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| Destination Cleveland | |
|---|---|
| Name | Destination Cleveland |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Founded | 1930s |
| Headquarters | Cleveland, Ohio |
| Region served | Cuyahoga County, Ohio |
| Leader title | President & CEO |
Destination Cleveland is the official tourism promotion agency for the Cleveland metropolitan area, charged with marketing Cleveland, Ohio and surrounding communities to visitors, meeting planners, and sports event organizers. It serves as the primary convention and visitors bureau for Cuyahoga County, Ohio and partners with municipal agencies, hospitality providers, and cultural institutions to attract conventions, leisure travelers, and sporting events. The organization works closely with venues, attractions, and professional associations to enhance visitor experiences and support local hospitality employment.
Founded in the early 20th century as a municipal promotion board, Destination Cleveland evolved from predecessor civic boosters active during the Great Depression and postwar urban renewal efforts that reshaped Cleveland, Ohio. During the mid-20th century, it coordinated promotion with the development of landmark projects such as Terminal Tower, Public Auditorium (Cleveland), and Cleveland Public Library. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries it adapted to shifts driven by the Rust Belt transition, collaborating on initiatives connected to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Progressive Field, and the revitalization of The Flats. The bureau has pursued partnerships with statewide tourism entities like Ohio Department of Development and national associations such as the U.S. Travel Association and Destinations International to professionalize convention sales, sports bidding, and destination marketing strategies.
Destination Cleveland promotes a concentration of major draws including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on the Lake Erie lakefront, the West Side Market in Ohio City, Cleveland, and the historic Playhouse Square theater district. Waterfront redevelopment anchors include Voinovich Bicentennial Park and Erieview Tower, while civic landmarks such as Cleveland Museum of Art, Severance Hall, and Cleveland Botanical Garden are integral to the visitor proposition. Nearby regional assets often packaged in itineraries include Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, and the industrial heritage sites in Lorain County, Ohio and Ashtabula County, Ohio. Destination Cleveland also highlights culinary destinations like Ohio City Neighborhood eateries, the East 4th Street (Cleveland) entertainment corridor, and campus-related sites such as University Circle, Cleveland institutions.
The bureau leverages Cleveland’s cultural institutions including Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall, performing arts at Playhouse Square, and exhibits at Cleveland Museum of Natural History. It coordinates promotion around season programming from Cleveland Opera, Cleveland Play House, and visiting tours that stop at venues like Mentor Civic Center and regional fairgrounds. Partnerships with festivals and legacy organizations—Cleveland International Film Festival, Cleveland Asian Festival, and Cleveland Jazz Festival—help package cultural offerings for national audiences. Destination Cleveland collaborates with media partners and guilds such as the Screen Actors Guild and regional production services to attract film shoots and touring exhibitions.
Sports promotion is central to its mission, working with franchises like the Cleveland Guardians, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Cleveland Browns to coordinate visitor services, group sales, and game-day hospitality. The organization bids for collegiate championships with partners at Ohio State University satellite offices and regional conference organizers including the Mid-American Conference and Big Ten Conference events. It markets recreational assets such as lakefront trails, marinas on Lake Erie, and cycling routes used for events organized with groups like USA Cycling and Ironman. Destination Cleveland also supports amateur tournaments hosted at facilities such as Wade Oval and municipal parks.
Destination Cleveland interfaces with hospitality stakeholders—including major hotel operators such as Hyatt, Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, and independent boutique properties—to drive group bookings, conventions, and transient demand. It contributes to local tax revenue streams tied to the bed tax and municipal finance instruments funding venue upgrades such as Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse renovations. The agency coordinates with regional economic development organizations like Greater Cleveland Partnership and workforce entities such as Cuyahoga Community College to support hospitality training and business events. Its marketing programs aim to increase visitor spending at museums, restaurants, performing arts houses, and retail corridors.
Promotion and planning efforts connect visitors to the region via Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, intercity rail at Cleveland Lakefront Station, and highway corridors including Interstate 90 in Ohio and Interstate 77. Destination Cleveland works with transit agencies such as the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority to improve visitor wayfinding and shuttle services for conventions and festivals. Waterfront and commuter links involve partnerships with port operators at the Port of Cleveland and intermodal freight and passenger providers like Amtrak to facilitate access for touring acts, sports teams, and conference attendees.
The organization actively markets marquee events such as the Cleveland National Air Show, Parma Hamlet Festival-style community celebrations, and collegiate commencement weekends at institutions like Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland State University. It assists in staging large-scale events including marathon and road races affiliated with USA Track & Field and high-profile trade shows in partnership with venue operators at IX Center and Cleveland Convention Center planners. Seasonal programming promotion ties into holiday parades, neighborhood street fairs, and music series presented in collaboration with arts organizations and civic partners.
Category:Tourism in Ohio Category:Organizations based in Cleveland