and memorable venue • Professional event planning services Modern, upscale catering • Audio/video system for presentations Upgrade to include animal encounters

Visit clevelandmetroparks.com/rentals or call 216-635-3304.

©Registered trademark of Cleveland Metroparks.

Entertainment

EPICENTER

CLEVELAND IS A CITY WITH WORLDCLASS EXPERIENCES WITHOUT THE WORLD-CLASS EGO. A PLACE THAT INVITES PEOPLE TO COME AS THEY ARE. AND FOR THAT, YOU’RE WELCOME.

A VISIT TO CLEVELAND is full of possibilities. Whether you are looking for highly ranked museums, restaurants owned by award-winning chefs or waterfront activities, this city has it all... and then some.

Steps Away The Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland’s proximity to Downtown’s hotels, restaurants, retail, greenspaces and attractions encourage visitors to explore by foot. In Downtown Cleveland, everything is within reach.

“I've lived in Los Angeles; Scottsdale, Arizona; Austin, Texas; and Chicago twice,” said Gordon Taylor III, vice president of convention sales and services at Destination Cleveland, who moved here from The Windy City in August 2019. “Visiting [Chicago art attractions] is overwhelming as you struggle to fight traffic and find parking — which costs a lot of money. Here in Cleveland, University Circle is a five-minute drive from Downtown, and the neighborhood is easy to navigate. Cleveland is truly the town for me and my family.”

Everything Within Reach A walk down Euclid Avenue will welcome you to the renovated and inviting Public Square, com-

26

ThisisCleveland.com

plete with a splash pad, walking paths, planting benches and a restaurant. The space frequently hosts free yoga sessions, live music and large events.

Art is all around, as Cleveland artists and creators share personal ways to inspire unity.

The new #VoicesofCLE public art initiative, led by Ingenuity Cleveland, Karamu House, Destination Cleveland, Cleveland Public Library, LAND Studio, the City of Cleveland, historic Gateway and the Warehouse districts and Downtown Cleveland Alliance, serves as a call to action and platform for freedom of expression. Local artists partner with businesses to create magnificent visual expressions

on Downtown storefronts. “#VoicesofCLE is designed to engage artists of color throughout our city to spark conversation, movement, healing and community,” said Michael Deemer, president and CEO of Downtown Cleveland Alliance. “Amplifying voices in our community — especially those of color — is an important part of the diverse and inclusive city we are building in Downtown Cleveland.’

First-Tier Assets “We just brought 10,000 people to Mall C with our inaugural MetroHealth Juneteenth Freedom Festival,” said Deemer.

[The event] built on the recent successes of the NFL Draft, the

LIVE MUSIC: ROCK HALL; CLE PRIDE: NATHAN MIGAL; PUBLIC SQUARE: NATHAN MIGAL; CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART: CODY YORK; EAST 4TH: NATHAN MIGAL; #VOICES OF CLE MURAL: NATHAN MIGAL; KARAMU HOUSE: KAYLA LUPEAN; PLAYHOUSE SQUARE

return of performances at Playhouse Square, 100% occupancy at Progressive Field, the arrival of Walnut Wednesday food trucks on Perk Plaza, the re-opening of the rotunda at Heinen’s and so much more that’s adding to Downtown’s vibrancy.”

Uniquely Cleveland From vibrant places to live to destinations that showcase the area’s appreciation for culture and ethnic roots, experience the city’s heart and soul in the neighborhoods that surround Downtown, from the Black performing arts center, Karamu House, in Fairfax to authentic markets/eateries in Asia Town to craft breweries in Ohio City.

For more information on all of Cleveland’s 30 neighborhoods, visit livecleveland.org.

Set the Scene Wow your guests with an unforgettable event held at one of Cleveland’s many unique venues. Art buffs, music lovers, sports fanatics and more will revel at the opportunity to explore and enjoy captivating spaces during your meeting or event.

