The Land rises
Cleveland is my hometown. So, after years away, I was eager to reacquaint myself with The Land as the ASAE Annual energized an already reinvigorated downtown. In Public Auditorium, where the Beatles once performed, outgoing ASAE board chair Lynda Bouchard Patterson, referenced this year’s theme of “In Unity, We Thrive,” saying, “Unity means embracing diversity.” In this Northern Ohio city with nearly 120 ethnicities, diversity is delivered with a genuine smile.
Stay and Meet
A 52-story skyscraper on Public Square that was once second-tallest in the world is still a signature statement and connects to the just-reinvented Hotel Cleveland (491 guest rooms, 60,000 sq. ft. of meeting space). On this site in 1815, a tavern called Mowrey’s launched Cleveland’s hospitality tradition. A restaurant in the hotel now bears that name—but one example of leaning into the city’s past. Pro tip: In the ballrooms, think historic stages, a regal balcony and soaring arched windows.
Read More: ASAE Cleveland: A Prodigal Son’s Guide to The Land
A great thing about meeting in the compact city center is that its restaurants, nightlife, major sports venues and parklike settings are all walkable from 20 hotels (with more on the way). Connected to the convention center—more on this in a moment—is Hilton Cleveland Downtown (600 guest rooms, 45,263 sq. ft. of meeting space), with adjacent options of Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Tower (400 guest rooms, 17,000 sq. ft.), The Westin Cleveland Downtown (484 guest rooms, 20,000 sq. ft.) and Drury Plaza Hotel Cleveland Downtown (189 guest rooms, 3,992 sq. ft.) in the former board of education’s stately headquarters.
A $51 million addition to Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland expanded its dramatic three-story, glass-walled atrium, adding a 12,000-square-foot rooftop terrace, hospitality suites for “events within the event” and more upgrades. The LEED Silver-certified center even has its own farm with bee hives, goats (for weed control), chickens and ducks as well as gardens.
Experience
Ready to rock? You’ve come to the right place—the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame presides near the lakefront in an homage designed by I.M. Pei—he of the Paris Louvre’s famed glass pyramid. The collection is mind-blowing, but staging events there has been tricky due to a multi-tiered configuration with no real event space. That is changing. A $135 million expansion will add a new wing with dedicated meeting areas.
Read More: Alternative Venues: Not Your Usual Suspects
Speaking of museums, a brief Uber from downtown brings you to lovely University Circle. There, find Cleveland Museum of Natural History, which Travel + Leisure named a “top spot” in 2024 as it completes a $150 million expansion. It’s available for receptions and other gatherings. Nearby is acclaimed Cleveland Museum of Art.
Back downtown, I had to stop by Playhouse Square, the largest performing arts district outside of Manhattan, with five classic 1920s theaters. A touring Broadway show, “MJ, The Musical,” was there.
For more fun, check out the East Flats Entertainment District on the banks of the serpentine Cuyahoga River. Or bustling East Fourth Street, where Flannery’s Pub displays this sign: “Welcome Back Cleveland.” Yes, it’s back—and better than ever.
This article appears in the September/October 2024 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
