Meeting News - March 23, 2009 - (Page 47)

Destination Insider: Cleveland By William Ng william.ng@nielsen.com Resolution on Convention Center Urged Whether the new Cleveland Convention Center winds up at the current downtown Mall site or at Tower City Center, Dennis Roche, president of Positively Cleveland—the city’s destination marketing arm—said it will be long overdue for a market that, despite having an 80-year-old convention facility, remains vibrant for meetings. “We sold 200,000 group room nights last year, a 60-percent increase over the prior year; we have art, culture, museums, sports,” said Roche. “But most second-tier cities now either have new or renovated centers. For us, we’re still catching up.” Speaking candidly with MeetingNews, Roche acknowledged Positively Cleveland supported the Tower City site, owned by Forest City Enterprises. He noted the site has direct rail transit to Hopkins Airport, shopping, restaurants, entertainment, Ritz-Carlton and Renaissance hotels, and connected walkways to Quicken Loans Arena and Progressive Field. Placing the convention center at the indoor, mixed-use development could spur group business in the fall-winter shoulder season. But, Roche stressed, “Cuyahoga county commissioners have to be conservative about the [facility’s] cost.” In late January, the commissioners tentatively chose the current center site for its $425 million cost (Feb. 16 MN cover story). But, at press time, their private developer partner, Merchandise Mart Properties Inc., was examining a revised, $398 million Tower City site plan by Forest City. Roche estimated $70 million in project fund- ing has been collected through a county sales tax increase imposed in summer 2007. The new convention center is a project many want to see go through, from mayor Frank Jackson (who, in his March 5th state of the city speech, called for the county to finalize site selection), to retired meetings legend Bruce Harris (who used to run Conferon, outside Cleveland, and who recommended the Tower City site), to meeting planners. Said CMP Naomi A. Romanchok, a Cleveland native who teaches hospitality management in Annadale, VA,“The old center is a dinosaur…illequipped to handle the needs of today’s average attendee. Cleveland got a push from the success of Pittsburgh’s center and the Bayfront complex in Erie, PA.” Romanchok said a new center would bolster Cleveland’s already-strong standing with medical groups. H BUILT ON + ROCK AND YOUR ATTENDEES WILL CLAMOR FOR AN ENCORE Schedule your meeting in Cleveland when you want a city that is accessible, affordable and chock full of the amenities your group deserves. You’ll show your group that you’re a rock star. MEET IN THE CITY ROLL DISCOVER THE UNEXPECTED SIDE OF CLE+ www.CLEVELANDMEETINGS.com www.CLEVELANDMEETINGS.com D EET TINGS T itt Twitter: @CleveMtgs @Cl Mt www.meetingnews.com March 23, 2009 MeetingNews 47 http://www.clevelandmeetings.com http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - March 23, 2009 Contents What’s Up @ MeetingNews.com Meetings Mean Business As 'Meeting Matter' Marriott Unveils Promo Columbus, OH, Addresses Convention Hotel Issues People Making News Orlando Strives for Cost Transparency Is Biz-Class Air Travel Dead? Greenest Planner Awards Mid America Insider Report: Conference Centers Destination Insider: Mississippi Gulf Coast Las Vegas Destination Insider: Cleveland Ad Index Live from the Forum

Meeting News - March 23, 2009

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