Partner Zone

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Are you passionate about Stark County? Visit Canton is excited to share a new opportunity to join our team! We are currently accepting applications for the following positions:

• Guest Outreach & Experience Manager | The Guest Outreach & Experience Manager leads proactive, on-the-ground initiatives that bring the Visit Canton brand to life for visitors, residents, and event audiences. This role is responsible for creating and executing dynamic, guest-facing programs, managing community ambassador outreach, and activating experiences during major events and peak-visitation periods. Click here to view the Guest Outreach & Experience Manager position description.
  
  
• Client & Guest Engagement Coordinator | This role supports the Sales & Service team by executing event activations, handling sales administration, and coordinating client communications. This role also includes serving as the Manager on Duty for Guest Service Specialists at the Visit Canton Welcome Centers. Click here to view the Client & Guest Engagement Coordinator position description.

To apply for either position, please submit your resume to Rosie Kurtz at RosieK@VisitCanton.com by March 6, 2026 to be considered.

America's Playing Field Destination Showcase
Friday, March 13 & Saturday, March 14 | Stark County Home & Garden Show

Visit Canton Partner Huddle
Thursday, March 19 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Visit Canton Downtown Canton Offices

AI in Action in Tourism & Hospitality
Tuesday, April 14 from 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Embassy Suites by Hilton Akron Canton Airport

MPI Ohio Chapter Meeting in Cleveland
Wednesday, April 15 from 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM | The Ritz Carlton Cleveland

Find out more information and register to attend.

Visit Canton’s Grant Programs provide funding to support events, projects, and initiatives that attract visitors to Stark County. Applications for 2026 projects open September 10th, giving partners the chance to strengthen tourism impact and create memorable experiences. Learn more about eligibility, criteria, and how to apply on the Visit Canton Grant Landing Page.

2026 Cultural Tourism Grants

The ArtsinStark/Visit Canton Cultural Tourism Grant program will invest up to $200,000 in 2026 to support arts and cultural events, programming, and marketing initiatives that drive regional visitation and visitor spending.

Grant Program Highlights:

• Competitive awards of up to $20,000 per project (max $20,000 per organization per cycle).

• Projects must increase attendance from outside Stark County, enhance events with arts & cultural elements, and foster collaboration.

• Applications must be submitted 90 days before project execution; projects must be completed in 2026.

2026 Event Support Grants

Visit Canton’s Event Support Grant program is designed to increase regional visitation and economic impact through visitor spending by supporting sporting events & tournaments, conferences, professional meetings, expos, and complementary experiences tied to qualifying events.

Grant Program Highlights:

• Events must have a minimum commitment of 125 Stark County hotel room nights and/or 400-day visitors from outside of Stark County.

• Competitive awards of up to $10,000 per event, pending available funds.

• Applications must be submitted at least 90 days before the scheduled event.

• Events must be hosted within the 2026 calendar year.

March is Stark County Restaurant Month!

Foodies get ready - it's Savor Stark Restaurant Month! Enjoy exclusive specials at locally owned restaurants, wineries, breweries, and unique dining spots across Stark County March 1-31, 2026. Enjoy special menu pairings starting at just $25!

Plus, each time you check in at a participating location, be entered to win gift cards to local restaurants!

Click Here for More Information

📅 Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026
🕓 Time: 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
📍 Location: Massillon Museum

Celebrating Partnerships, Planning for Success

Tourism partners are welcome to come together as we debut the 2026 Spring/Summer Travel Guide and highlight the programs, initiatives, and strategies shaping Visit Canton’s work in the year ahead. This gathering will provide an opportunity to learn about upcoming marketing campaigns, collaborative projects, and ways to leverage resources to support a thriving visitor economy. Partners will also have a chance to connect with peers, ask questions, and share ideas for promoting Stark County as a destination.

Don’t miss out—register now to secure your spot and kick off 2026 with us!

Have a question about the day? Reach out to Visit Canton Senior Manager, Community & Partner Relations, Allison Gromofsky, allisong@visitcanton.com.

📅 Date: Saturday, March 13 & 14, 2026
🕓 Time: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Stark County Home & Garden Show | Center for Performance - Hall of Fame Village

Visit Canton will host a shared 20’ x 20’ Destination Showcase booth during all open hours of the 2026 Home & Garden Show: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM on Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14.

Partners are invited to sign up for a short shift to represent their organization alongside Visit Canton staff — a great way to connect with attendees and showcase your materials. Organizations with a representative working a shift are guaranteed to have their items displayed all weekend.

Sign up to represent your organization here.

Additional ways to participate:

• Provide a major prize ($150+ value): Receive all attendee leads from booth sign-ups. Submit prize details by Wednesday, February 25.
• Consignment & pop-up shop: Explore selling merchandise or souvenirs through Visit Canton Welcome Centers.
• Drop off materials: Deliver brochures, giveaways, or coupons to the Hall of Fame Village Welcome Center by Friday, March 6 to be included in the display.

Have a question about the day? Reach out to Visit Canton Senior Manager, Community & Partner Relations, Allison Gromofsky, allisong@visitcanton.com.

📅 Date: Tuesday, April 14, 2026
🕓 Time: 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
📍 Location: Embassy Suites by Hilton Akron Canton Airport

The AI Era Playbook For Our Industry

2026 isn’t the year AI becomes new; it’s the year it becomes normal. And when technology shifts from novelty to infrastructure, everything about how we connect, market, and build trust changes.

Eric Hultgren, National Director of Content, Advance Local, unpacks the hidden forces reshaping marketing right now from the collapse of traditional search to the rise of answer engines, from the battle for human attention to the new currency of trust. He’ll show why flooding the zone with content no longer works, and what signals actually cut through the noise in an AI-saturated world.

This is not another “future of AI” talk. It’s a playbook for clarity, community, and creativity in a time when being human is your greatest advantage.

Don't miss out - click here to register to secure your spot!

Have a question about the day? Reach out to Visit Canton Senior Manager, Community & Partner Relations, Allison Gromofsky, allisong@visitcanton.com.

Business and Event Listings Updates and New Partner Onboarding: Allison Gromofsky, allisong@visitcanton.com

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

Exploreboard Maintenance and Updates, Welcome Center Brochures, and Travel Guide Requests: Gabe Baker, gabeb@visitcanton.com

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

The America 250-Ohio Commission website now features a dedicated landing page where you can list your community’s 2025-2026 America 250 events. Submit your events anytime using this calendar submission form to increase visibility and support statewide promotion.

Let's put Stark County on the map - don't miss this FREE opportunity! Submit your America 250 Ohio events 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!

Have you been featured in the news? Let us know!

• 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.