Cleveland Meetings: The Land of Exceeding Expectations

“Cleveland put forth a very succinct and strong bid. We had all the various hotel rooms that we needed, all the venues. They were an incredible partnership team.”

Aubrey Walton, Director of Event Location Strategy and Planning 2021 NFL Draft

More people are discovering that hosting and attending an event in Cleveland is like no other experience.

Our creative and passionate team is 100% focused on exceeding your expectations every step of the way. Attendees are continually impressed by our lakefront setting, well-connected downtown and convention campus along with incredible cultural assets and genuine hospitality.

Cleveland is welcoming to all. Destination Cleveland is deeply committed to do more with greater intention to make our community stronger. We have ingrained diversity, equity and inclusion into how we operate, and our team connects event organizers with local leaders and institutions that enhance programming and help make events held in Cleveland the most memorable yet.

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

“Cleveland welcomed us and we had a great event!”

Janell Straach, Chair of the Board Women in Cybersecurity

Star Power

The 2022 NBA All-Star Game brought enough megawatt star power to Cleveland to heat up even the chilliest February nights.

Bouncing back from the pandemic and building on the slam dunk success of the MLB All-Star Game in 2019 and the NFL Draft in 2021, the 2022 NBA event brought more than 120,000 fans (from 45 states and 24 countries) and a who’s who of basketball and pop culture royalty.

There are a lot of benefits to a city when it comes to hosting events such as the NBA All-Star Game. For example, $248.9 million in economic impact and $141.4 million in direct spending are nothing to pump fake at. Neither is seeing the likes of Spike Lee, Adele or Machine Gun Kelly kicking it courtside or the positive exposure beaming into millions of homes via TV.

Community Coordination and Support

The 2022 NBA All-Star game was one of four massive events the Sports Com mission and Destination Cleveland bid on, beginning with the 2019 MLB All-Star Game, 2021 NFL Draft and following up with the 2024 NCAA Women’s Final Four.

“We’re through three of the four,” said Michael Mulhall, the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission’s VP of Business Devel opment. “Collectively, we knew to cover the community’s obligations we were going to have to raise about $14.5 million.”

David Gilbert, who serves as president and CEO of both Destination Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, led the campaign to raise the funds with a number of local business leaders. Ultimately, $5 million was raised for the NBA All-Star Game.

The NBA and NBA Players Associa tion contributed more than $3 million, providing programming and support focused on youth, health and economic opportunity and donating tickets to vari ous events. The league also dedicated its 2,000th Live, Learn or Play Center at the

The 2022 NBA All-Star Game was another in a string of examples showcasing Cleveland’s ability to bring home the win when it comes to big events.

Wasylko

Cudell Recreation Center on Cleveland’s West Side.

“[Giving back] is as much a part of our fiber and value system as our interest in excellence on the court,” said Joey Graziano, senior vice president, head of global event strategy and development at the NBA.

Event and Site Management

When you talk to Mulhall or Nic Barlage, CEO of the Cleveland Cavaliers,

Rock Entertainment Group and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, you discover the NBA All-Star Game wouldn’t have been possible without the $185 million renova tion done on the fieldhouse in 2019.

“It almost takes three to dance in these situations,” Barlage said. “The NBA was an incredible partner, saying that, ‘If the city of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County invest in improving the infra structure and the experience of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, we will bring an NBA All-Star game to your city.”

Among other things, the renovation included adding a 45,000-square-foot atrium to the arena, 744 screens and monitors capable of improved LED actions around the building and food and bever age options that make the experience enjoyable no matter where a fan is sitting.

While the arena hosted the NBA Rising Stars Game, All-Star Saturday Night and the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night, Cleveland’s wealth of downtown venues provided options for other All-Star Weekend events. Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center hosted the first-ever NBA HBCU Classic between Howard University and Morgan State University and the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. Public Auditorium hosted the NBA Crossover fan event.

In fact, the NBA and Temple University, which researched the economic impact of the festivities, estimated there were around 450 private and public events con nected to the game, such as Gloria James’ Fashion Show at Playhouse Square or the NBA party at the Rock & Hall of Fame.

All that city activation was accompanied by more than 47,014 hotel nights, which the city was easily able to handle thanks to the boom in hotels over the last decade.

Hilton Cleveland Downtown

The NBA alone was responsible for 30,000 of those hotel nights at 25 hotels.

Marketing and Communications Support

As with the MLB All-Star Game, NFL Draft and other large-scale events, Destination Cleveland implemented an integrated marketing campaign that included paid, earned and owned digital content to build awareness of the event and Cleveland as a visitor destination.

“The first and primary focus of our marketing efforts was to drive awareness of Cleveland as this year’s host city and to attract basketball fans to come to Cleveland to be a part of the festivities,” Gilbert said. “The campaign ran in our target leisure markets of the state of Ohio, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Indianapo lis, Detroit, Chicago, plus additional NBA markets within driving distance such as New York, D.C., Milwaukee and Toronto.”

