CME WINNERS
The Midwest has spoken, and the first-ever Customized Meeting Experience winners are...
The Midwest has spoken, and the first-ever Customized Meeting Experience winners are...
Beachwood, Ohio is an east-side suburb 11 miles from Cleveland that has much more to offer than one might expect from a city that measures only 5.2 square miles. Its nine hotels range from family friendly to extended stay and anywhere between, provide an acre of meeting space, and the local Corporate College East is a brief drive away for training and classroom conference facilities. Many have recently remodeled or renovated, ensuring that event and meeting attendees will enjoy a modern, comfortable place to rest after a busy day of meetings and activities.
Nobody goes home hungry from Beachwood. Its restaurants range from homey fast-casual to white-tablecloth and Wine Spectator Grand Award finery. Beachwood’s diversity rate is four times that of the state of Ohio and this shows not only in its population but also in its local restaurants. The city also boasts many innovative exercise studios and a beautiful nature path, so visitors can work up an appetite before going out to eat.
The city’s indoor mall, the luxurious Beachwood Place, is anchored by Northeast Ohio’s only Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue. Other branded stores include offerings from Kate Spade New York®, LEGO®, Microsoft, Aveda and Vans, plus favorites like Buckle and the Beachwood-based Ticknors Men’s Clothier. These, in addition to outdoor retail spaces in neighboring communities, mean that visitors can enjoy all the shopping they can handle!
The city boasts one of the cultural gems of Northeast Ohio: The Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, whose mission is “to introduce visitors to the beauty and diversity of that heritage in the context of the American experience.” The Maltz Museum is a lively community space that is devoted to diversity and tolerance. Its intimate 70-seat theater and spacious, window-filled lobby (capacity 80 seated, 125 standing) are available for event rental. It also features a 12-person conference room.
The City of Beachwood is locally renowned for its city services and amenities. More than 2,500 companies call Beachwood home, and the city’s income and property taxes are considerably lower than those of neighboring communities. NerdWallet named Beachwood the 4th Best Place to Start a Business in Ohio, and the city regularly places at or near the top of Cleveland Magazine’s annual “Rating the Suburbs” issue.
Beachwood is a wonderful place to visit and a terrific place to work, live, and play! A mere 30-minute drive from Akron and another half-hour to Canton, the other Customized Meeting Experience winners, the city provides everything you need for an excellent meeting or small convention. Call the Mayor’s Office at 216-292-1905 or visit www.BeachwoodOhio.com for more information.
The city’s indoor mall, the luxurious Beachwood Place, is anchored by Northeast Ohio’s only Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue. Other branded stores include offerings from Kate Spade New York®, LEGO®, Microsoft, Aveda and Vans, plus favorites like Buckle and the Beachwood-based Ticknors Men’s Clothier. These, in addition to outdoor retail spaces in neighboring communities, mean that visitors can enjoy all the shopping they can handle!
The city boasts one of the cultural gems of Northeast Ohio: The Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, whose mission is “to introduce visitors to the beauty and diversity of that heritage in the context of the American experience.” The Maltz Museum is a lively community space that is devoted to diversity and tolerance. Its intimate 70-seat theater and spacious, window-filled lobby (capacity 80 seated, 125 standing) are available for event rental. It also features a 12-person conference room.
The City of Beachwood is locally renowned for its city services and amenities. More than 2,500 companies call Beachwood home, and the city’s income and property taxes are considerably lower than those of neighboring communities. NerdWallet named Beachwood the 4th Best Place to Start a Business in Ohio, and the city regularly places at or near the top of Cleveland Magazine’s annual “Rating the Suburbs” issue.
Beachwood is a wonderful place to visit and a terrific place to work, live, and play! A mere 30-minute drive from Akron and another half-hour to Canton, the other Customized Meeting Experience winners, the city provides everything you need for an excellent meeting or small convention. Call the Mayor’s Office at 216-292-1905 or visit www.BeachwoodOhio.com for more information.
