special section Innovative Centers and Unique Venues Cleveland

With $2 billion in new visitor-related infra- structure under way in Cleveland, groups have their pick of novel spaces to meet. Thanks to a recent multimillion-dollar upgrade, the International Exposition Cen- ter (I-X Center) offers flexible, elevated arena seating in its main exhibition space for up to 2,600 people. When combined with floor seating, an audience of 5,000 can be accom- modated. I-X Center, which has more than one million square feet of contiguous exhibi- tion and conference space, will invest up to $35 million in upgrades in the next few years. Topping the list of exciting projects in the

works is the Cleveland Medical Mart & Con- vention Center, the world’s first facility of its kind, opening August 2013. The medical mart

More and more to offer groups

will include permanent showrooms for medi- cal manufacturers and service providers, as well as a convention center for groups of all kinds that will offer 226,000 square feet of exhibition space. Next spring, three new hotels will debut:

the 150-room Courtyard by Marriott in Uni- versity Circle; the 150-room Aloft Cleveland Downtown, which will offer 3,000 square feet of meeting space; and the 161-room Kimpton Hotel Downtown Cleveland — part of a rede- velopment that will include 7,400 square feet of meeting space. In addition, the former Crowne Plaza

Cleveland City Centre will reopen next sum- mer as the 472-room Westin Cleveland Con- vention Center Hotel, with more than 25,000

square feet of meeting space. When combined with new museum devel-

opments and the recent opening of the first phase of Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, the number of reasons to meet in Cleveland keeps adding up.

For more information: Positively Cleveland

— Dan Williams, Vice President of Sales; (216) 875-6630; dwilliams@positivelycleveland.com; clevelandmeetings.com

72 PCMA CONVENE JULY 2012

PCMA.ORG