CLEVELAND

MAKES THE LIST TRAVEL + LEISURE SAID

CLEVELAND IS THE COOLEST PLACE YOU NEVER THOUGHT TO VISIT UNIVERSITY CIRCLE NAMED

- The Agora - Cleveland Museum of Art - Edgewater Park - FirstEnergy Stadium - Great Lakes Science Center - House of Blues Cleveland - Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica - Playhouse Square - Progressive Field - Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse - The Rotunda at The 9

Best Arts District in the Country

BY USA TODAY 10 BEST READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS CLEVELAND IS RANKED AS ONE OF THE

9 Most Surprising Cities in the U.S.

BY AFAR THE DAILY MEAL NAMED CLEVELAND ONE OF

The 50 Best Foodie Towns in America.

MATADOR NETWORK INCLUDED CLEVELAND ON LIST OF

9 U.S. Cities That are Super Easy to Explore on Foot CLEVELAND WAS VOTED THE

No. 1 Best City to Go Car-Free

BY USA TODAY’S 10 BEST READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS CVENT NAMED CLEVELAND TO ITS LIST OF

The Top 50 Meeting Places in the U.S. SMART MEETINGS CALLED CLEVELAND

One of the 15 Great Meeting Cities CLEVELAND WAS NAMED ONE OF THE

Top 10 Most Innovative Cities

BY CNN SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS NAMED CLEVELAND

One of the 5 Great Cities for Medical Meetings 27

OUR CULINARY SCENE REFLECTS ENTREPRENEURIAL CHEFOWNERS WHO ARE INTRODUCING CREATIVE CONCEPTS BASED IN ETHNIC CUISINE.

Diverse Tastes Northeast Ohio is full of restaurants operating diverse and minority-owned destinations that satisfy our culinary cravings.

Nosh on empanadas at Half Moon Bakery on the near west side. Head to Seti’s Polish Boy truck for a lunch you can take on the road. Work your way through AsiaTown’s eateries like Ball Ball Waffle, Li Wah and Superior Pho. Kick it up with authentic Puerto Rican food at Rincon Criollo.

This is just the start. Mark your agenda with your favorites to try.

Black-owned Eateries Relax with the delicious blends of African, Indonesian, Brazilian and Colombian coffee Cleveland Cold Brew transforms into artisanroasted creations. Indulge in southern cuisine by chowing on walleye cakes, shrimp and grits, catfish fingers, collard greens, sweet potato pie and peach cobbler at Zanzibar Soul Fusion.

Discover why diners text “OMG” after diving into the gourmet burgers, steak and chicken sandwiches Black Box Fix is famous for. Sit down to fried chicken, catfish, salmon croquettes and black-eyed peas customers at Angie’s Soul Cafe have loved for three generations.

Savor seafood perfection that includes straight-from-the-sea clams, crawfish, snow crab legs and lobster at The Boiler 65.

28

ThisisCleveland.com

Experience the sights, sounds and tastes of The Big Easy at The Bourbon Street Barrel Room, where Cajun Creole specialties include jambalaya and gumbo, and Mardi Gras Grenade and Pimm’s Cup are New Orleans Happy Hour stars. Visit Empress Taytu for lamb, tilapia and other Ethiopian delicacies. Chicken rules the roost at Sauce the City where sandwiches are topped with signature sauces.

New Restaurants Check out the newest eateries located just steps away from Downtown hotels and the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.

Acqua di Luca: Seafood-focused Italian eatery featuring picturesque views of the city Betts: Grab-and-go vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and keto-friendly options Citizen Pie Roman Café: Pizza crafted in specially designed Italian ovens Filter: Upscale bar and restaurant serving lamb, pasta, burgers and a range of appetizers Goma: Fresh take on Japanese fusion and sushi Sauce Boiling Seafood Express: seafood topped with sweet Cajun, garlic butter and lemon pepper sauces Unruly Jamaican Cuisine: Eclectic menu that includes oxtails, callaloo, plantain and yams

