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30 B M & T ••• September/October 2024 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com Columbus Columbus, the 14th largest city in the United States as well as the fastest-growing city in the Midwest, is a smart and open community with a dynamic convention package that can fit the needs of any group. Located within a one-day drive or one-hour flight from more than half of the U.S. population, Columbus is easily accessible for all. The Greater Columbus Convention Center serves as the destination's premier venue for events of all sizes, ranging from concert style setup to large scale conferences. The 1.8 million square foot venue is equipped 373,000 sq. ft. of con- tiguous meeting space, 10,000 sq. ft. of outdoor event space, 74 meeting rooms and 3 ballrooms. Dayton Dayton and Montgomery County offer big-city amenities with Midwestern charm and affordability. Dayton is home to the Wright Brothers, the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, the world's largest and oldest military avia- tion museum and the state's most-visited free tourist attrac- tion! The Dayton Convention Center offers 150,000 total square feet of meeting space. The first floor offers a 68,000 sq. ft. column free Exhibit Hall and two ballrooms. The second floor contains six smaller meeting rooms that are perfect for boardroom meetings. The third floor boasts a 672 seat Theatre with full theatri- cal capabilities, six dedicated dressing rooms, a VIP Lounge that overlooks the Exhibit Halls, and ten breakout rooms that can be combined for larger meetings. The gem of downtown Dayton will be going through a $45M renovation project. The upgrade will include a total redesign of the 68,000 square foot exhibit hall to include 18,000 square feet of flex space that will serve as a new ball- room, an outdoor terrace overlooking public green space, an upgraded HVAC system in addition to enhanced LED light- ing, and a new telescoping seating system and is expected to be completed by Q1 of 2025. Dayton's hotels are all open and focused on providing you with clean, safe accommodations. Dayton/Mont- gomery County offers nearly 7,000 hotel rooms for a great getaway and restful night. Dayton's hotels are as varied as the visitors who use them. All of their hotels pride themselves on offering world-class hospitality. The area boasts a range of accommodations with varied price points and amenities. Whether your night of rest is for business or pleasure, they have plenty of options to help you relax and unwind. Springfield Springfield's National Road Convention District offers unconventional experiences with impressive, state-of-the-art event facilities that can host up to 1,500 people, premium lodging at refreshingly competitive prices, and a simplified event planning process that starts with one call to the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau. The National Road Convention District packages all the best that Greater Springfield has to offer, including culturally rich arts and entertainment options, outdoor activities that range from the relaxing to the exhilarating, a robust technol- ogy infrastructure, a host of dining options and an exception- ally welcoming business community ready to play its role in the satisfaction of your members and attendees. Toledo Toledo is more than you ever imagined when it comes to planning your next meeting or event! A revitalized and walka- ble downtown features the newly renovated Glass City Center, state of the art hotels, multiple entertainment districts, and an array of delicious dining choices. Located within a day's drive of 60% of the U.S. population, known as the "Crossroads of America", Toledo is easily accessible for guests. Add in a vari- ety of memorable and unique event enhancements, along with the destination's DMO's and partners' first-class hospitality, and Toledo is the perfect host city for your event. Columbus-ohio-skyline-panorama – photo credit Wikipedia Dayton Convention Center Downtown Toledo, Ohio