Industry Events

See upcoming Visit Canton industry partner events, and learn about conferences, conventions, expos, and other major events and festivals coming to the area.

Plan for major events happening in Stark County that could impact your business. Learn about industry networking events and professional development seminars. Plus, discover opportunities to exhibit at community events to promote your business.

Visit Canton Industry Events

MPI Ohio Navigate Conference

📅 Date: February 23 & 24, 2026
📍 Location: Embassy Suites by Hilton, Dublin, OH

Visit Canton is sponsoring partners to attend this 2-day conference in Dublin, OH, featuring education and networking with event planners and suppliers from Ohio and beyond!

About MPI Ohio: Founded in 1977, MPI Ohio has nearly 200 members dedicated to advancing the meeting profession through education, networking, and resources. Membership connects you with innovative learning, passionate people, and big ideas to empower your career and make an impact in the industry. Click here to learn more about the conference.

Partner registration is covered by Visit Canton. Travel and hotel expenses are the responsibility of the partner.

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.
State of the CVB

📅 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.

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

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TO ATTEND
America’s Playing Field Destination Showcase

📅 Date: Friday, March 13 & Saturday, March 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.

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.

Sign Up To Participate
Visit Canton Partner Huddles

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. If you’d like to receive an invitation or have a suggestion for a small-group meeting, please email Allison Gromofsky.

Upcoming Huddles:

Visit Canton Partner Huddle
Thursday, March 19th at 12:00 PM | Visit Canton Downtown Offices - RSVP to Attend

Visit Canton Partner Huddle
Thursday, June 18th at 12:00 PM | VIRTUAL

Visit Canton Partner Huddle
Thursday, October 15th at 12:00 PM | Visit Canton Downtown Offices

Register for March 19th Partner Huddle

AI in Action in Tourism & Hospitality

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

AI in Action in Tourism & Hospitality

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.

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

MPI Ohio Chapter Meeting in Cleveland

📅 Date: April 15, 2026
🕓 Time: 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM
📍 Location: The Ritz Carlton Cleveland

SAVE THE DATE! Visit Canton is sponsoring MPI Ohio’s Chapter meeting Wednesday, April 15th at the Ritz Carlton in Cleveland! Visit Canton is encouraging partners to attend the luncheon to spread the word about what Stark County has to offer for events. The luncheon will feature a panel discussion with the Cleveland Sports Commission, Cleveland Guardians, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Cleveland Browns!

Registration to attend the luncheon will open in late February 2026.

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.

Click here to register to attend

Visit Canton Cleveland Sales Blitz

📅 Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2026
📍 Location: Cleveland, OH

Visit Canton Cleveland Sales Blitz

You will be partnered with a Visit Canton sales team member for a day of appointments with Cleveland businesses and associations. End goal? Share what is new in Stark County for events and conferences, touch base with planners and open up conversations for business!

Partners must register to attend by March 20th to participate in the Cleveland Sales Blitz - don't miss out!

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.

Visit Canton Planner Luncheon in Columbus, OH

📅 Date: May 21, 2026
🕓 Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
📍 Location: TBD

SAVE THE DATE - Location to be announced soon

Visit Canton will host a luncheon for corporate, association, religious planners & group tour operators to mix and mingle with Stark County destinations, attractions, and hotels!

Partner registration is $50 per guest attending and $50+ door prize are required to participate.

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.

Visit Canton Party in the Alley

📅 Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2026
🕓 Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Umbrella Alley & UnHitched Brewing

Let's Celebrate Our Stark County Tourism Industry

Join us as we kick off summer with our Party in the Alley - a festive evening dedicated to celebrating our tourism partners and honoring America 250! We’re excited to gather in Louisville’s Umbrella Alley, featuring their vibrant patriotic display, for a night filled with community pride and connection.

After enjoying the sights and atmosphere, we’ll continue the celebration at UnHitched Brewing, where partners can relax with delicious bites, local brews, and great camaraderie.

Let’s come together to celebrate what makes our industry so strong!

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

PicturedUmbrella Alley - Louisville, Ohio

OSAP Annual Conference at Sawmill Creek

📅 Date: June 3-5, 2026
📍 Location: Sawmill Creek, Huron, OH

Visit Canton will be sponsoring partners to attend the Ohio Society of Association Professional’s Annual Conference at Sawmill Creek June 3-5, 2026 .

About OSAP: The Ohio Society of Association Professionals (OSAP) builds our members' educational skills while fostering connections that create relationships, strengthen knowledge and improve lives. No matter where they are in their career - OSAP supports their development.

Partner registration is covered by Visit Canton. Travel and hotel expenses are the responsibility of the partner.

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.

SUBSCRIBE TO INDUSTRY PARTNER NEWS

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