CLEVELAND (March 20,
2018) - Meeting and convention planners continue to choose Cleveland as the
location for their business events. As part of the robust line-up of meetings,
conventions and events scheduled to take place here in the second quarter of
2018, the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), the world's
largest network of business events strategists, will host its annual Education
Conference in Cleveland June 10-13. The conference will bring approximately 900
business-event professionals to Northeast Ohio, many of whom are responsible
for managing various meetings and conventions.
"Hosting PCMA's Education Conference allows Destination
Cleveland to showcase the city to a group of people that has the ability to recommend
Cleveland for future meetings and conventions," said Mike Burns, senior vice
president of convention sales and services at Destination Cleveland. "Our opportunity
as the event host is two-fold: to show off the convention center, our hotels
and world-class attractions to PCMA's attendees while continuing to change perceptions
of Cleveland as a meetings destination through in-person experiences."
In addition to PCMA's Education Conference, more than 50
meetings and conventions will bring more than 30,000 visitors to Northeast Ohio
during the months of April, May and June. Highlighted below are several
meetings throughout the second quarter that have significant attendance, chose
Cleveland as a host city because of visitor-related developments in Downtown
Cleveland or are returning to Cleveland to host a meeting or event. The
estimated economic impact of just the 11 events listed below is more than $19
million.
About: Hockey Time Productions will host its Rock ‘N Roll
Cup Tournament Series over two weekends throughout Northeast Ohio this spring.
The Rock ‘N Roll Cup Tournament Series brings boys and girls teams from Detroit,
Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Erie, Columbus, Toledo, Dayton, Cincinnati and Southern
Ontario to Cleveland.
Significance: The Hockey Time
Productions' tournament series provides a stream of business throughout the
year with two weekends this spring season (April 6-8 and April 20-22) - each
bringing 1,000 attendees to the Northeast Ohio region.
Estimated Attendance: 1,000 per
tournament (2,000 total)
Headquarter
Hotel: Various suburban hotels
Primary
event venue: Barons/Lakefront Arena and Gilmour Academy
About: Fastener Fair USA will bring together
manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and end users in the region's only
dedicated fastener, fixing, and joining technology exhibition. Attendees from
around the world will represent a variety of sectors including automotive,
aerospace, and consumer electronics.
The show will offer educational programs for all experiences levels. The group
will also hold a welcome reception at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Significance: While Fastener Fair has taken place in
different international locations over the years, Fastener Fair USA in
Cleveland will mark the first time that the event has been held in the U.S. market.
Mack Brooks Exhibition Group selected Cleveland for several reasons.
Cleveland's new convention center, expanded hotel package and the ability to
host an event at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame were attractive offerings to
the planners. There was also local support from industry leaders for this new convention
in Cleveland, and the city's central location to a number of different industries
(automotive, aviation and manufacturing) was also key.
Estimated Attendance: 2,500
Headquarter
Hotel: Hilton Cleveland Downtown
Primary
event venue: Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland
About: The Midwest Nursing Research Society's annual
convention will bring together nurse scientists from 13 states throughout the
Midwest region for its 42nd annual research conference. Attendees
will be able to participate in more than 230 paper and poster presentations on
topics ranging from nursing education to pediatrics to symptom management.
Significance: Local universities and hospitals are
serving as co-hosts and academic partners of the convention. Case Western
Reserve University is the primary host school and other local co-host schools
and academic partners include Cleveland State University, Kent State
University, Ursuline College, Cleveland Clinic, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA
Medical Center, MetroHealth Hospital and University Hospitals.
Estimated Attendance: 800
Headquarter
Hotel: Hilton Cleveland Downtown
Primary
event venue: Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland
About: The National Forum for Black Public
Administrators focuses on the advancement of black public leadership in local
and state governments. The annual conference will offer education on topics such
as housing, education and health; infrastructure, economic development and
technology; and career accelerators and leadership development. Attendees can
participate in pre-conference tours like "Legacy, History and Culture:
Cleveland's African American Historic Tour" and "Connecting the Legacy of
Industry & Community to Sustainable Growth." Special evening events will be
held at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Cleveland Public Auditorium.
Significance: The group's planning committee was
impressed by the bid put forth by the Hilton Cleveland Downtown, and there was
support from the local chapter to bring the meeting here.
