Ask the Experts
Q: Why is Akron a great place to hold a corporate event?
A: “The John S. Knight Center, located in Akron, an All-America City, separates itself in the meeting marketplace with personalized customer service, state-of-the-art technical capabilities and highest level of food service quality,” says Gregg M. Mervis, vice president and COO of the Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau. “By hosting a convention/meeting in a second-tier city, planners are afforded additional focus on their event, costs savings with regard to rental fees, labor costs and hotel accommodations. The John S. Knight Center offers all the flexibilities of a large city ‘big box center’ underscored with the feeling of a more intimate and refined space. Additionally, planners enjoy the ease of access and ample parking for attendees … all centered in a vibrant downtown community.”
-Gregg M. Mervis
Q: What are the benefits of holding a meeting at an un-conventional venue, such as a sporting facility?
A: “Quicken Loans Arena is more than just Northeast Ohio’s premier sports and entertainment facility,” says Shari Lindenbaum, banquet coordinator of the Cavaliers Operating Co. “It’s a great setting for meetings and banquets that provides the option of tying them into an arena event, such as a Cavaliers basketball game or show. Every function we host can be customized from simple to more elaborate, with a variety of room capacities and locations throughout the arena that provide interesting backdrops or complete privacy. We offer full-service amenities like state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment, in-house catering, guest services and more. Our special perks can include complimentary tours of The Q, the chance to play basketball on the Cavaliers practice court and scheduled appearances by the Cavalier Girls, Scream Team and Moondog.”
-Shari Lindenbaum
Q: What are some tips to successfully plan a green meeting?
A: “Being green is a great way to watch your budget,” says Amy Kapostasy, event sales manager for Lake Metroparks. “For example, if you work with a caterer that doesn’t have green products and they have to order them, then it’s a cost. But if you work with a caterer that’s already green, it’s not a higher cost for you. Here at Lake Metroparks, our full-service caterer can do anything. She uses green utensils, plates and cups. We also have eco-friendly disposables, and we recycle at all of our properties. We have the ability to give our clients recyclable paper tablets, and we use paper instead of plastic coverings for corporate events because it is friendlier to the environment and more cost-effective. One environmentally friendly giveaway is flash drives, because your staff can take them to meetings and put the information on a screen as opposed to printing out copies for each person in the office.”
-Amy Kapostasy
Tough economic times mean boring meetings.
That’s what many meeting planners think when they’re suddenly stuck in Northeast Ohio with no budget to take clients to a Bahamian resort or send sales reps golfing in Palm Springs.
But why sit in a stodgy meeting room, when you can sip mimosas while riding the rails or go out on a limb and build team camaraderie at Kalahari Resort’s new high ropes course and zip line opening this spring?
Northeast Ohio offers everything from creative adventures for your clients to getaway retreats perfect for your staff to wrap up an important project.
In fact, Northeast Ohio features lower airfare, lower hotel rates and lower costs for food and entertainment than many other destinations or typical meeting resorts, according to corporate travel planner Runzheimer International’s Guide to Daily Travel Prices.
“This means planners can decide whether to host a high-quality meeting that’s easily within their budget or really go for it to create a spectacular event at a much more affordable rate than elsewhere,” says Dan Williams, vice president of sales for Positively Cleveland.
And while taking clients or employees on Lolly the Trolly to the Rock Hall stands out as a terrific way to show off one of Cleveland’s best and most famous venues, Northeast Ohio offers unique meeting opportunities that might not come to mind immediately.
Extra Training
The Akron-Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau took its own advice about making meetings memorable.
When the site selection committee from the 2014 Gay Games wanted to check out the Akron area last August, the Akron-Summit staff took them aboard the St. Lucie car of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.
Although the railroad is best known for its winter Polar Express rides, it’s a perfect place to hold a business meeting, especially during the fall when the foliage is at its best, says James Mahon, director of marketing and communications for the Akron-Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Fifteen people attended the event, which included a catered breakfast with mimosas, bagels, pastries, fresh fruit, tea and brief presentations.
“But some time was allotted just to enjoy the view,” Mahon says.
