^ wait isnt it open all the time now? or still just for events only?

 

^Still events only - poor reporting on WKYC's part.

Any chance these events move downtown next year now that the convention center is open?

 

Cleveland Golf Show

 

Cleveland Auto Show

 

Rite Aid Marathon Health & Fitness Expo

 

etc.??

 

 

^ The Auto Show isn't going anyplace. Downtown doesn't have the space. Can't speak for the Golf Show but the Marathon Expo isn't moving from the I-X Center.

^Agreed on the Auto Show but the marathon would seem to be the obvious choice to move back downtown. When it was the Revco all of the registration and the Expo was at the convention ctr. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

"

^ The Auto Show isn't going anyplace. Downtown doesn't have the space. Can't speak for the Golf Show but the Marathon Expo isn't moving from the I-X Center.

3-4 years ago the Marathon Expo was at Great Lakes Expo Center in Euclid, which was small and dilapidated.  The I-X is way too big this event. I agree with freethink, its a no brainer to move it downtown.

"

^ The Auto Show isn't going anyplace. Downtown doesn't have the space. Can't speak for the Golf Show but the Marathon Expo isn't moving from the I-X Center.

3-4 years ago the Marathon Expo was at Great Lakes Expo Center in Euclid, which was small and dilapidated.  The I-X is way too big this event. I agree with freethink, its a no brainer to move it downtown.

 

I believe those other locations were temporary while the new convention center was built anyway.  I suspect this year's marathon will make extensive use of the new center downtown.

"

^ The Auto Show isn't going anyplace. Downtown doesn't have the space. Can't speak for the Golf Show but the Marathon Expo isn't moving from the I-X Center.

3-4 years ago the Marathon Expo was at Great Lakes Expo Center in Euclid, which was small and dilapidated.  The I-X is way too big this event. I agree with freethink, its a no brainer to move it downtown.

 

I believe those other locations were temporary while the new convention center was built anyway.  I suspect this year's marathon will make extensive use of the new center downtown.

 

The Cleveland Marathon is already committed to the IX Center for the next few years. The smaller Rock n Roll Marathon which is run by an out of town company debuted in 2013 and did utilize the new convention center. They will again in 2014.

^Wow, that is inconvenient

^Wow, that is inconvenient

 

Very inconvenient.  The IX Center must of forced them to sign a commitment beyond the projected opening of the downtown center to secure their business.  Not ideal for the runners, who will probably run past the center and wonder why their not gathering there.

^Wow, that is inconvenient

^Wow, that is inconvenient

 

Very inconvenient.  The IX Center must of forced them to sign a commitment beyond the projected opening of the downtown center to secure their business.  Not ideal for the runners, who will probably run past the center and wonder why their not gathering there.

 

Not sure how this is "inconvenient". How familiar are you guys with trade shows?

 

We didn't have a center downtown, nor (booking) management for it.  Most conventions/conferences book multi year deals, with venues with small increases year over year.  Most events we host or participate in have 3 to 5 year contracts.  Show producers do this, as exhibitors need to plan their space almost a year in advance. 

 

In addition, some convention, due to size, the CCC will not be able to accommodate them.  This is why I was upset that the space was not extended north, so that we could hose all types and sizes of events.

^I agree with all your sentiments MTS, and I wish the exhibition space downtown were larger for exactly those reasons.  But in terms of the Cleveland Marathon, I was speaking of this being inconvenient for the runners.  The old center use to serve as the festival village for the event, registration and such.  Looking at their website runners have to register and pick up their packets WAAAAYY out at the IX center for a race run downtown.  For the marathon this is not an ideal set up at all.  Heck I'd be tired before the race began doing all that!

^I agree with all your sentiments MTS, and I wish the exhibition space downtown were larger for exactly those reasons.  But in terms of the Cleveland Marathon, I was speaking of this being inconvenient for the runners.  The old center use to serve as the festival village for the event, registration and such.  Looking at their website runners have to register and pick up their packets WAAAAYY out at the IX center for a race run downtown.  For the marathon this is not an ideal set up at all.  Heck I'd be tired before the race began doing all that!

I understand that, but I'm not sure there were other options that fit the producers needs.