Estimated Attendance: 700
Headquarter
Hotel: Hilton Cleveland Downtown
Primary
event venue: Hilton Cleveland Downtown
About: The Ceramics Expo gathers
manufacturers and engineers from a variety of sectors to discuss the challenges
and opportunities in the ceramics industry. The free-to-attend event offers
more than 300 exhibits, 60 speaker sessions and discussions focused on ceramic
and glass manufacturing, forming technologies and automation, and medical
applications. This year's Ceramics Expo will offer new features including the
Ceramic Industry BenchPress, which will incorporate live polling and analysis
on industry topics.
Significance: The Ceramics
Expo is returning to Cleveland for its fourth consecutive year, and Cleveland's
central Midwest location and accessibility for attendees appealed to the
meeting's planners.
Estimated Attendance: 3,500
Headquarter
Hotel: Multiple airport hotels
Primary
event venue: I-X Center
About: Python Software Foundation's annual PyCon
Convention brings together users and developers of the Python programming
language. PyCon will feature nearly 100 talks on topics like coding and
analyzing data, an education summit, a job fair and an area dedicated to 16
startup companies. Tutorials are also offered to both beginners and experienced
developers in order learn new technologies and increase their skills. Attendees
have the opportunity to go to dinners at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and
Great Lakes Science Center.
Significance: Planners chose Cleveland as the
location for this convention due to downtown developments like the Huntington
Convention Center of Cleveland and the cultural amenities that the city has to
offer.
Estimated Attendance: 3,100
Headquarter
Hotel: Hilton Cleveland Downtown
Primary
event venue: Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland
About: Healthcare professionals from around the
country that are focused on the specialty practice of infusion therapy will
attend the Infusion Nurses Society Annual Convention. Educational opportunities
from case studies to track sessions to roundtable discussions will be offered,
as well as an exhibit hall featuring the latest technologies and innovations in
the field. Elizabeth Smart will serve as the keynote speaker at the convention,
and guests can attend a reception at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Significance: By hosting the Infusion Nurses Society,
Cleveland has the opportunity to showcase its meetings assets to attendees in
the medical associations sector.
Estimated Attendance: 1,200
Headquarter
Hotel: Hilton Cleveland Downtown
Primary
event venue: Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland
About: The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) will host its
first annual, three-day volleyball North Coast Cup tournament, which will
feature more than 100 female teams in fourteen divisions. Winners from this
tournament have the opportunity to advance to the AAU National Championships in
Orlando, Florida.
Significance: This event was secured through the work
of Greater Cleveland Sports Commission.
Estimated Attendance: 3,000
Headquarter
Hotel: City wide
Primary
event venue: Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland
About: The National Association for Surface
Finishing‘s SUR/FIN conference connects professionals from all facets of
the surface finishing industry including the automotive, aerospace and
computer/electronics sectors. More than 180 exhibitors will showcase the industry's
latest technology, products and services, and attendees can participate in a
variety of technical sessions. The conference will hold its Industry Night
event at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Significance: The National Association for Surface
Finishing chose to bring their conference back to Cleveland after hosting a
successful conference here a few years ago.
Estimated Attendance: 900
Headquarter
Hotel: City wide
Primary
event venue: Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland
About: PCMA's Education Conference offers attendees
the opportunity to participate in education sessions to further their
professional development and network with colleagues. Educational topics
include finance, strategy and operations; event experience; and enhancing
experiences at medical meetings. Conference attendees will attend receptions at
the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Punch Bowl Social.
Significance: PCMA's Education Conference attracts
one of the largest groups of medical meeting and other conference
professionals, which creates future business opportunities for the region.
Estimated Attendance: 900
Headquarter Hotel: City wide - Hilton Cleveland
Downtown, Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center, Westin Cleveland Downtown
Primary
event venue: Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland
About: The National Needlearts Association will host
its 2018 Summer NeedleArts Trade Show for individuals in the counted thread,
crochet, embroidery, knitting, needlepoint, and spinning and weaving segments.
This event includes a fashion show, technical and business education sessions, insights
into the newest styles, and a tradeshow that will feature more than 100 exhibitors.
Significance: Planners chose Cleveland as the
location for this event due to the city's Midwest central location for
attendees and the convention's center connectivity to the Hilton Cleveland
Downtown.
Estimated Attendance: 3,000
Headquarter
Hotel: Hilton Cleveland Downtown
Primary
event venue: Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland
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up-to-date on new developments and activities, please visit www.thisiscleveland.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
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ABOUT DESTINATION CLEVELAND: Destination
Cleveland is Cleveland's convention and visitors bureau. This private,
non-profit organization's mission is to drive economic impact and stimulate
community vitality for Greater Cleveland through leisure and business travel.
Cleveland welcomes 18 million visitors annually. For more information, visit
www.thisiscleveland.com.