STAR Frontline Training Registration

Registration is now open for Stark County Tourism Ambassador Training. This valuable frontline training program is FREE and open to business owners, managers, frontline staff, interns, and volunteers. Our goal is to educate local tourism partners and their staff on these essential topics:

• The Value of Good Customer Service & Best Practices: The customer experience is more important now than ever before. Be sure guests are leaving good reviews about your business. Learn tips and tricks for quality care and empower your frontline team.

• Stark County's Major Tourist Destinations and Recommendations: Do you ever get the question, "What else is there to do around here?"? Then STAR Training is for you! Learn more about the area and discover useful Visit Canton resources to reference for help. Plus, head out to visit local businesses first-hand using special offers provided in your STAR graduate swag bag.

Please register below to join us on April 13th and prepare your team for the busy summer travel season in Stark County, America's Playing Field!

DATE | Thursday, April 13, 2023

TIME | 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM

LOCATION | Hall of Fame Village

The 2023 Official Travel Guide has arrived!

Would you like to display the Travel Guide at your business?

Request a bulk delivery by contacting our Guest Services & Administrative Coordinator, Carole Camarata at CaroleC@VisitCanton.com.

Save the Date

Wednesday, May 17th

5:30 - 7:00 PM

Visit Canton is kicking off summer with a ‘Party in the Pavilion’ at Gervasi Vineyard on Wednesday, May 17th.

Tourism Partners are invited to spend the evening mingling among group tour operators, corporate meeting planners, and other industry partners! Add the event to your calendar now and look for a detailed invitation to come in April.

March Partner Roundtable Zoom

March 16, 2023 at 12:00 PM

Join us online on March 16th at 12:00 PM for a Visit Canton Partner Roundtable to catch updates from our team and share your updates with us and other tourism partners. Tourism Partners are always making valuable connections during these calls so we encourage you to join us!

Register below and we will email you the Zoom link!

Is your attraction Inclusive and Accessible?

April is Autism Awareness Month, which is a great reminder to ensure that your attraction is sensory-friendly. Did you know that 1 in 6 people have a sensory need or invisible disability? These disabilities include PTSD, Autism, Dementia, and Stroke victims to name a few. 

KultureCity is the nation’s leading nonprofit on sensory accessibility and acceptance for those with invisible disabilities. Get your venue certified through KultureCity to receive training to help you and your staff understand invisible disabilities and become a more welcoming place for ALL people to experience comfortably. First-year certification costs $750 and includes training for your staff, one weighted lap pad, five sensory bags, necessary signage, and social story development. At least 50% of your staff will need to participate in the training, and recertification is $500 annually. Not in your budget? Create a calendar reminder for your team to work to add it to your 2024 budget!

We are so proud of our tourism partners who are already certified!

• Akron-Canton Airport
• Canton Museum of Art
• McKinley Presidential Library & Museum
• Pro Football Hall of Fame 

Tradeshow Grants

Visit Canton will reimburse up to $500 of your booth registration expenses with the Visit Canton Tradeshow Co-Op Program. Partners are required to provide a copy of the signed booth contract and/or invoice, display and distribute the Visit Canton Official Travel Guide, conduct data capture at the booth for the duration of the tradeshow, and share all event leads with Visit Canton post-event.

For questions please contact our Promotions & Grant Manager, Allison Gromofsky at AllisonG@VisitCanton.com.

Build Your Own

Adventure Marketplace

Visit Canton, through our Bandwango software, has created the Adventure Marketplace, a landing page dedicated to selling your unique experience tickets or admission! Contact us if you’d like to learn more and get on board! 

Upcoming Blog Content

Looking to be included in Visit Canton blog content? The following blogs will be getting updated or created soon:

• Easter Buffets and Special Holiday Meals
• Seasonal Sweets & Treats
• Seasonal Brews
• Sensory Friendly Attractions & Events
• Earth Day Festivities
• Karaoke and Open Mic Nights
• Trivia Night in Stark County

Be sure to submit your events, deals, and special happenings to VisitCanton.com to be considered for upcoming blog content. Have questions? Connect with our Creative Coordinator, Willis Brienza at WillisB@VisitCanton.com.

VolunteerStark

Looking for volunteers for your tourism business or an upcoming event? We can list volunteer opportunities on VolunteerStark.com.

Reach out to our Sales & Service Coordinator, Ashley Boggs at AshleyB@VisitCanton.com.

Job Fairs & Listings

Did you know visitor spending sustains 7.1% of jobs in Stark County?

Check out local job listings and upcoming career fairs at industry partner businesses.

Have an opening or upcoming job fair to add to the list? Contact our Partner Relations Manager, Laura Felberg at LauraF@VisitCanton.com.

March 10-12 | Great Lakes Alliance/NPL Boys College Showcase

ForeverLawn Youth Sports Complex

March 10-12 & 17-19 | "The Toxic Avenger"

The Players Guild Theatre

March 11 | Brawl at the Hall of Fame Village

Center for Performance

March 11 | Concert Movie Experience: Pink Floyd: The Wall

Canton Palace Theatre

March 15 | Rhythm of Dance presented by Latshaw Productions

Canton Palace Theatre

March 16 | America presented by Latshaw Productions

Canton Palace Theatre

March 17-19 | Great Lakes Alliance Soccer 10U & 12U Crossover Weekend

ForeverLawn Youth Sports Complex

March 18 | Exhibition Reception - Alison Alsup: "Prairies to Peaks: Biking to Colorado's Tallest Mountain"

Massillon Museum

March 18 | Royal Docks Brewing Co. presents The Goat and Her Three Kids

Canton Palace Theatre

March 18 | The Vindys with the Canton Symphony

Umstattd Hall

March 24-26 | Great Lakes Alliance Soccer 13U & 14U Crossover Weekend

ForeverLawn Youth Sports Complex

March 25 | Art Mini-Retreat - Pet Portrait Painting Workshop

BZTAT Studios

March 25 | Quonset Hut Community Event Space Grand Opening

Quonset Hut

March 25 | An Evening of Celtic Music & Dance

Roxy Theatre

VIEW EVENTS ON VISITCANTON.COM/PARTNERS

The Canton Bluecoats announced the University of Mount Union will be their new home during their annual Spring Training in Stark County!

Showtime in Canton! Kevin Hart will be bringing his comedy tour to the Hall of Fame Village this May!

Local artist, Diane Belfiglio, received the Excellence Award from the Ohio Arts Council, the only recipient from Stark County! You can find her work in the permanent collections of the Canton Museum of Art.

Get to know the new head chef at UnHitched Brewing Co. with 5 things to know about Alex Horn!

Our tourism partners Best Bib & Tucker and Thirty-Two 8 Inspired & Co. were featured on New Day Cleveland!

Newly opened The Happy Days Co. in Canal Fulton was featured in Akron Life Magazine!