^I agree with all your sentiments MTS, and I wish the exhibition space downtown were larger for exactly those reasons.  But in terms of the Cleveland Marathon, I was speaking of this being inconvenient for the runners.  The old center use to serve as the festival village for the event, registration and such.  Looking at their website runners have to register and pick up their packets WAAAAYY out at the IX center for a race run downtown.  For the marathon this is not an ideal set up at all.  Heck I'd be tired before the race began doing all that!

I understand that, but I'm not sure there were other options that fit the producers needs.

 

And you're probably right.  I guess that's why I was hoping the agreements with the IX Center would have been structured to allow the event to move back downtown when the new center opened, but I also understand that would have been difficult at best balancing an IX Center that I'm sure wanted a multi-year commitment with an under construction center whose opening date could have been delayed by one bad winter.  Still sucks for the runners but I do understand the dilemma. 

These people won a contest that Hilton/Doubletree is running.  It's should be on doubletrees social media sites.

 

The 15 seconds is precious!

 

 

 

 

Nice! They had to end with that shot though?

Nice! They had to end with that shot though?

I know, but that what happens with bloggers/vloggers.  They control their content, even if it doesn't always make sense.

Vote CLE for the 2016 RNC!

 

http://www.gop.com/act/choose-the-city/fb?utm_campaign=GOP_convention_site-selection&utm_source=regional&utm_medium=communications&utm_content=comms_20140304_GOP_convention_site-selection_regional

I wonder if three competing cities will split the ohio votes.

Since Dragonfly, one restaurant shown in the piece, has been closed about two years, this would seem to be older than not... But enjoyable.

I wonder if three competing cities will split the ohio votes.

 

Good point there should probably be a coordinated effort on the state level to at least pitch one of the three as a finalist.

^ I agree, as long as it's Cleveland. I mean, we have the best hamburgers and parking. (Sorry, that Positively Cleveland thing really has my knickers in a bunch today)

 

Edit: just a quick warning. I clicked on the link and voted and was immediately enlisted in the GOP fundrasing newsletter. So I donated. I mean, you can't win the PCH sweepstakes unless you buy a magazine. I figure the same holds true here. Right?

Lake County plots to lure Clevelanders to visit! :laugh: (and to "live" and "work" there too! Is this the new Ukraine?)

 

Lake County tourism campaign ready to roll

 

http://www.news-herald.com/general-news/20140331/lake-county-tourism-campaign-ready-to-roll

 

By John Arthur Hutchison, The News-Herald

POSTED: 03/31/14, 3:34 PM EDT | 0

 

A collaborative campaign launched March 31 will use five Laketran commuter buses fitted with wraps to promote Lake County tourism and attract the attention of residents and workers in Cuyahoga County along with others who are in Northeast Ohio.

 

The 40-foot buses will carry the message “Live. Work. Visit. Lake County.” and include website information during 20 daily round trips into downtown Cleveland from seven Park-n-Ride locations.

 

Graphics feature the beaches of Fairport Harbor and Headlands Beach State Park along with Lake Metroparks Chapin Forest Reservation cross country ski trails, vineyards and wineries, Holden Arboretum, and the Lake County Captains.

 

Bus routes travel along Interstate 90 and Route 2 to Cleveland State University, Cleveland Public Square, Warehouse District, and Ohio City.

 

Agency partnerships for the program include the Lake County Ohio Port and Economic Development Authority, Lake County Visitors Bureau, along with Laketran.

Downtown Cleveland Hampton Inn sold for $19.8 million

By STAN BULLARD

1:39 pm, April 10, 2014

 

Downtown Cleveland's 14-floor Hampton Inn changed hands for $19.8 million on Monday, April 7, according to Cuyahoga County land records.

 

The buyer is an investor group called “Black Sapphire C Cleveland 2014 Inc.” that was incorporated Jan. 9 in Wilmington, Del.

 

The seller was 1460 Ninth Street Associates Limited Partnership, an affiliate of Raleigh, N.C.-based Concord Hospitality Enterprises Inc., a hotel development, ownership and management firm that was based in Cleveland until 2003. The hotel is on the northwest corner of Superior Avenue and East Ninth Street.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20140410/FREE/140419988/downtown-cleveland-hampton-inn-sold-for-19-8-million?X-IgnoreUserAgent=1

travel writers tour Cleveland this weekend...  this article gives their impressions before the trip...

