Skift Take
A multimillion-dollar renovation and expansion of Cleveland’s Huntington Convention Center has been completed just in time to host approximately 5,000 attendees at the American Society of Association Executives’ annual meeting and exposition.
Andrea Doyle
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The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) is headquartered in Cleveland’s newly expanded Huntington Convention CenterThe conference space now fully integrates the former Global Health Innovation Center, also known as the Medical Mart.
The $51 million expansion will increase the center’s size by 25 percent, adding a grand new entrance, an expanded junior ballroom and an outdoor terrace with views of Lake Erie.
“This is a big change for the city,” said Travis Poppel, director of sales and marketing for the Huntington Convention Center.
Nearly half of the more than 5,000 participants Meeting Aug. 10-13 will feature executive-level meeting planners who may be bringing groups to Cleveland in the coming years.
David Gilbert, president and CEO of Destination Cleveland, said the organization has 19 major events booked through 2030, many of which wouldn’t have happened without the expansion.
Hotel Cleveland opens
In addition to the upgraded convention center, the new 491-room Hotel Cleveland opened in June. After a multiyear, $90 million renovation, the former Cleveland Renaissance Hotel now has 59,000 square feet of meeting space. Built in 1918, the hotel is now part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection.
Cleveland’s biggest rivals, Cincinnati and Milwaukee, are also upgrading their event spaces: Milwaukee finished a $456 million expansion of the Baird Center in time for the Republican National Convention, and Cincinnati closed the Duke Energy Convention Center in early July for a $240 million renovation expected to take 18 months.
Poppel said Cleveland is well positioned to compete with those two cities for group business.
It is one of the most visited tourist spots Rock and Roll Hall of FameThe venue will also be expanded to include new areas for events, performances and gatherings. The $135 million expansion is scheduled for completion in 2025.
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Photo credit: Gabe Wasilko/Destination Cleveland