BY

THE

NUMBERS

200+

EATERIES WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF HOTELS AND HUNTINGTON CONVENTION CENTER OF CLEVELAND

90

NEARLY NEW DOWNTOWN DINING LOCATIONS SINCE 2017

30+

CRAFT BREWERIES LOCATED IN THE CLEVELAND AREA MORE THAN

50 FOOD TRUCKS

ROAMING THE STREETS OF NEO

117 ETHNIC GROUPS SPEAKING MORE THAN 60 LANGUAGES

70+

CLEVELAND AREA

BLACK-OWNED EATERIES PUPUSERIA Y ANTOJITOS: AIREONNA MCCAL, THE BOILER 65: NATHAN MIGAL, BALL BALL WAFFLE: KAYLA LUPEAN

New Look. New Technology.

Unlimited Options.

All-Inclusive Meeting & Event Space in the Heart of Downtown

CLEMETROCONFERENCE.COM

Located in One Cleveland Center • (216) 696-3525 1375 E. 9th St., Floor 2, Cleveland, Ohio 44114

BY

THE

NUMBERS 50% OF U.S. POPULATION

WITHIN 500 MILES

Getting to and around MULTIPLE HIGHWAY SYSTEMS, CLEVELAND HOPKINS AND BURKE LAKEFRONT AIRPORTS, PLUS RAPID TRANSIT AND BUS ROUTES MAKE GETTING AROUND EASY. ONCE YOU ARE HERE, YOU CAN RIDE SHARE, HOP ON A FREE TROLLEY, GRAB A SCOOTER OR WALK.

CLE HOPKINS AIRPORT SERVED

10 MILLION IN 2019 WITH 156 DAILY NONSTOP DEPARTURES, 60+ CITIES (SOME ON A SEASONAL BASIS) AND 10 AIR CARRIERS

17TH MOST

WALKABLE CITY IN THE U.S. ACCORDING TO WALK SCORE

DOWNTOWN MOBILITY — Walk Score: 96; Bike Score: 62; Transit Score: 84

114 MILES

of bike paths (and counting)

ACCESSIBLE VIA

$2.50

6

RTA RAPID FARE FROM CLE HOPKINS AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND

HIGHWAY SYSTEMS

4 Downtown routes AVAILABLE ON A FREE TROLLEY SYSTEM

30

ThisisCleveland.com

RTA TROLLEY: SHANE HESSON; WALKABLE DOWNTOWN: CODY YORK; ELECTRIC SCOOTERS: WIL LINDSEY; UNITED CONCOURSE: LARRY E. HIGHBAUGH, JR.

Meeting?

Virtual

In-person Hybrid All the above

The choice is yours. The expertise is ours … for over 25 years.

We were doing virtual meetings before they were cool—25 years ago, in fact.

Over the years, our mix for clients has always included producing live, virtual, and hybrid events. We have the expertise and technical know-how to work with you on any platform, anytime, anywhere.

• Broadcast from your office, a hotel, or a convention center.

• Or choose our fully loaded state-of-the-art video studio, complete with a 40-foot curved LED wall, moving lights, and a second stage option.

• We can also coordinate presenters in multiple locations.

We may be headquartered in Cleveland, but with our membership in the AV Alliance and the Rental and Staging Network, we are able to support client events across the US and around the world with a global network of partners.

The world is returning to normal, little by little, and every organization has to choose the event style that is right for their audience. Let us be your guide.

CSRAV.com | 440-914-9500

CSR · VIRTUAL · HYBRID · LIVE

Audio • Video • Lighting • Projection • Staging • Breakout Room Equipment • Technical Expertise • New Technology

Join In at ThisisCleveland.com | #ThisisCle FOR MORE INFORMATION Gordon Taylor III, V.P. of Convention Sales and Services e: gtaylor@destinationcle.org | p: 216.875.6615 Sharrona Burns, Senior Director of Convention Sales e: sburns@destinationcle.org | p: 216.875.6630