 

http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2014/05/an_outsiders_view_of_cleveland.html 

 

Miriam Weiner, U.S. News & World Report

 

As someone who has never been to Cleveland, I imagine it to be more of an every man's town –- the kind of place where Joe Schmo would settle down. Aside from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, there doesn't seem to be much glitz and glam here.

 

guess he was shocked from all the glitz of that big a** chandelier....  and what a great weekend for them to come...  playhouse square, Cher, indians and football HOF event at IX....

travel writers tour Cleveland this weekend...  this article gives their impressions before the trip...

 

http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2014/05/an_outsiders_view_of_cleveland.html 

 

Miriam Weiner, U.S. News & World Report

 

As someone who has never been to Cleveland, I imagine it to be more of an every man's town –- the kind of place where Joe Schmo would settle down. Aside from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, there doesn't seem to be much glitz and glam here.

 

guess he was shocked from all the glitz of that big a** chandelier....  and what a great weekend for them to come...  playhouse square, Cher, indians and football HOF event at IX....

 

Cher!!! Ha I'm so glad you mentioned that.

...and here's an article with their impressions after their visit.

 

Cleveland shines and surprises during travel editors' visit: Before and after impressions

Travel Editors take Quirky tour of Cleveland

 

Print Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer By Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer

on May 06, 2014 at 9:12 AM, updated May 06, 2014 at 10:59 AM

 

 

Eye-opening, world-class, overlooked no longer: Travel editors who converged on Cleveland this past weekend left enlightened and impressed (and probably 10 pounds heavier, quipped one).

 

The journalists – members of the Society of American Travel Writers' Editors Council – were here for three days, crammed with sightseeing and professional development seminars.

 

Among the highlights were top sights (the Cleveland Museum of Art) and little-known attractions (Lakewood's Museum of Divine Statues). They attended an Indians game (and saw a win), watched the new Playhouse Square chandelier get lit up and toured the Rock Hall.

 

The only negative comments overheard referenced the weekend's chilly temperatures.

 

Last week, in advance of their visit, we contacted several of the editors and asked about their impressions of the city. This week, we followed up once they'd returned home to see if their experiences matched their expectations.

 

Here's what some people who travel for a living thought about Cleveland – before and after:

 

http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2014/05/cleveland_shines_and_surprises.html#incart_m-rpt-2

Theatre Communications Group selects Cleveland for 2015 national conference

 

They didn't hire stilt walkers or set off fireworks, and the world's largest outdoor chandelier was still an artist's rendering, but that didn't stop Cleveland's theater community from wooing and winning the nation's largest theater conference in 2015.

 

An estimated 1,200 actors, directors, choreographers, scenic designers and other theater professionals from around the country – and a good number from outside the United States – will converge in Cleveland next summer, when the 25th annual Theatre Communications Group national conference comes to town June 18 to 20.

 

The economic impact of the conference will ripple well beyond Playhouse Square and its 11 stages, where many events – workshops, performances and speeches – will be held. (Past keynote speakers have included the late playwright August Wilson and director Julie "Lion King" Taymor.)

 

"Northeast Ohio's theater scene is truly world-class," said David Gilbert, president and CEO of Positively Cleveland, one of the groups that partnered with area theaters to sell Cleveland and its environs to the national organization.

 

Gilbert expects the three-day conference will bring nearly $1 million in revenue to the region.

 

more at: http://www.cleveland.com/onstage/index.ssf/2014/05/theatre_communications_group_s.html#incart_river_default

 

Went to Urban Farmer's soft opening dinner last night. We had a good time and the food was awesome.

***Cell phone pic alert***

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

why is that chick on the floor? Is that some sort of concept?

why is that chick on the floor? Is that some sort of concept?

 

It looks like she is working on the piece...

She's the artist - she also did the sculpture in Tremont at West 10th/Fairfield/Professor.

Nice!

 

Wizard World schedules national comic convention for Cleveland

 

Michael Sangiacomo, The Plain Dealer By  Michael Sangiacomo, The Plain Dealer 

Email the author | Follow on Twitter

on June 26, 2014 at 5:34 PM, updated June 26, 2014 at 5:46 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Wizard World has scheduled a major comic convention for Cleveland for next Feb. 20 through 22 at the Cleveland Convention Center.

 

After several years in which Wizard came close to pulling the trigger on a Cleveland convention, it has finally happened. Wizard conventions attract tens of thousands of people for the weekend events.

