Cleveland Familiarization Tour 2008
“Hey now you’re an All Star get your game on, go play/Hey now you’re a Rock Star get the show on, get paid”–Smash Mouth
Positively Cleveland is hosting its annual summer familiarization (or “FAM,” as we call it in the hospitality biz) tour. The convention and visitors bureau hosts site selectors, journalists and motorcoach operators throughout the year, but, for the last three years we put on an ambitious multi-discipline event–inviting all three groups to simultaneously experience what Cleveland Plus has to offer.
On the Nautica Queen
Since we’ve had anywhere from 50-100 participants, this tour is an “all-hands-on-deck” proposition for staff. We think it is worth the time, work and effort to introduce these decisionmakers to Cleveland Plus because once people visit the region they almost always leave impressed. We have great assets to share, so it’s really just a matter of getting people here in the first place.
This year we have 60 participants from all over the US. Those from further away flew in, thanks to a partnership with Continental Airlines. And, thanks to the downtown hotels, the attendees are staying at seven (7) different properties. Over the course of two and half days, the diverse group will tour the nation’s second largest performing arts center outside of NYC (Playhouse Square), visit the nation’s most concentrated square mile of arts and culture (University Circle), sample Lake County’s Ohio wines and down a few dogs with Bertman’s Ball Park Mustard before taking in a Tribe game.
The opening night consisted of a progressive dinner . . . appetizers at the Marriott at Key Center, a musical march across Public Square for dinner at the Renaissance and a chocolate dessert bar at the Ritz-Carlton. Day 2? Breakfast at the Crowne Plaza, a city overview aboard the cheery red Lolly the Trolley, a tour of Playhouse Square, a lunch cruise of the crooked river on the Nautica Queen, an afternoon at Northcoast Harbor (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Great Lakes Science Center and the Steamship Wm. G. Mather Museum), dinner by Constantino’s Market and a night in the Warehouse District competing in Thursday Night Live games. (A travel writer and staff member took third in corn hole!)
Overall, it is a great start. Thanks to Mother Nature, the weather has been idyllic. (Forgive us. We’ve told them it’s always like this in Cleveland Plus–80 degrees with a light breeze, blue skies and lots of sun. We’re pretty sure they’re not buying it.) –Samantha Fryberger
