Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1546515
B M & T ••• September/October 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 26 International Airport offers nonstop service to 50- plus destinations, 12 miles from downtown, with Red Line rapid transit running directly from the terminal to the convention campus. Cleveland's strongest convention window runs April through June and September through October, when weather runs mild and the city's full cultural calen- dar opens up. The Hilton Cleveland Downtown holds 563 guest rooms, 37 suites, and 45,000 square feet of dedicated event space across two floors - a 32-story glass tower with Bar 32, the city's highest rooftop bar, connected directly to the convention center via underground tunnel. The Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Tower runs 400 guest rooms, 3 executive suites, and 30,907 square feet of dedicated event space across 16 rooms - the only hotel connected to Key Tower, Ohio's tallest sky- scraper, directly across the street from the Huntington Convention Center. The Cleveland African American Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Cleveland Partnership connect planners directly to certified Black-owned vendors. Karamu House, founded in 1915, holds its position as the oldest producing Black theater in the United States, four blocks from Public Square. The Fairfax neighborhood jazz corridor and the Hough Avenue cultural district give planners a verified evening trail of Black-owned venues and perform- ance spaces. House of Creole and Zanzibar at Shaker Square accommodate large banquet din- ners with full-venue reservation options. The Sixty6 Music Lounge and Studio gives the night its live soundtrack. Cleveland shows up - Lake Erie at your back, Black culture at the center, and a price point that lets your budget breathe. C Columbus B The Greater Columbus Convention Center spans 1.8 million square feet with 447,000 square feet of exhibit space and a 74,000-square-foot ball- room. John Glenn Columbus International Airport runs nonstop service to 50-plus destinations, peak season late May through early October. The Hilton Columbus Downtown holds 1,000 keys, 54 suites, and 75,000 square feet of dedicated meeting space - home to Ohio's largest hotel art collection, with direct skybridge connections to the convention cen- ter. The Hyatt Regency Columbus runs 633 keys, 20 suites, and 70,000 square feet of dedicated ballroom space - built directly into the convention center. The Columbus Urban League connects planners to cer- tified Black-owned vendors. The King Arts Complex, Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant, and Blu Note Jazz Cafe lead the cultural and dining trail. Columbus holds the floor, the culture, and the cal- endar. C Dayton B Dayton built the blueprint for flight - and it brings that same precision to every meeting it hosts. The Dayton Convention Center puts 150,000 square feet of total convention space, a 68,000- square-foot exhibition hall, a 12,000-square-foot grand ball- room, and 22 meeting rooms in the heart of south- west Ohio. Dayton International Airport connects to 14 nonstop destinations, with regional jet service and expanded budget routes through Breeze Airways to major East Coast and Florida hubs. Peak season runs May through October, driven by ideal Midwest weather and major aviation events. The AC Hotel Dayton holds 134 keys, 8 suites, and 4,500 square feet of dedicated indoor and outdoor event space across 6 rooms – home to The Foundry rooftop bar overlooking Day Air Ballpark, 0.5 miles north of the convention center. The Radisson Hotel Dayton Downtown runs 274 guest rooms, 7 execu- tive suites, and 6,272 square feet of dedicated event and conference space – featuring View 162, a panoramic rooftop restaurant with 360-degree views over downtown, connected via enclosed walk- way directly to the Dayton Convention Center. The Dayton Unit NAACP and the Greater Dayton Minority Business Council connect planners direct- Dayton Convention Center Huntington Convention Center, Cleveland