New 600-room Hilton Hotel Opens Next to Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland

June 6, 2016

Meeting and convention-goers holding events in Cleveland just received a nice boost, with a new 600-room Hilton opening adjacent to the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.

To celebrate the opening, Hilton Worldwide executives, Hilton Cleveland Downtown management and employees, city and county officials, community representatives and invited guests gathered last week for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception.

“The opening of Hilton Cleveland Downtown signifies not only a historic occasion for the city of Cleveland, but for Hilton Hotels & Resorts,” said Shawn McAteer, vice president, global brand management, full service brands, Hilton Worldwide.

McAteer added, “This is the first hotel for Hilton Worldwide’s flagship brand in Cleveland, opening as this city continues to transform into a must-visit destination. The hotel’s sleek, contemporary design embodies a new era of Hilton hotels and represents our future.”

Located on Lakeside Avenue in downtown Cleveland, the hotel overlooks Lake Erie and FirstEnergy Stadium. The convention-style property, intended to serve as the new front door to Cleveland, connects to the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland and is adjacent to the Global Center for Health Innovation.

“Today marks the opening of this exciting addition to Cleveland, a reflection of the hard work and determination of this community and the hotel’s more than 350 team members,” said Teri Agosta, general manager, Hilton Cleveland Downtown. “With all of the energy and buzz surrounding this city, we could not think of a better place to be right now.”

He added, , “We have assembled a top-notch best-in-class staff and look forward to welcoming locals and travelers alike to this impressive hotel.”

The project is a collaboration between Cuyahoga County Council, Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council and the City of Cleveland. Hilton Hotels & Resorts, the flagship brand of Hilton Worldwide, will operate the hotel and provide day-to-day operations support, including sales, marketing and customer service.

Architectural firm Cooper Carry designed the modern industrial structure with reflective glass to ensure unobstructed views and natural light-filled rooms and common spaces. The silver LEED Certified building incorporates sustainably-minded features such as smart thermometers and occupancy censors.

For fitness and recreation enthusiasts, an indoor pool and comprehensive fitness room are available on the sixth level, as well as Hilton Fitness Guestrooms with in-room yoga and/or cardio and strength training setups.

For art and culture aficionados, exclusively commissioned artwork of Cleveland landmarks and monuments appear in-room and throughout the hotel, including a collage comprised of 2,800 selfies submitted by Cleveland residents to create a mosaic depiction of the Cleveland skyline.

A nod to Hilton’s legacy in music and entertainment, music buffs can enjoy a stay in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Suite, designed in collaboration with the Cleveland-based museum. In addition, the hotel is equipped with business traveler essentials such as a business center, in-room Wi-Fi, in-room dining and laundry valet.

Guests and locals have a variety of food and beverage options on-property:

·         The Burnham: the hotel’s three-level signature restaurant, named after the American architect who designed the city of Cleveland, Daniel Burnham, diners will enjoy flavorful and fresh chef-driven dishes all day complete with innovative small plate offerings. The Burnham is led by Executive Chef Maxime Kien, Chef de Cuisine and Ohio native Ryan Beck and James Beard Award nominated restaurateur Zack Bruell.

·         Bar 32: located on floor 32, a luxe sky high bar with panoramic city and lakefront views, serving craft cocktails and small plates.

·         Eliot’s Bar: a communal workspace and lounge with food and beverage items, including its namesake Great Lakes Brewing Co. beer on tap.

·         The Noshery: a grab-and-go option for snacks, beverages and sundries.

For all meeting needs, Hilton Cleveland Downtown offers more than 50,000 square feet of flexible function space. The hotel boasts Grand (20,778 square feet) and Junior Ballrooms (15,729 square feet) while the third and fifth floors also offer banquet space.

Nine meeting rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and lake views accommodate smaller scale meetings and events.

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Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.