all these cultural assets and meeting facilities, which keep them strong and help their bottom line.” The airport’s expansion of air service capacity directly supports these ambitions. “The more capacity we can get into the community, the more folks we can serve and increase inbound travel to Akron and the convention center,” explains Dalpiaz. “All four of our carriers, two low-cost carriers and two legacy carriers—are growing, and we’re always in conversation with others. Breeze Airways opening their 11th nationwide crew base here means more capacity from great places around the country. They’re successful enough that they’re catching the eye of other carriers.” ArtsNow is developing new ways to integrate cultural experiences into the visitor journey. “We’re really excited about arts and culture-based tourism PREFERRED VENDOR/PARTNER n Conference & Event Services at The University of Akron www.uakron.edu/conference-services Located in Akron, Ohio, UA’s Conference & Event Services is here to support your event. We feature our 200,000 sq ft. conference and event facility with a 9,700 sq. ft. grand ballroom, stateof the art athletics facilities, outdoor areas, and performance arts halls – spaces for any occasion, big or small. n Summit County Fairgrounds www.summitfair.com The Summit County Fairgrounds, the home of the annual Summit County Fair, The Arena Complex, the Virginia Ocasek Party Center and the Holiday Mart Show Series. Our facilities can be rented for trade shows, livestock and animal shows, sporting events, meetings, parties and so much more. itineraries,” says Mullet. “We’re helping people find public art around Akron and Summit County and tour different theatre groups. We’re also increasing investment in creative placemaking, making our public spaces more engaging for visitors and residents—whether that’s adding lighting, bringing programming into unusual spaces, or elevating neighborhood brands and identities.” These coordinated efforts denote a mature destination management approach that recognizes the interconnected nature of visitor experiences. By aligning airport accessibility, convention center capabilities, and cultural assets,Akron has positioned itself to compete effectively for business and leisure travelers seeking authentic, accessible, and engaging destinations. 60 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 05
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