 

Wizard made the announcement Thursday afternoon on its website and in emails. It is the first major comic book convention to hit the city since the 1988 Neverending Battle, the 50th anniversary of Superman.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/comic-books/index.ssf/2014/06/wizard_world_schedules_nationa.html

 

Hopefully they will change the "Ohio" Comic Con to the the "Columbus" Comic Con or eliminate it!  he he he >:D

Cleveland lands another major convention, this time for 2017

 

The event is the motorcoach, travel and tourism industry's premier event.

 

It is anticipated that the 2017 Marketplace will result in more than 8,000 hotel room nights by the 3,500 members who attend, according to a news release put out by Positively Cleveland on behalf of Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald.

 

Additionally, previous host cities have seen a 15 percent to 20 percent increase in motorcoach and group travel related tourism after Marketplace because of increased awareness of the city by the travel and tourism industry, according to the news release.

 

 

http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/local/cuyahoga-county/2014/07/24/convention/13099731/

^Im so glad that the the tax was imposed to build this new convention center and Global Health Innovation Center.  It really forced the naysayers who HATED the idea and wanted NO change to adapt to the theory that you need to spend money to make money.  Clevelands hope resides on the ability to continue to change and movement within the city.  Not doing anything, makes us fall behind. 

 

Im feeling very excited and congratulations to those contributing to these successes

These are small, and I'm happy to have them, but I would like to see multi year events being booked.

 

It would be nice to see a comparison of the old CC - the IX center - New CC.  It's the only way the negative Nancy's will be silenced.

 

It's nice to have these events in Downtown, where people will spend on other items, food/bars/restaurants, lodging, entertainment venues.

 

This is so much better for the city and region versus having events at the IX, where people drive to it, for an event, then after then after the event go back home.  I understand a lot of out of town visitors would do an event and could often leave the same day without seeing Cleveland or stay at a hotel property, and leave the following morning.

 

This remind of the affect Philly and Boston new centers, which opened in the last decade, helped accelerate growth in their Downtowns.  Philly center spawned several new hotels and does approximately 250 events a year now.  Boston is trying to fund a 1B expansion.

New convention center's first year results

 

CLEVELAND -- Downtown's revival, the Republican's picking Cleveland, the building's novelty are all factors that have Cleveland's new Convention Center fielding questions and bookings at a brisk pace.

 

In July, it passed it's first full year of operation with no cake or party. But there is much to celebrate.

 

"We had all the spokes before...now we have the hub," said Positively Cleveland's David Gilbert.

 

This month the center hosted big events focusing on Cleveland's three strengths: health care, manufacturing and aerospace.

 

http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/local/cuyahoga-county/2014/07/31/cleveland-convention-centers-first-year-results/13435175/

^ Great news!

 

"A total of 335 events are now booked through 2019, excluding the Republican conventions.

 

That will mean about 582,000 visitors, 442,000 hotel room nights and more than $530 million in projected economic benefits."

Business, leisure visitors to Cuyahoga County increased by 4 percent in 2013, according to Positively Cleveland report

 

Cuyahoga County welcomed 16.2 million visitors in 2013, a 4 percent increase over the previous year, due in part to the opening of the Cleveland Convention Center.

 

Those visitors – defined as anyone who comes into the county from more than 50 miles away for a leisure or convention purpose -- generated an economic impact of $7.4 billion, an increase of 6.7 percent over 2011 (the last year calculated)

 

http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2014/08/business_leisure_visitors_to_c.html#incart_m-rpt-1

2014 should be a good year as well :)... And 2015, and 2016....

Cleveland's Tourism Renaissance Goes Way Beyond LeBron

 

DESTINATION & TOURISM | RYAN RUDNANSKY | AUGUST 20, 2014

 

http://www.travelpulse.com/news/destinations/clevelands-tourism-renaissance-goes-way-beyond-lebron.html

Cleveland's Tourism Renaissance Goes Way Beyond LeBron

 

DESTINATION & TOURISM | RYAN RUDNANSKY | AUGUST 20, 2014

 

http://www.travelpulse.com/news/destinations/clevelands-tourism-renaissance-goes-way-beyond-lebron.html

 

“We’ve been the underdog for a long time,” Gilbert said. “In some ways, we relish in that.”

 

Love it.