Farm refresh
Lots of business people could use a break from the economic pounding they’ve been taking recently, so it may be the perfect time for a retreat to set goals and tackle your company’s tough issues.
Kurt Kleidon, public relations representative for the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau, suggests a combination of activities to get that right blend. “For getting away from it all, Holmes County is really tops in Northeast Ohio,” Kleidon says.
Take the Guggisberg Swiss Inn, in Charm, for example. “You’re most likely to be distracted by horses, whether running in the field next to the hotel or carrying buggies along the road,” he says.
Or there is the Inn at Honey Run, which doesn’t have televisions in the rooms, making it perfect for concentrating on the job at hand. “You’re literally in the woods located down a small road that is about a mile from the main road,” he says.
Those locations can easily be paired with some unique team building. Some small businesses are spending time with an Amish family on its farm to learn lessons in working together and depending on one another, Kleidon says. (Try Amish Culture Tours or Swiss Valley Tours.)
Island vibes
One of the obstacles in any overnight corporate retreat is tearing your most dedicated managers and employees, many of whom are already working more than 40 hours a week, away from their families.
With a little creativity and some planning, though, you can get work done and reward the entire family with a taste of the islands.
Consider renting cottages in Lakeside, one of the first Chautauqua communities in the country. Founded in 1873, the small town offers spiritual, educational, cultural and recreational opportunities right on Lake Erie.
The historic Hotel Lakeside, built in 1875, offers Victorian charm and space for up to 40 people in its Fern Room. Or hold your meetings in the Train Station, a vintage train depot that offers a large open room for group sessions or a wood-paneled boardroom for smaller gatherings.
Lakeside makes a great home base for a trip to the islands, too.
“The Lake Erie islands are a great idea for companies because of their ability to make you feel like you’ve gone much farther from home,” says Jill Bauer, public relations coordinator for Lake Erie Shores & Islands Welcome Center in Sandusky. “As soon as the ferry leaves the mainland, your cares will seem to drift away.”
A fresh menu
Thinking about adding a little green to your next gathering? Bauer suggests the Culinary Vegetable Institute in Milan, just about 50 minutes from Cleveland.
The charming lodge sits on a half-mile of river frontage, surrounded by a small farm that grows more than 100 micro herbs, edible flowers and heirloom vegetables. Committed to sustainable agriculture, the institute is a perfect place to hold any type of environmental or sustainability meeting.
No matter what your meeting purpose, you can enjoy fine dining in unique locations such as a greenhouse, watch a demonstration or build teamwork by taking a cooking class or doing a blindfolded vegetable taste test. “Our commitment between chef and farmer gives us the opportunity to serve our guests the freshest, locally produced sustainable product available,” says Mary Jones, director of the Culinary Vegetable Institute.
Add a little zip …
Everyone knows Kalahari Resort in Sandusky as a monstrous water park. But this spring it may get a reputation as a big-air park. Scheduled to open in May, the resort’s Outdoor Theme Park will include a ropes course, zip line and climbing wall for team building.
“We pride ourselves in building unique, customized programs for groups such as our authentic African drum circle,” says Maris Brenner, Kalahari Resorts director of sales. “We have an array of offerings that groups won’t find anywhere else.”
Kalahari can accommodate any size group with an intimate boardroom or its 17,000-square-foot ballroom. And, of course, it is the perfect location for companies that want to splurge and invite staff or clients’ families along.
… Or slow down
Parks are a low-budget alternative for getting back to nature and down to business. Many have lodges that are perfect for a tranquil meeting where you’ll really get something accomplished.
“In Mahoning County, our Millcreek MetroParks is a great place for meetings or conferences where the group can be surrounded by the beauty of nature,” says Linda Macala, of the Mahoning County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Naturalists can design programs or hikes for groups.”
For additional inspiration, Tamera Brown, of Positively Cleveland recommends hiring the Institute for Creative Leadership. At its Hale Farm and Village facility, where corporate teams can learn while overlooking life as it was in 1848, the ICL holds programs from half a day to five days on topics such as team building, facilitator training and mentoring. Or if it’s more convenient, ICL also offers its services at the Hines Hill Center, located on 60 acres in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Get creative
What better way to stimulate your right brain than being surrounded by art?
