2025-11-14T10:39:59-07:00 2024-12-31 990 2024-01-01 340149652 THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU OF GREATER CLEVELAND INC CONV 2168756600 334 EUCLID AVENUE CLEVELAND OH 44114 David Gilbert President & CEO 2168756600 2025-11-11 1 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z DESTINATION CLEVELAND David Gilbert 334 Euclid Avenue Cleveland OH 44114 28233488 0 X WWW.THISISCLEVELAND.COM X 1934 OH We are unapologetic promoters of Cleveland. By attracting people and connecting them to experiences that illustrate Cleveland's diversity, creativity and contagious passion, we stimulate economic growth. 38 38 80 190 9984 0 704404 2769690 21962259 24228561 695742 1215621 7890 13121 23370295 28226993 350000 984455 0 0 6938555 7805157 0 0 0 10441294 15500949 17729849 24290561 5640446 3936432 36431748 39748440 2566664 2246191 33865084 37502249 X We are unapologetic promoters of Cleveland. By attracting people and connecting them to experiences that illustrate Cleveland's diversity, creativity, and contagious passion, we stimulate economic growth. Destination Cleveland exists to drive economic impact and stimulate community vitality for Greater Cleveland through memorable leisure, convention and business travel experiences. The organization markets the destination to individuals, meeting planners and tour operators to change perceptions and improve the narrative of Cleveland; pursues, books and services meetings, conventions and events; and manages the destination experience by connecting visitors to Cleveland, the industry that serves them and the environment they experience during their visit. 1 0 8006351 Allocation of funds to change perceptions of Cleveland as a destination city, increase demand for Cleveland as a leisure destination and as the host of meetings, conventions and events, and encourage area residents to recommend Cleveland as a visitor destination to family and friends. 7453839 Expenses related to pursuing and booking meetings, conventions and events to be hosted in Cleveland. Also includes expenses related to servicing secured events to create memorable and personal experiences that are authentic to Cleveland, which contribute to increasing positive perceptions of Cleveland. 2840437 Expenses incurred to update and maintain visitor experience assets, including wayfinding system, brand signage and illumination equipment for a permanent lighting installation in downtown Cleveland[. 3474335 Convention services and destination engagement expenses 3474335 0 0 21774962 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 134 0 80 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 38 38 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 OH X Steven Dieringer 2168756657 334 EUCLID AVENUE CLEVELAND OH 44114 Gordon Taylor III Chief Sales Officer 40 0 X 255793 0 29712 Hannah Belsito Chief Experience Officer 40 0.5 X 227734 0 28707 Marie Scalia Chief Marketing Officer 40 0 X 214469 0 17518 Sharrona Burns Vice President of Sales and Services Operations 40 0 X 200239 0 21665 Steven Dieringer Vice President of Finance 40 0.5 X 189417 0 13599 Jennifer Valencic Vice President, Destination Engagement 40 0 X 173059 0 27170 Emily Lauer Vice President of PR & Communications 40 0 X 169249 0 12975 Jim Ganotis Director of Information Technology 40 0 X 129147 0 21422 Lauren Federico Senior Director of Convention Services 40 0 X 137175 0 956 Bruce Akers Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Dr Laura Bloomberg Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Kate Borders Directors 1 0 X 0 0 0 Brandon Bryant Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Micki Byrnes Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Shelly Cayette Director through June 2024 1 0 X 0 0 0 Bradford Davy Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Robert Falls Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Adam Fishman Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Bill Griswold Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Steve Groppe Director through August 2024 1 0 X 0 0 0 Greg Harris Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Craig Hassall Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 David Heller Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Robert Hill Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Erik Janas Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Michael Jeans Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 JW Johnson Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Nathan Kelly Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Ron King Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Brenda Kirk Treasurer 1 0.5 X X 0 0 0 Tammy LeBlanc Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 India Pierce Lee Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Paul Matsen Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Bob Megazzini Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Tania Menesse Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Darrell McNair Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Sam McNulty Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Randy McShepard Vice Chair 1 0 X X 0 0 0 Pat Pastore Vice Chair 1 0 X X 0 0 0 Jon Pinney Board Chair 1 0.5 X X 0 0 0 Shawn Riley Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Baiju Shah Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Jason Therrien Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Julie Tutkovics Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Daniel Walsh Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Mayor Pat Ward Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Eric Wobser Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Brian Zimmerman Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Ann Zoller Secretary 1 0.5 X X 0 0 0 David Gilbert President and CEO - Leased Employee 40 1 X 0 0 0 1696282 0 173724 20 0 1 0 MMGY Global LLC 7309 W 80th St Overland KS 66204 Marketing Consulting 598264 Callaway Transportation 7564 W Main St 2 Sykesville MD 21784 Transportation services 478163 ThunderTech 3635 Perkins Avenue Cleveland OH 44114 Web design and marketing services 234548 Driftwood Catering LLC 1422 Euclid Avenue Cleveland OH 44115 Catering 202092 Hardy Designs 2325 McKinley Ave Cleveland OH 44111 Graphic design 176801 8 0 0 0 0 2633475 136215 133215 2769690 Transient Occupancy Tax 900099 22567960 22567960 0 0 Partnership Dues 900099 326807 326807 0 0 Advertising 900099 406790 406790 0 0 Sponsorships 900099 801284 801284 0 0 Miscellaneous 900099 125720 125720 0 0 0 0 0 0 24228561 1215621 0 0 1215621 0 0 0 0 3137 0 0 3137 0 0 0 0 0 16479 6495 9984 0 9984 0 0 0 0 0 0 28226993 