Like at the NFL Draft, Destination Cleveland set up a social media com mand center where 18 writers, editors and photographers/videographers were instrumental in keeping Cleveland front and center in the online conversation about All-Star Weekend.

To make sure people attending in person left with the good vibes, Destination

Cleveland had a booth setup at the Crossover fan event. Destination Cleveland worked with the NBA and Levy Restaurants (the foodservice provider at Public Auditorium), to showcase six Cleveland woman- or minority-owned restaurants at a media event for Crossover.

“With large-scale events like this, it’s important for us to be present, showcase our brand to visitors and help create a positive and authentic experience for visitors and residents alike,” Gilbert said.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Efforts

In an effort to connect the dots on diversity, equity and inclusion, the Sports Commission held a Sport Summit at Cleveland Metropolitan Conference Center. The three-day event during the All-Star Weekend featured a series of workshops, exhibits, panel discussions and keynote speakers, covering topics such as racial equity in sports and beyond, Cleveland’s history of social justice and mental health and sports.

“We believe that sport has a lot of valuable lessons to teach people of all ages and abilities,” said Rachael StentzBaugher, vice president, administration and development at the Sports Commis sion. “We want to do everything we can to try to connect the community with these events.”

Panelists included Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff, former NBA player Jason Collins and Napheesa Collier of the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx.

“It’s just another good example of why Cleveland punches above its weight when it comes to hosting events,” said Mulhall.

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 work force 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 capi talizing on IBM’s latest development, IBM Watson Health. It is a cognitive system enabling a new partnership be tween 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 commu nity. “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 Stan dard 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

University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center

NASA Glenn Orion Test: Christopher J. Lynch / Cleveland Clinic: Phila Scalia / Sherwin-Williams / Timken

“Hands down Cleveland should be your next destination. Destination Cleveland and the great city of Cleveland, Ohio, gave us their all.”

Shirley A. Jones, Esq., National President Blacks in Government

the largest manufacturing export sectors being transportation equipment, chemical engineering, chemical manufacturing and primary-metal 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 steelmaking 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

Recently 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.”

By The Numbers

Under the Right Conditions Pressure Can Create Diamonds

Cleveland’s multibillion-dollar makeover continues, much within walking distance of 5,000 hotel rooms and the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.

Meeting Facility Updates

Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland: As part of a $49 million investment, Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland is expanding. The project is expected to enhance the complex through creation of more large, flexible meeting spaces that will provide

significant natural light, as well as infrastructure improvements, including new escalators, stairs and restrooms to support increased foot traffic. The junior ballroom also will undergo an expansion as well, likely doubling in size to serve as one large meeting space or be divided into multiple rooms. Changes are expected to be complete by summer 2024. “Since

the center opened in 2013, it has had a measurable economic impact of $1 billion — representing money brought into Cleveland from outsiders,” says Destination Cleveland President and CEO David Gilbert. “This investment indicates that Cleveland is serious about growing its tourism industry and enhancing the community’s popularity and reputation as a host of meetings and conventions.”

I-X Center: Renovations continue at the iconic I-X Center under new ownership of Industrial Realty Group LLC and its venue management team, Oak View Group. Totaling $50 million, the almost completed dividing wall creates more than half a million square feet of prime exhibit space on the east side of the main level, which flows seamlessly to the lower level’s 50,000 square foot exhibit space and 26 flexible meeting rooms. Future expansion discussions continue for this hybrid facility to best meet the needs of meeting planners and show promoters.

Downtown Cleveland on the Rise

Sherwin-Williams Headquarters:

The Cleveland Fortune 500 giant is painting a bright future with its new 36-story, 616-foot glass-sheathed global headquarters adjacent to public square. A 600,000-square-foot R&D facility also is forthcoming in suburban Brecksville that is expected to add 400 jobs upon its launch in 2024.

Progressive Field Renovation:

The five-year, $202 million renovation of the Cleveland Guardians ballpark starting in late 2022 includes transforming the left field terraces and replacing the Terrace Club restaurant with a sports betting parlor, plus the creation of a new “ballpark village” district.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Expansion:

The planned $100 million expansion will add a guitar pic-shaped addition that includes 50,000 square feet of new exhibition and event space, as well as a new band shell overlooking Lake Erie that will crank up the volume for concerts and performances.

Canal Basin Park: Work is underway on a 20-acre park that will serve as a connective hub at the northern end of the Towpath Trail, where the historic Ohio & Erie Canal meets the Cuyahoga River.

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 as a public health crisis 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. Additionally, owned content will be offered in languages beyond English.

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.

