Mike Burns, CMP, is the senior vice president, sales and services, of Destination Cleveland, the convention and visitors bureau for the Greater Cleveland area. Destination Cleveland's mission is to promote the region as an outstanding business meeting and tourism destination in order to grow the region's economy.
What's new in the city for groups?
Visitors can enjoy a number of recent updates and additions in Cleveland thanks to more than $3.5 billion in visitor-related infrastructure investment in Cuyahoga County since 2011. Opened in 2013, the 750,00-square-foot, state-of-the-art Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland includes 225,000 square feet of Class A exhibit space divisible into three exhibition halls, 35 meeting rooms, and a 32,000-square-foot, column-free ballroom with spectacular views of Cleveland's lakefront. In this tech-friendly, underground environment, visitors can enjoy reliable cell phone service throughout the building. The convention center is also located adjacent to the Global Center for Health Innovation.
Three new hotels joined the Downtown Cleveland landscape in 2016, with nearly 5,000 guestrooms now available for visitors. Hotels include the Kimpton Schofield and Drury Plaza Hotel -- both in restored historic buildings -- and the 600-room Hilton Cleveland Downtown, which is directly connected to the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.
The heart of Downtown Cleveland has undergone a $50 million "transplant," adding to the walkability and pedestrian-friendliness of Public Square. The renovated outdoor park provides public space for concerts, movies, farmers markets, and other events. The redesign includes restaurant-bar REBoL, an ice rink during the winter, and a splash zone during the warmer months.
The world's only Rock & Roll Hall of Fame now features a café and seasonal beer garden on its outdoor plaza along with six-foot tall letters that read "Long Live Rock" to welcome visitors. This first phase of "Museum 2.0" will also include updates to the Rock Hall's main exhibits and a redesign of the indoor café, which will feature dishes from Cleveland's rock star chefs Michael Symon, Jonathon Sawyer, and Rocco Whalen.
Located on the Cuyahoga River, the Flats East Bank has undergone a significant rejuvenation throughout a multi-phase project. Phase II of the $750-million Flats East Bank project added an expansive wooden boardwalk and loads of dining and entertainment destinations. In 2017, country group Rascal Flatts will open their new, first-in-the-nation restaurant, joining a new brewery/brewpub, Collision Bend Brewing Company, under the leadership of Cleveland restauranteur Zack Bruell and Great Lakes Brewing Co. veteran brewer Luke Purcell.
What's a venue or activity that's a "hidden gem" for visiting groups?
Meeting planners can hold their event at restored venues which offer a glimpse into Cleveland's rich history. At Cleveland Grays Armory Museum, America's oldest independent armory, planners can choose from the Drill Hall, home of the first Cleveland Orchestra performance, or one of the club rooms, which showcase different military artifacts. For a touch of old Hollywood glamour, the restored Capitol Theatre in Cleveland's Detroit Shoreway neighborhood recreates the atmosphere of a 1920s-era movie theater. For an exciting outdoor experience in a natural setting, planners can utilize facilities in the expansive Cleveland Metroparks system, including Stillwater Place at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and Merwin's Wharf waterfront restaurant, which is located on the Cuyahoga River.
What's a good outing for a group looking to get a sense of the city's culture or history?
A must-visit for any group in Cleveland is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Visitors can learn about the roots of rock and roll, listen to music from their favorite artists like the Beatles and David Bowie or take a look at special exhibits including the 2017 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees or "Rolling Stone/50 Years."
For those interested in live performances, Playhouse Square is the largest performing arts center outside of New York City, hosting over 1,000 events each year. At Playhouse Square, visitors can enjoy shows by the Tony Award-winning Cleveland Play House or the Great Lakes Theater Company, as well as the popular KeyBank Broadway Series.
Just a ten-minute drive from Downtown Cleveland is University Circle, Cleveland's arts and culture neighborhood. Visitors can explore 45,000 works of art on display at the always free Cleveland Museum of Art or attend a concert at Severance Hall, the home of the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra.
Where should a group go to get a truly local culinary experience?
Cleveland's culinary scene blends influences from the more than 100 diverse ethnicities found throughout the city with traditional cooking techniques as well as modern twists. Visitors can take a bite out of Cleveland's dining scene on East Fourth Street with a dozen restaurants on a pedestrian-only street including those from James Beard Award-winning chefs Michael Symon and Jonathon Sawyer. Just a short walk away from the convention center is Downtown Cleveland's Warehouse District, which also features a variety of dining and nightlife options for visitors.
At the West Side Market, one of the oldest public markets in the country, visitors can put their taste buds to the test by trying food like pierogi and falafel from one of the 180 vendors at the market. For other quintessential Cleveland dishes, groups can go to Sokolowski's University Inn for pierogis and stuffed cabbage, Slyman's for some of the biggest corned beef sandwiches and Melt Bar & Grilled for a menu that features more than 20 different gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches.
What else makes your city a great destination for groups?
Located within 500 miles of nearly half the country's population, Cleveland offers world-class experiences without the world-class ego. Outside the walls of meeting rooms, this unconventional destination offers business travelers arts, culture and rock and roll; diverse dining options and a friendly environment worthy of a pre- or post-meeting stay. Attendees can step outside their hotel or the convention center and be within walking distance of attractions like the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, award-winning chef-owned restaurants, the largest performing arts center outside of New York, facilities for three professional sports teams and an urban park environment in the heart of the city.
Attendees can easily navigate the city with the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA), which links busy travelers to the city's attractions, restaurants and neighborhoods. Four RTA rail lines snake all over the city and to the airport, connecting with 69 different bus routes. Free trolleys cover the entire downtown area every day, while RTA Red Line offers an airport-to-downtown connection 21 hours daily, seven days a week.