Cleveland Medical Mart and Convention Center books large music education conference

CLEVELAND - One of the nation’s largest state conferences will be coming to the new Cleveland Medical Mart and Convention Center.

The Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) has agreed to hold its Professional Development Conference in Cleveland in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

Attendees at these three conferences are expected to fill more than 2,575 hotel rooms in downtown Cleveland in a Thursday-Sunday pattern during January and February, according to a news release. This will bring a direct economic impact expected to exceed $2.8 million.

More than 9,000 people attended OMEA’s 2012 conference.

The annual conference gives attendees educational sessions, symposia, poster presentations, as well as professional networking opportunities with music educators. It is expected to draw approximately more than 170 exhibitors in 250 booths, including 30 colleges and universities.

"Bringing the Ohio Music Education Association conference back to Cleveland is a real win for this community," said David Gilbert, president of Positively Cleveland in the news release. "With over 2,000 guests in downtown Cleveland for an entire week, our restaurants, hotels, and other amenities will be filled with guests who will be impressed with the quality and quantity of entertainment, dining, and sight-seeing options."

Cleveland Medical Mart and Convention Center, scheduled to open July 1, 2013, now has commitments for 42 conventions.

The OMEA Professional Development Conferences in Cleveland will be held Feb. 5-7, 2015, Feb. 1-4, 2017, and Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2019.