We all know it would be hard for Visit Canton to top their Customized Meeting Experience entry of meeting a pro-football Hall of Famer with a personal tour of the museum, but they really do have much more to offer! Plan a secluded board retreat at a Tuscan village or take advantage of their state-of-the-art sports facilities. Choose from one of their pre-made group itineraries or customize your own.
Get behind the scenes with Canton’s factory tours. Watch skilled artisans create stained glass masterpieces in a fully functioning stained-glass factory, and become part of the action with a group class at Studio Arts & Glass Inc. Watch as molten glass is transformed before your eyes into beautiful pieces of art in a modern state-of-the-art hot glass studio. Or indulge in a Harry London/Fannie Mae chocolate factory tour, where your group can satisfy their taste buds as well as their curiosity. Plus, check their bird’s eye view at P. Graham Dunn to see the entire production of the decor and gifts process from start to finish, using large CNC routers, powerful lasers, and simple craftsmanship to create inspirational, handcrafted items.
Get behind the scenes with Canton’s factory tours. Watch skilled artisans create stained glass masterpieces in a fully functioning stained-glass factory, and become part of the action with a group class at Studio Arts & Glass Inc. Watch as molten glass is transformed before your eyes into beautiful pieces of art in a modern state-of-the-art hot glass studio. Or indulge in a Harry London/Fannie Mae chocolate factory tour, where your group can satisfy their taste buds as well as their curiosity. Plus, check their bird’s eye view at P. Graham Dunn to see the entire production of the decor and gifts process from start to finish, using large CNC routers, powerful lasers, and simple craftsmanship to create inspirational, handcrafted items.
If you’re looking for something a little more simpler, Canton/Stark County is the northern gateway to Ohio’s Amish Country, the largest Amish community in the world. Your group will discover a simpler way of life by exploring the quality craftsmanship, authentic experiences, and wholesome entertainment that the Amish Country has to offer. Experience the finest in Amish cooking, a dinner concert, and other great special events all while enjoying the tranquility of the rural countryside.
Or bring out your group’s fun side with the Reds, Whites, and Brews tour. There are many wineries to choose from, such as Gervasi Vineyard or Newman Creek Cellars. Gervasi Vineyard features 27 varietals, tours, tastings, and culinary delights at their three restaurants. Newman Creek Cellars is an “Urban Winery” that names their wines with “Camelot” themes. Canton is also home to several local breweries and a distillery. Be sure to include stops like Canton Brewing Company, Scenic Brewing Company, and Canal Spirits Craft Distillery to create a possibly unforgettable tour, depending on how much you decide to drink!
And we can’t forget about the chance to experience a side of the Pro Football Hall of Fame that not just everybody gets to see! Contact Visit Canton to enjoy a custom, VIP behind the scenes presentation from the Pro Football Hall of Fame archives which highlights favorite teams and players of your choice. Then, meet and greet with a Hall of Famer while enjoying appetizers and drinks. Head into the event center for dinner, followed by a personal tour of the museum. It’s every fan’s dream!
Visit Canton can accommodate groups of all sizes and purposes. Family reunions, corporate meetings, conventions, or just a group of friends can all have an extraordinary experience in the Hall of Fame City!
Or bring out your group’s fun side with the Reds, Whites, and Brews tour. There are many wineries to choose from, such as Gervasi Vineyard or Newman Creek Cellars. Gervasi Vineyard features 27 varietals, tours, tastings, and culinary delights at their three restaurants. Newman Creek Cellars is an “Urban Winery” that names their wines with “Camelot” themes. Canton is also home to several local breweries and a distillery. Be sure to include stops like Canton Brewing Company, Scenic Brewing Company, and Canal Spirits Craft Distillery to create a possibly unforgettable tour, depending on how much you decide to drink!
