ITH MORE THAN $2 billion in new development in progress through 2015, Cleveland Plus (encompass- ing Cleveland, Akron, Canton,
and Youngstown) is shaping up as a meetings des- tination to be reckoned with. One of the most antici- pated projects is the Cleveland Medical Mart & Con- vention Center. The $465-million complex will open in 2013 with a 100,000-square-foot Medical Mart, an adjoining convention center with 230,000 square feet of exhibition space, and more than 92,000 square feet in meeting and ballroom space. The Greater Cleveland Aquarium will open in a
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PLACE YOUR BETS: Downtown Cleveland will welcome a $950-million casino in 2012. Opening in two phases under the Horseshoe Casino
brand, the casino will debut in the historic Higbee Building on Public Square, within walking distance of Pro- gressive Field, Quicken Loans Arena, and East Fourth Street. The final phase of the casino will open in 2015.
new facility in the West Bank of the Flats by Decem- ber 2011. The 70,000-square-foot historic building, known as The FirstEnergy Powerhouse, will house 42 tanks, a “seatube” that lets visitors walk through an underwater environment, and the Windows on the River ban- quet facility. Another water attraction is gearing up for a relaunch as well: the Kalahari Resorts’ $22-million convention-center expansion, which will open by the end of this year and double its meeting space to 215,000 square feet. Other Cleveland Plus projects in the works include the new $26.3-million home of the Cleveland Museum of Contemporary Art, the $270-million Flats East Bank development, and a $35-million redesign of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. With an actual Iron Chef, several James Beard Foundation Award
winners, and countless accolades by the culinary world’s biggest names, Cleveland Plus is quickly becoming the jewel of the Midwest culinary scene. Start the night in the artsy Detroit–Shoreway Neigh- borhood with gourmet hot dogs and indie rock at the Happy Dog, or at the nearly century-old West Side Market in Ohio City. Dessert time calls for a higher level of bliss, and decadent truffles from Lilly Handmade Chocolates in trendy Tremont are the perfect indulgence. A Cleveland culinary experience can be a global culinary experience, whether it’s visiting charming Little Italy for homemade Italian des- serts or strolling the manicured sidewalks of Shaker Heights for Bra- zilian cuisine at SARAVA. For the latest news and updates, visit Positively Cleveland on Facebook (www.facebook.com/clevelandmeetings), Twitter
Hotel rooms: 5,500 citywide Convention Facilities: In addition to the International Exhibition Center, with one million square feet of contiguous exhibition and conference space, and the Kalahari Resort’s new 215,000-square- foot convention center, the new Cleveland Medical Mart & Conven- tion Center will offer 100,000 square feet of meeting and convention space and 230,000 square feet of exhibit space. Attractions: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum; Cleveland Orchestra; Cleveland Museum of Art; PlayhouseSquare; Great Lakes Science Center; West Side Market; professional sports including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Indians, and Cleveland Browns; and cruises and water sports on Lake Erie