Partner Zone

Partners, this is the place to stay updated on time sensitive announcements, upcoming deadlines, news you need to know! Don't have CVBuzz coming to your inbox? Sign-up to receive the weekly e-blast!

Register your team for Industry Development Day—a fun and engaging opportunity for Visit Canton CVB partners to connect, learn, share ideas, and build relationships that strengthen our vibrant tourism community.

Join Visit Canton and fellow tourism, arts, and community leaders for Industry Development Day 2026, a FREE half-day conference designed to strengthen partnerships, share industry insights, and inspire new ideas that grow Stark County's visitor economy.

Event Details:
📅 Thursday, September 17, 2026
🕦 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Exploration Gateway at Sippo Lake Park | 5712 12th St. NW, Canton, OH 44708

This year's Industry Development Day is a can't-miss opportunity as you prepare for 2027. Enjoy breakfast, networking, and a morning of meaningful conversations with fellow tourism partners, community leaders, and media representatives while gaining valuable insights into the future of Stark County's visitor economy.

You'll also have the opportunity to share what's on the horizon for your organization, connect directly with the Visit Canton team, and ensure we're part of your planning so we can help promote, support, and amplify your efforts

Program Schedule:
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM | Registration & Media Expo
8:45 AM – 10:00 AM | Breakfast, Welcome & The Economic Impact Conversation: A Panel with Stark County Economic & Community Leaders
10:05 AM – 11:00 AM | The 30-Second Tourism Pitch Challenge
11:10 AM – 11:40 AM | The Partnership Playbook: Collaboration That Creates Destinations
11:40 AM – 12:00 PM | Tourism Pitch Challenge Awards, Closing Remarks & Visit Canton Networking

Click here to learn more & register!

Questions about the day? Reach out to Gabe Baker, Visit Canton Partner Content Coordinator, GabeB@visitcanton.com or 330.313.3064.

Capture great photos of guests having a great time during Enshrinement Week? Upload them to Visit Canton to be used in future promotions!

We'd love to showcase your business and events by featuring your photos in future marketing materials. If you have recent photos of your business or events, we'd be grateful if you could upload them to our SnapSea submission form.

Have questions? Reach out to Jonathan Williams, Marketing Content Manager, jonathanw@visitcanton.com.

Do you have any special offers or deals for families with kids aged 12 & under?

Summer is coming to an end, which means it's time for Fall Fun! Submit your special offers and deals for Pigskin's Pals Fall Fun & Halloween Happenings from September 8 - October 31, 2026.

Whether you're offering a BOGO deal, a free item with purchase, a discount on a purchase or admission, or other special promotion, we'd love to host it on the Pigskin's Pals Pass!

Join the Pigskin's Pals Pass by submitting your special offer and let us help promote your business or attraction to families throughout the season!

Submit your special offer here!

Questions about the pass? Reach out to Gabe Baker, Visit Canton Partner Content Coordinator, GabeB@visitcanton.com or 330.313.3064.

The application deadline for the Ohio History Fund Grants is coming up on September 8th, 2026.

The Ohio History Fund is a competitive matching grant program that annually awards grants for history-related projects. Eligible applicants include a wide range of nonprofit organizations and local government entities.

See the list of recipients for the variety of organizations and projects we have funded.

The Ohio History Fund is also a way for Ohioans to support community history. A large share of the money we grant is voluntarily contributed by you!

Click here to learn more!

Connect with fellow industry professionals, gain fresh insights, and expand your professional skillset at MPI Ohio and OSAP’s joint industry education event!

Event Details:
📅 Friday, September 11, 2026
🕦 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Hilton Columbus at Easton | 3900 Chagrin Drive, Columbus, OH 43219

Join fellow meeting, hospitality, and event professionals for an energizing morning of high-impact networking, gourmet culinary experiences, interactive creative activations, and actionable professional development.

Whether you're looking to elevate your brand’s visual marketing, sharpen your leadership toolkit, or engage in meaningful dialogue with industry peers, this year’s Joint Industry Event is designed to give you fresh ideas, valuable connections, and practical tools you can apply immediately.

Click here to learn more & register!

The Visit Canton Sales Team is changing things up a little for our Pittsburgh Sales Outreach!

Instead of our 2-day sales blitz we had originally planned, we are now hosting a Sales Luncheon!

Event details:

• When: Thursday, October 15, 2026 ~ 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
• Where: Grand Concourse | 100 W Station Square Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
• Who: Visit Canton sales team, Stark County tourism partners, Pittsburgh area meeting planners, group tour operators, and sporting events rights holders.
• Partner Requirements to participate:
  • Door prize valued $100+
  • 30-50 giveaway items

Have questions or would like to attend? Please reach out to Leslianne Lake, Visit Canton Sales Manager by Friday, September 11, 2026, lesliannel@visitcanton.com.

Show your support and appreciation for the Akron-Canton Airport by donating raffle gifts for their terminal-wide employee appreciation party!

Last year, there were over 65 great raffle items to reward dedicated work staff of airlines, rental cars, airport employees, information desk employees, and TSA staff. Over 300 employees were served a great picnic lunch!

Donation items can include admission tickets to venues, gift cards, and overnight stays at hotels.

The event is October 2, 2026, and items can be dropped off at the information desk or sent to the airport address with attention to David Regula. Your help is much appreciated!

Akron-Canton Airport Address | 5400 Lauby Rd, Canton, OH 44720

If you have any questions, please reach out to David Regula, Vice President of Customer Experience, dregula@akroncantonairport.com.

Spooky Season is on the way, get your Fall Fun & Halloween events submitted!

If you are hosting a fall festival, pumpkin patch, corn maze, Halloween event, haunted attraction, trunk-or-treat, or any other seasonal activity, we encourage you to submit it to our Event Calendar.