24228561 9984 1218758 X 984455 976948 5600192 120875 628471 478671 174439 5975 71475 1756222 3425123 147841 1042838 597283 750663 1443191 1041316 97269 Destination Development 223653 Convention Subsidy 3279847 Community Support and Initiatives 547668 Employee Leasing Agreement 398594 497552 24290561 0 0 0 25793933 24537072 3084166 3130524 275412 397373 328859 498973 11880066 6812734 2729053 5067332 2626118 5154385 476407 177141 1117800 785640 36431748 39748440 1480270 1602487 189866 192371 896528 451333 2566664 2246191 X 25254121 29650675 8610963 7851574 33865084 37502249 36431748 39748440 X 3936432 0 0 0 0 -299267 X 0 1 X 1 0 RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3052149 2700332 351817 0 715085 568070 147015 0 8112832 3544332 4568500 5067332 Current portion of deferred lease incentive 451333 451333 X Schedule D, Part X, Line 2 The Organization accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with GAAP, which requires recognition of and disclosure related to uncertain tax position. As of and for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Organization did not have a liability for unrecognized tax benefits. 1 Forbes Media LLC 499 Washington Blvd 10th Floor Jersey City NJ 07310 342065766 334455 0 Fair market value Operating support Operating support to organization with similar mission. Greater Cleveland Sports Commission 334 Euclid Avenue Cleveland OH 44114 311381131 3 600000 0 Fair market value Operating support Operating support to organization with similar mission Greater Cleveland Media Development Corporation 526 Superior Avenue Suite 350 Cleveland OH 44114 341823509 3 50000 0 Fair market value Operating support Operating support to organization with similar mission 3 0 Schedule I, Part I, Line 2 Payments to other organizations are for general unrestricted operating support. The organization reviews the financial statements of these organizations. X X X 0 0 0 Steven Dieringer Vice President of Finance 174705 0 14712 0 0 0 7820 0 5779 0 203016 0 0 0 Gordon Taylor III VP Convention Sales and Services 227073 0 28720 0 0 0 21761 0 7951 0 285505 0 0 0 Hannah Belsito Chief Experience Officer 206514 0 21220 0 0 0 21761 0 6946 0 256441 0 0 0 Marie Scalia Chief Marketing Officer 189749 0 24720 0 0 0 11857 0 5661 0 231987 0 0 0 Sharrona Burns Senior Director of Convention Sales 184439 0 15800 0 0 0 21665 0 0 0 221904 0 0 0 Emily Lauer Vice President of PR & Communications 155937 0 13312 0 0 0 7773 0 5202 0 182224 0 0 0 Jennifer Valencic Vice President, Destination Engagement 154467 0 18592 0 0 0 21701 0 5469 0 200229 0 0 0 Jim Ganotis Director of Information Technology 120647 0 8500 0 0 0 18177 0 3245 0 150569 0 0 0 Jason Therrien Board Member 234548 Digital marketing and communications services 0 X Gifts/Prizes/Giveaways 59 6516 Fair Market Value X Hotel Stays and Related Expenses 101 22515 Fair Market Value X Meals and Event Catering 95 75181 Fair Market Value X Tickets 149 4568 Fair Market Value X Decorations, linens and promo items for events 24 24435 Fair Market Value 0 0 0 0 Form 990, Part III, Line 2 The Organization entered an agreement with the City of Cleveland to administer a newly created Cleveland Major Events Grant Program. Utilizing City funding of $2M, the Organization has administered grants to selected entities to assist in the acquisition and execution of national-scale sporting, fine arts, historic, natural/recreational, culinary, lifestyle or industry events in the City. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 3 David Gilbert, President and CEO, is employed by the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. Destination Cleveland has an employee lease agreement with the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission which indicates Mr. Gilbert will also act as Destination Cleveland's President and CEO. Mr. Gilbert performs duties on behalf of Destination Cleveland which are customary duties for President and CEO of an exempt organization. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b The Organization completes the Form 990 and sends to an independent accounting firm to review. After the accounting firm reviews the complete Form 990, the organization sends the 990 to the CEO/President and Finance and Executive Committees to review. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c Regarding enforcement of a conflict of interest policy, conflict of interest forms are completed, signed and reviewed annually for all officers, directors and key employees. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15 Regarding determination of compensation, the CEO/President's performance and salary are reviewed by the Alliance Committee, which is comprised of members of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and Destination Cleveland. This committee uses industry data, historical data and review process determining compensation. All other officers and key employees are reviewed in the same manner by the CEO. Key employees' salary are also shared with the Executive Committee. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 All organizational documents, such as policies and financial statements, are made available to the general public upon request. Form 990, Part IX, Line 24a - 24d For calendar year 2024, Destination Cleveland was party to an employee lease agreement with the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission (GCSC), a tax-exempt organization through which the organization has agreed they will share certain employees, including GCSC's President and CEO. For Form 990 reporting purposes, GCSC is reporting their President and CEO's compensation at the gross amount to agree with the Form W-2 issued by the organization. The 2024 portion of the compensation, benefits and other costs that were expensed by Destination Cleveland for the CEO/President, and another employee shared by the two organizations, is reported as employee lease agreement ($398,594). GCSC reported Destination Cleveland's portion as "reimbursement for shared services" on their Form 990, Part VIII, Line 11a. Form 990, Part XI, Line 9 Loss from subsidiary (Spirit of Cleveland) DC CCC Investment LLC 334 Euclid Ave Cleveland OH 44114 340149652 Investment in Cleveland Concert Company OH 0 0 The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc DC Illumination LLC 334 Euclid Ave Cleveland OH 44114 934108903 Support of Illuminate CLE lighting project OH 3234357 3587441 The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc Spirit of Cleveland Inc 334 Euclid Avenue Cleveland OH 44114 341823509 Promote Cleveland OH 501(c)(3) 7 Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 Spirit of Cleveland Inc p 500