Cleveland a ‘city of choice’ for development

 

Hotel development in Cleveland is booming, thanks in part to the city winning the bid for the 2016 RNC, a new convention center and a surging health care sector.

 

Conclusion

Despite the addition of more than 2,000 new hotel rooms between 2013 and 2016, H&LA is forecasting Cleveland-area revenue-per-available-room increases in each of the next three years. Continued development projects, anticipation of the coming RNC and hype surrounding the return of LeBron James to the Cleveland Cavaliers will cast a bright light on the city and the entire metropolitan area, providing a great opportunity for all to see it’s not a city that developers, national conventions, sports superstars and world-renowned doctors merely settle for. For some, it’s become a city of choice.

 

http://www.hotelnewsnow.com/Article/14332/Cleveland-a-city-of-choice-for-development

Interesting article on recent successes of attracting content marketing firms to Cleveland....

 

Why 2,500-plus people are coming to Content Marketing World in Cleveland

By Janet H. Cho, The Plain Dealer

on August 29, 2014 at 7:00 AM, updated September 08, 2014 at 12:33 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Content Marketing World, the largest annual gathering of content marketing specialists from around the world, returns to Cleveland in full force Sept. 8-11.

 

With more than 2,500 people from more than 50 countries registered to attend -- quadruple the number who came three years ago, including hundreds of first-time visitors -- the City of Cleveland will be just as much in the spotlight as the dozens of speakers, experts and celebrities scheduled to take the stage.

 

Organizer Joe Pulizzi, the self-proclaimed "Godfather of Content Marketing" and founder of the Content Marketing Institute, couldn't have scripted it better. He relishes the chance to show off his hometown to visitors.

 

"You've got decision-makers coming who want to hire people, who are looking for where to set up their companies," he said. "One person last year said the reason they decided to set up shop here in Cleveland is because of what's going on here. Cleveland is the base for content marketing. There's a lot of venture capital funding coming into the area."

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2014/08/why_2500-plus_are_coming_to_co.html

Study: Cleveland needs 600 new parking spaces to fill demand when GOP convention comes to town

By JAY MILLER

September 23, 2014 3:22 PM

 

A new study of the parking situation around the under-construction Hilton hotel adjacent to the new Cleveland Convention Center estimates there’s a need for 600 daytime spaces to meet the anticipated demand when the Republican presidential nominating convention comes to town.

 

Most of that can be accommodated, a Cleveland City Council committee heard on Tuesday, Sept. 23, by reconfiguring and making modest improvements to the Huntington Park Garage behind the old Cuyahoga County Court House and by making better use of the Willard Park Garage behind Cleveland City Hall.

 

But the committee held up approval, for at least a week, of legislation that would move the county’s financing of the hotel project ahead. Before signing off, councilman Anthony Brancatelli wanted to see the results of several studies that are underway on some of the technical aspects of the parking plan.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20140923/FREE/140929939/study-cleveland-needs-600-new-parking-spaces-to-fill-demand-when-gop

Cleveland needs more parking?  ::) ::) ::)  I cant.

I posted it without comment. I think you all know where I stand on that study.

I posted it without comment. I think you all know where I stand on that study.

KJP[/member]  That was for the article, not you.  I personally don't understand how we could need more parking for a month long (that includes set up and tear down) event.

 

We need better transportation options!

Yep, I know.

 

EDIT: some followup......

 

Parking upgrades, not construction, emerge as short-term fix for Cleveland's convention district

By Michelle Jarboe McFee, The Plain Dealer

on September 25, 2014 at 2:39 PM, updated September 25, 2014 at 5:23 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Downtown Cleveland's convention district -- the several-block area around the city's convention center complex -- could see a daytime parking crunch as event bookings grow and hundreds of new hotel rooms open.

 

That's the crux of a privately-funded study  that saw its first public airing at a Cleveland City Council committee hearing this week. Desman Associates, a parking consultant, found that the district might face a shortage of 600 spaces on the busiest of weekdays after the new Hilton convention hotel opens in mid-2016.

 

Cuyahoga County officials believe they've found a solution -- a short-term fix, at least. The county is planning upgrades -- with a very preliminary, estimated cost of $6 million -- to its Huntington Park Garage on Lakeside Avenue, where recent declines in monthly parking permits have created more wiggle room.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2014/09/parking_upgrades_not_construct.html