Museums such as the Canton Museum of Art, Akron Art Museum and the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown all rent meeting rooms and larger auditoriums for company meetings, which usually include downtime to allow attendees to view the exhibits.
“Holding your meeting in a creative environment can be a great springboard for all types of business messages,” says Mary
Byrne, marketing/development manager for the Canton Museum of Art. The current exhibit, Something from Nothing: Contemporary Recycled Sculpture from America’s Rustbelt, features artists who have created sophisticated art from discarded items.
“What a great jumping off point for planning or brainstorming for manufacturing or marketing get-togethers,” she says.
The Akron Art Museum has three key areas for meetings, including a boardroom that seats up to 48 and an auditorium that accommodates 159. That’s why numerous companies have used the space, including GoJo Industries, Knoll Inc., Dominion East Ohio, and Ameriprise Financial. And you can even check out the yearlong exhibit Welcome to the Akron Art Museum, which features photography by Akron artists, including Andrew McAllister, who photographed the construction of the museum’s new Knight Building.
Date ideas
Choosing meeting dates around a special event is a twist that companies often forget, but it can be a low-cost way to entertain clients or staff after the meeting. In the Akron area, the All-American Soap Box Derby or the National Hamburger Festival, both held each year in July, create a built-in theme to tailor a meeting around.
And it beats hiring entertainment. In Canton, the free First Friday event offers extended hours by small local galleries and late-night dining at many of the city’s unique restaurants, says Allyson Bussey, tourism marketing manager for the Stark County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. “The entire downtown comes alive with street entertainment.”
Resource Guide
Visitors Bureaus
Akron-Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau
visitakron-summit.org
Amish Country Ohio
visitamishcountry.com
Canton-Stark County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
visitcantonstark.com
Cleveland Metroparks
clemetparks.com/visit/reservedpicnic.asp
Lake Erie Shores & Islands
shoresandislands.com
Mahoning County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
youngstownlive.com
Positively Cleveland
positivelycleveland.com
Trumbull County Tourism Bureau
exploretrumbullcounty.com
Event Resources
Amish Culture Tours
330-893-3248 or
amishtoursofohio@aol.com
The Barn Inn
There’s nothing like this restored dairy barn for a small retreat.
thebarninn.com
Berlin Hotel and Suites
The only hotel in the state with a 26-seat movie theater; conference room seats 42; banquet hall seats 300.
berlinhotelandsuites.com
Bertram Inn at Glenmoor Country Club
glenmoorcc.com
The Butler Institute of American Art
butlerart.com
Culinary Vegetable Institute
culinaryvegetableinstitute.com
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
cvsr.com
Executive Caterers
executivecaterers.com
Holiday Inn & Conference Center
The Boardman facility recently underwent a $400,000 renovation.
hiboardman.com
Inn at Honey Run
Meeting space and quiet retreat for groups up to 72.
innathoneyrun.com/meetingfacilities.htm
Institute for Creative Leadership
instituteforcreativeleadership.org
John S. Knight Center
johnsknightcenter.org
Kalahari Resort
kalahariresorts.com/oh
Lake Metroparks Farmpark
lakemetroparks.com/parks/facilities/farmpark.shtml
Lakeside
lakesideohio.com
The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake
thelodgeatgeneva.com
Mill Creek MetroParks
millcreekmetroparks.com
Pro Football Hall of Fame
profootballhof.com/privateevents.aspx
Quicken Loans Arena
theqarena.com
Red Maple Inn
redmapleinn.com
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
rockhall.com/rentthemuseum
Sawmill Creek Resort & Convention Center
On the shores of Lake Erie, but can accommodate conferences up to 2,000.
sawmillcreek.com/ohio_convention_center.html
Stambaugh Auditorium
Located just north of downtown Youngstown and includes a concert hall, along with a boardroom and meeting rooms.
stambaughauditorium.com
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
stanhywet.org
Swiss Valley Tours
330-852-3898 or
maryswissvalley@tusco.net