Downtown Residential Projects

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

City Club Apartments: Rising 23 stories above lower Euclid Avenue, the new $92.5 million development will feature 304 apartments.

Kenect Cleveland: This $84 million project will bring 229 apartments and

15,000 square feet of ground floor mixed-use space to the Flats East Bank.

The Centennial: A $465 million redevelopment project is converting the iconic 21-story, 1.3 million-square-foot Union Trust bank into 864 workforce apartments, 95,000 square feet of offices and 20,000 square feet of retail.

The Rockefeller: Highlights of this $120 million conversion includes 436 apartments (including 273 micro-unit apartments) retail offerings and three floors of renovated office space.

45 Erieview: This 16-story high-rise will become Cleveland’s first remote-work property, with a $102 million conversion from offices to 367 luxury apartments and lower-level co-working spaces.

Sherwin-Williams / Progressive Field: Gabe Wasylko / Rock & Roll Hall of Fame / INTRO in Ohio City: Edric Morales

Hotel Developments

Fidelity Hotel: This 97-room boutique hotel with a board room and 1,660-square-foot ballroom will add a throwback feel to the Gilded Age.

The Centennial: Private meeting rooms on the 21st floor enhance the appeal of this 160-room boutique hotel with a 5,032-square-foot event space.

W Hotel: Plans are underway to bring Ohio’s first W Hotel to the 40-story Erieview Tower. Features include 210 rooms and a rooftop restaurant.

Hotel Cleveland: More than $62 million in renovations are underway to transform all meeting spaces and hotel rooms, as well as the lobby and restaurant space of the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel, which is being rebranded as Hotel Cleveland that will become part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection in 2024.

Just outside of Downtown Cleveland, plans for additional hotels also are underway, including:

Brideworks: This new mixed-use development will include a 130-room hotel on floors 12-15, as part of the 162-foot-tall tower in Ohio City.

Additional City Developments

MetroHealth: The soon-to-becompleted, 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 construction and a MetroHealth Economic Opportunity Center.

Cleveland Clinic: Cleveland Clinic is adding a 1 million-square-foot Neurological Institute to its main campus, as well as renovating and expanding the Cole Eye Institute. Longer term plans include the addition of a 400,000-squarefoot research space called the Center for Infectious Diseases (CID).

Studio West 117: A hub of the LGBTQ+ community, this complex features a performance space, dance studio, bar, concept club, health clinic, 140 apartments and the FieldHouse for sports, as well as dining and retail options. Investment has grown to seven properties totaling $115 to $125 million and is scheduled for completion in 2023.

CentroVilla25: The $10 million conversion of a warehouse into a center of Hispanic culture will feature many shopping and dining options. Entrepreneurship in Cleveland’s La Villa Hispana neighborhood, which could begin in late 2022, includes 20 kiosk-style microretail spaces, a commercial kitchen, restaurant and outdoor plaza.

Accessible Cleveland

Northeast Ohio has plenty of accessible options for your next meeting.

HUNTINGTON CONVENTION CENTER OF CLEVELAND, HILTON CLEVELAND DOWNTOWN

The 410,000-square-foot convention center in Downtown Cleveland is an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant center. It offers restrooms and water fountains throughout the space that are fully accessible, as well as walkways, ramps and 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.

By The Numbers

ROCKET MORTGAGE FIELDHOUSE, ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME

The Rock Hall offers weighted lap pads and sensory bags filled with fidget toys, noisedampening headphones, communication cards and sunglasses. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse also offers sensory bags, lap blankets and quiet spaces for guests at any game or event.

CLEVELAND HEARING & SPEECH CENTER

The Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center 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).

“So many of our attendees were surprised at how much they loved Cleveland – walkability, food, fun and great weather.”

Shanda Gray, Associate Executive Director Delta Sigma Pi Grand Chapter Congress

City Living: Erik Drost / Dream Hotel: Bialosky Cleveland

Hallmark Venues

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Juneteenth Event at Convention Center

Campus: Matt Shiffler / WiCys at Huntington Convention Center: Matt Shiffler / Huntington Convention Center Grand Ballroom: Nathan Migal

Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland

See Yourself in Cleveland

intimate meeting rooms

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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

Number of Rooms: 446 rooms & 38 suites

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

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

DoubleTree by Hilton Cleveland Downtown Lakeside

Number of Rooms: 374 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

Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade

Number of Rooms: 258 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

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 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

Hampton Inn Cleveland Downtown

Number of Rooms: 185 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

Drury Plaza Hotel Downtown Cleveland

Number of Rooms: 177 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

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

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

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 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

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bring your team together. BRING YOUR TEAM HERE.

Less than an hour from Cleveland, The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake offers an ideal setting for your next corporate retreat. Treat your group to a lakeside resort and private cottages in the heart of Ohio Wine Country. The Lodge provides access to convenient winery shuttles and 8,500 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space. Here, you’ve found a meeting destination to please each member of your team. Plan your lakeside retreat today.

