Unconventional

Yes, you could hold your group’s meeting, conference or tradeshow any place with four walls and an adequate supply of tables and chairs – but with Northeast Ohio’s array of unforgettable venues, there’s simply no reason to settle.

The downtown Cleveland shoreline oers two event-planning gems in the Great Lakes Science Center (www.greatscience.com) and Cleveland Browns Stadium (www.clevelandbrowns.com).

“You can experience picture perfect views of the Cleveland skyline and Lake Erie from our two-acre plaza, make the lake your backdrop from one of our outdoor terraces or celebrate from one of our striking architectural spaces indoors,” says Amanda Bowen, manager of special events at the Science Center.

Next door, the stadium oers no fewer than a dozen available spaces, ranging from the 1,500-capacity City View and Lake View Club Lounges to the Press Box and even the Cleveland Browns and VIP Locker Rooms. And, on game days, BrownsTown provides the Ultimate Indoor Tailgate Experience.

Historic and elegant Severance Hall (www.severancehall.com) is known worldwide as the home of the Cleveland Orchestra, but hosting 175 special events a year, it has also earned a reputation for service as top-notch as the surroundings.

“We are an extremely hands-on facility, from the beginning of the planning to the end of an event,” asserts Severance Hall Facility Sales Manager Bob Bellamy. “The biggest thing, rst and foremost – aside from the beauty of the facility – is certainly our customer service.” And in Akron, you can meet just yards from some of golf’s most famous fairways at Firestone Country Club (www.restonecountryclub.com), site of the annual World Golf Championships.

From the greens to the Great Lake, Cleveland Plus is clearly a place where meetings don’t have to be ordinary