David Gilbert, the President of our city’s booster institution Positively Cleveland, says that his organization has learned a whole bunch about attracting visitors to Northeast Ohio. Among other things, he claims that residents just aren’t taking enough pride in the city.
“As we get into talking about perceptions, the perception of locals about our own community is not very good,” Gilbert told WCPN.
He said that “recommendations from residents” is one of three essential factors when people decide where to travel. It’s right behind “recommendations from recent visitors” and “the internet.”
(That’s Drew Carey, by the way).
In an effort to, I don’t know, enhance regional pride or something (so that we can all make better recommendations when random strangers ask us if they ought to visit Cleveland), Gilbert and Co. are starting something called the CLE Travelbackers, a two-session training program for those who deal directly with the traveling public. Moreover, they’re imploring all local residents to take more pride in the city.
Which is just jim dandy, except doesn’t this seem somewhat dubious when Cleveland boosterism among city dwellers appears to be an an unprecedented high?
(However, I guess when suburban folks are still timid about venturing into scary Ohio City because of the crazy parking situation, the problem may be more serious than it initially appears.)
This article appears in May 22-28, 2013.
I did a double take when I saw that quote from Gilbert too. Clevelanders are drinking the kool-aid right now.
This is bunk. Cleveland LOVES Cleveland… a lot.
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Oh, and ALL Clevelanders should come and watch their Championship soccer team, the AFC Cleveland Royals, play Erie tonight downtown at Krenzler Field right on the CSU campus! — Was that an ad? … or spam. Prolly spam…
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Either way, the team is awesome and so is Cleveland… WAMPUS!
Well that’s a letdown, showing a picture of Carey – there are a lot more telented people from Cleveland than this guy.
Oh get real!! How many, honestly, live with-in Cleveland proper? It is always great to promote this city when you get to go home to your secure neighborhoods after all of these wonderful events. BUT I bet when you enter this wonderful city you keep looking over your shoulders when you walk to the event. We who live here have to put up with the knowledge that our police that should be covering our neighborhoods are downtown watching over the visitors so they will not get a bad impression of Cleveland. Yeah, you probably will say “why don’t you leave the city if you don’t like it?” Well let me tell you…those of us who could would have done so long ago, but circumstances, like owning property we cannot get rid of keeps us here. When we bought our home 30 yrs. ago it was a wonderful place to live. If we had better coverage of police, it still would be a good place to live. We live just 5 minutes from downtown and after dark this is a scary place to be out in. We never see police in the neighborhood unless they are called by someone or if there is a murder. Just like last night. Then you see almost all of the police force! Whoops…who are looking after the visitors then? Be careful folks. I know we have wonderful events here but it is hard to sell them when you know what could happen if you happen into the wrong part of town. We have this wonderful Velodrome in our neighborhood. But caution has to be taken when coming here. Sorry, but this is the truth even if the powers that be do not want folks to know this. Better safe than sorry. I wish I could be more supportive but I cannot, I know better.
if I had a chance to get out of Cleveland I would,the streets will tear your car all up
Well I agree with Donald Douglas, the streets are terrible. But if I look outside of my door right now….Yep. I am getting a new street.
Lilly Rose. I think you should get your A** out of town and never look back. Ok is she gone? I own a real estate in Cleveland and I am born and raised here and my house is worth about $115,000 and I owe $197,000. SOO if any of youz want to jack me around I think your misinformed.
About 10 kids just left my house on their way to another house a few streets over. some of the older kids went to the park nearby and some to the local ice cream shop. All of their parents feel they are safe. I did get my car broken into once and the police were pulling into my driveway before I even knew I had been robbed! So what kind of response time is that? like a negative minute and a half or so?
Yeah the neighborhood have gotten tougher. I’ll admit it. Yeah I see people do things more often like stop in the middle of the street and talk. Typically reserved for lower class neighborhoods, and yeah on the way to church today I saw an “ghetto tumbleweed” which if your not from the city is a wig. There are a lot of them on the streets in the ghetto. I imagine a lot of bald woman are out there somewhere because those things are ubiquities on the east side.
But you know what? In my little Mayberry here we watch out for our neighbors. We call the councilman. (that’s how I got my street) we are involved in our community. So get you A** out into your neighborhood and fight for it or get you A** out of Cleveland.
This town is on the rise and even though, like a wife I know, it pisses me off sometimes and frustrates me, it is the best thing going and I wouldn’t live anywhere else.
I was born in Berea, Ohio in 1947 , grew up on the near Westside W 32nd St. between Monroe and Chatham. Moved to W 130th and Bellair in 1952 attended Longmead Elem. , Carl Shuler Jr. High and John Marshall High, I left Cleveland in 1970. Returned last year for a visit to the Cleveland Clinic, prior to the Clinic visit I took my 2 youngest daughters (ages 15 and 16) on a tour of the old neighborhoods. I was sickened by what I saw ,once clean proud neighborhoods filled with the working people of Cleveland were in a state of disrepair, crumbling streets and a once vibrant downtown with great stores like Higbees,the May Company and Halle’s Bros. gone a virtual Ghost Town. The only bright spot was the Cleveland Clinic with a great Heart team that saved my life.
Anyone who would like to see Cleveland and Ohio promoted properly should come to Hopkins Airport and interact with the Airport Ambassadors. This group takes the lead in promoting the area. This year we are 10 years old. Look for the “Gold Coats” when you next go to the airport
Clevelanders were down on the city in the recent past, but C-Town has really been turning it around in recent years and a lot of people are recognizing that. We have a lot of areas that are turning around and becoming THE places to be, and our food scene is rapidly becoming the envy of other cities. Cleveland might not be the greatest place ever at this current moment in time, but we’re definitely (finally) on the right track and going in a good direction. I’m very proud of this city and where it’s going, and I’m absolutely thrilled to call it my home for the rest of my life.