And we can’t forget about the chance to experience a side of the Pro Football Hall of Fame that not just everybody gets to see! Contact Visit Canton to enjoy a custom, VIP behind the scenes presentation from the Pro Football Hall of Fame archives which highlights favorite teams and players of your choice. Then, meet and greet with a Hall of Famer while enjoying appetizers and drinks. Head into the event center for dinner, followed by a personal tour of the museum. It’s every fan’s dream!
Visit Canton can accommodate groups of all sizes and purposes. Family reunions, corporate meetings, conventions, or just a group of friends can all have an extraordinary experience in the Hall of Fame City!
Akron/Summit CVB may have won our CME voting competition with their once-in-a-lifetime chance to race soap box cars at Derby Downs, but that’s not where the adventure ends. Greater Akron is ready to accommodate any group with any interests! Whether your group is full of nature lovers, foodies, history buffs, or sports fans, Akron has it all
Visit Ohio’s only national park, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and explore more than 33,000 acres to hike, bike, ski, sled, or simply unwind. Summit Metro Parks also offer 14,100 additional acres with 16 parks, several conservation areas, and more than 125 miles of trails for the nature lovers. For those who prefer to do their exercise via retail therapy, Akron and Summit County have fabulous and unique shops with special finds for every type of shopper. The only limit you’ll have is the one on your credit card! From mainstream retailers to antique shops, you won’t go home empty-handed. A few Akron-centric must-sees are Don Drumm Studios & Gallery, Akron Glass Works, The Bomb Shelter, and Stagecoach Antiques.
Looking to buff up on your history? Greater Akron dates back as far as Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I A Woman” speech in 1851. Ever since, they have been a melting pot for ideas, customs, and forms of expression. Visit the birthplace of AA with a tour of Dr. Bob’s Home and the gatehouse at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens. Travel back to the mid 1800s at Hale Farm & Village. Numerous sites, mansions, and homes also underscore poignant stories from their rich and lustrous past. If you’re group is full of history buffs, they won’t be disappointed with Greater Akron’s proud heritage.
If you have a group full of sports fans, whether they’re armchair quarterbacks or conditioned athletes, they can find their new favorite team at Akron. Cheer on the RubberDucks at Canal Park or catch the Akron Roller Derby with their flat-track bouts. For those with a need for speed, Barberton Speedway has the cars, while Northfield Park has the horses. And don’t forget about the opportunity to race or simply check out the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derpy Championships.
But if you can’t choose just one, contact Akron/Summit CVB’s Destination Sales Team, a team compromised of sales managers, director of sales, and director of marketing and communications. This team will help decide what hotels, convention/meeting facilities, and group activities will ensure your attendees have a visit that they’ll never forget! They do everything they can to create your own customized meeting experience!
Looking to buff up on your history? Greater Akron dates back as far as Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I A Woman” speech in 1851. Ever since, they have been a melting pot for ideas, customs, and forms of expression. Visit the birthplace of AA with a tour of Dr. Bob’s Home and the gatehouse at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens. Travel back to the mid 1800s at Hale Farm & Village. Numerous sites, mansions, and homes also underscore poignant stories from their rich and lustrous past. If you’re group is full of history buffs, they won’t be disappointed with Greater Akron’s proud heritage.
If you have a group full of sports fans, whether they’re armchair quarterbacks or conditioned athletes, they can find their new favorite team at Akron. Cheer on the RubberDucks at Canal Park or catch the Akron Roller Derby with their flat-track bouts. For those with a need for speed, Barberton Speedway has the cars, while Northfield Park has the horses. And don’t forget about the opportunity to race or simply check out the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derpy Championships.
But if you can’t choose just one, contact Akron/Summit CVB’s Destination Sales Team, a team compromised of sales managers, director of sales, and director of marketing and communications. This team will help decide what hotels, convention/meeting facilities, and group activities will ensure your attendees have a visit that they’ll never forget! They do everything they can to create your own customized meeting experience!