Be sure to submit your event as early as possible so it has the best opportunity to be included in our promotions. Complete event details, photos, and updates help us share your event more effectively.

Together, we can create a vibrant lineup of seasonal experiences that encourage visitors to explore, stay longer, and support local businesses! Thank you for partnering with us to make this fall and Halloween season one to remember.

We look forward to helping you spread the word!

Submit your events here!

Contact our Partner Content Coordinator, Gabe Baker, at gabeb@visitcanton.com for additional assistance or questions!

Registration for the 2026 Ohio Conference on Travel is now Open!

Travel and tourism are undeniable forces, driving strength and connection across every Ohio community.

Whether representing an attraction, museum, lodging, restaurant, retail, a destination marketing organization, state agency, or any other travel sector, you're a vital part of this industry. The Ohio Conference on Travel is an essential gathering you need to be at.

We're thrilled to announce that registration is officially OPEN for our 2026 conference, themed "Stories That Move Us." This event is dedicated to celebrating the people, places, and moments that make Ohio tourism unforgettable and empowering the professionals behind those stories.

Date: October 7-9, 2026
Location: Roberts Centre, 123 Gano Rd, Wilmington, OH 45177

Imagine three days packed with:
✅Transforming communities into storytellers.
✅Cutting-edge tourism marketing strategies to reach new audiences.
✅Leveraging sports tourism.
✅How Communities are funding tourism and recreation.
✅ADA rules and what they mean for your website.
✅Emerging trends defining traveler behavior.

Beyond the sessions, you'll be inspired by best practices, celebrate industry award winners, and engage with thought-provoking ideas from tomorrow's leaders. This is your chance to forge invaluable connections, build your professional tribe, and discover firsthand the stories that move our industry forward.

Act Fast, rates will Increase on August 8th!

Don't miss out on significant savings! Secure your spot today and invest in you, your team's growth, and the future of Ohio's vibrant tourism industry at the best possible price.

Click here to register!

2026 is the 250th anniversary of the United States! Ohio History Connection wants to host more than 250 Ohio Open Doors events in 2026 and have at least one in each of our state’s 88 counties. Ohio Open Doors 2026 is another opportunity for your community to be a part of America 250-Ohio.

Ohio Open Doors is state-wide event that takes place every other year. During Ohio Open Doors, stewards of historic buildings, places and spaces, open their doors to the public for special tours and programs.

Many events are exclusive to Ohio Open Doors. Since the program started in 2016 hosts have noted upticks in visitation during Ohio Open Doors.

Register your event here!

Visit Canton Industry Development Day: Join Visit Canton for Industry Development Day, a half-day professional development conference designed for tourism, hospitality, attractions, events, arts and culture, and community partners across Stark County.

• Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026
• Time: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
• Location: Stark Parks Exploration Gateway
  

Visit Canton Pittsburgh Sales Luncheon: Visit Canton’s Pittsburgh Sales Blitz on October 15 will provide an exciting opportunity for tourism and hospitality partners to connect directly with meeting planners, association executives, and business leaders in the Pittsburgh market. If you’d like to find out more information and attend with Visit Canton, please contact Leslianne Lake, Visit Canton Sales Manager, lesliannel@visitcanton.com.

• Date: Thursday, October 15
• Location: Grand Concourse | 100 W Station Square Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Visit Canton Partner Huddle: Visit Canton Partner Huddles are quarterly gatherings that provide updates, resources, and opportunities to collaborate. They offer partners a chance to connect, ask questions, and stay aligned on initiatives that strengthen our communities.

• Date: Thursday, October 15th at
• Time: 12:00 PM ~ 1:00 PM
• Location: Visit Canton Downtown Offices

Visit Canton Merry Mixer: Join fellow attractions, restaurants, hotels, venues, arts and culture organizations, and community partners for an evening of networking, celebration, and holiday cheer as we reflect on another successful year of tourism in Stark County.

• Date: Thursday, November 19, 2026
• Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Location: It could be YOU!

Click here to find out more information and register to attend events.

Business and Event Listings Updates, Exploreboard Maintenance, and New Partner Onboarding: Gabe Baker, gabeb@visitcanton.com

Website Updates and Social Content Requests: Willis Brienza, willisb@visitcanton.com

Welcome Center Brochures and Travel Guide Requests: Carole Camarata, carolec@visitcanton.com

Grants, Industry Partner Programs, Marketing and Promotions Opportunities: Allison Gromofsky, allisong@visitcanton.com

Important Reminders Regarding the Use of “America 250” Logos & Brand Placement:

• The word mark “America 250” is owned by the national America 250 Commission.
• The Ohio Commission holds the license to use the words “America 250” in our logo and communications.
  
• Permission to use the words “America 250” can be granted if:
  • Your organization is an official America 250-Ohio Community, or
  • You have signed an America 250-Ohio logo agreement.

• If your organization wishes to use the national America 250 logo, permission must be obtained from the national organization.

We encourage all partners to review these resources to support your 2026 America 250 projects and ensure proper use of the America 250 brand. You can also download the America 250-OH Stark County logo here.

We want to see your best shots!

Whether it's a scenic view, a fun event, or your latest photoshoot, upload your photos and videos to help us showcase what makes our area a great destination.

Upload Directly to Visit Canton, or use the submission further down this page!

• Partner Benefits & Industry Resources
• Event Planning Resource Guide

Visit Canton uses a technology platform to aggregate event listings from Google-indexed data. If your event is listed on Eventbrite, Ticketmaster, Facebook, or your website, it may already be listed. View the Event Guide for more information on the automation process.

If you prefer to submit your event manually, please submit event details here.