Entertainment Epicenter

Cleveland is a City with world-class 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, complete 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

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Aerial Agents / Cleveland Museum of Art: Cody York

Playhouse Square Jazz Fest

Playhouse Square

“I can’t even count the number of attendees who said, ‘I never expected this from Cleveland!’ One attendee was so impressed he called his wife and had her grab a flight out to join him and extended his stay so they could explore the city together.”

MIDWEST LIVING’S BEST OF THE MIDWEST AWARDS NAMED CLEVELAND METROPARKS “BEST CITY PARK.”

HUFFPOST RANKED CLEVELAND AS ONE OF THE “MOST UNDERRATED TRAVEL DESTINATIONS IN THE U.S.”

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT NAMED CLEVELAND ONE OF THE “MOST FUN PLACES TO LIVE IN THE U.S.”

TRAVEL + LEISURE SAID CLEVELAND IS THE “COOLEST PLACE YOU NEVER THOUGHT TO VISIT”

UNIVERSITY CIRCLE NAMED “BEST ARTS DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY” BY USA TODAY 10 BEST READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

of color — is an important part of the diverse and inclusive city we are building in Downtown Cleveland.”

First-Tier Assets

“It’s no accident that Cleveland has successfully hosted three major sporting events in the span of four years — beginning with the MLB All-Star Game in 2019 and continuing with the safe hosting of the 2021 NFL Draft and 2022 NBA All-Star amid the COVID-19 global pandemic,” said Marie Scalia, chief marketing officer at Destination Cleveland. “Our waterfront amenities, vibrant entertainment districts, diverse neighborhood assets and so many other top-tier assets offer attendees of these and other events countless opportunities to experience the area.”

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 unforget table 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.

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

THE DAILY MEAL NAMED CLEVELAND ONE OF “THE 50 BEST FOODIE TOWNS IN AMERICA.”

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.”

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”

Dawn Heartsong, Board Member National Homeland Security Conference

Palate Pleaser

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

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. Savor flavors inspired by the diverse culture of New Orleans at House of Creole, featuring unique Cajun and seafood dishes and craft cocktails. At Empress Taytu, Ethiopian favorites such as spiced chicken, beef, lamb, tilapia and many vegetarian dishes reign supreme. With a goal to make good food accessible to all, Yum Village brings fresh-made, chef-prepared Afro-Caribbean readyto-eat meals to hungry, on-the-go city dwellers and visitors.

Filter, an exciting dining experience, adds a dose of nightlife and entertainment to the Warehouse District with visual focal points, a rotating stream of DJs and full-service fine dining. An impressive menu of seafood, chicken and signature

cocktails awaits at Fin & Feathers, a destination at which to kick back, relax and meet up with friends.

New Restaurants

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

BrewDog Cleveland Outpost: Features 28 taps with a mix of the Scottish brewery’s craft beers and local guest brews, a patio with river views and outdoor space where four-legged friends are welcome.

Blue Agave: Authentic Mexican cuisine, including a variety of street taco combos, as well as seafood, chicken and beef specialties complemented by fresh, handmade margaritas and other delicious cocktails and draft beer.

Cordelia: A celebration of Midwest flavors and hospitality, heritage-rich rotating suppers and Sunday brunches are inspired by the season’s finest and freshest ingredients from local farmers.

Jade New Asian & Sushi Bar: Cleveland’s hottest new entertainment destination highlighting a stunning atmosphere, waterfront views and Asianfusion food served in a sophisticated, cosmopolitan environment.

LULO Kitchen: A fresh take on Latin America-fusion, featuring a chic, mysterious and comfortable environment coupled with fresh, healthy appetizers, entrees, desserts and drinks.

PRIMO African Quisine: Traditional African-inspired flavors showcasing a plethora of lamb, chicken, beef, seafood and pasta dishes, as well as soups, stews and sides, spiced to perfection.

Sora: A seasonal pop-up sushi restaurant in Flats East Bank highlighted by a colorful, sensory-driven experience complete with takeout or dine-in seating and a variety of traditional Asian meals and drinks made with local and sustainable ingredients.

Our culinary scene reflects entrepreneurial chef-owners who are introducing creative concepts based in ethnic cuisine.

The Numbers

Live events are back and CSR has the experience, tech, and people to make your organization’s next gathering one to remember.

From groups of 20 to 20,000, large general sessions to small breakout rooms, on the other side of town, the other side of the country or the other side of the world.

We work for you, where you need us.

Choose CSR, Colortone Staging & Rentals, an internationally recognized, award-winning audiovisual staging company. Headquartered in Northern Ohio with a reach that spans the globe.

(Not ready for a live event? We can help with virtual gatherings, too.)