CECU | Career Education Colleges and Universities 2026

The Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland is a modern, LEED Gold-certified lakefront venue in the heart of downtown. The venue boasts 225,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space that can be split into three halls, two ballrooms (32,000 and 11,000 square feet, respectively), and 45 meeting rooms. Located in downtown Cleveland, the Huntington Convention Center offers spectacular views of Lake Erie and a focus on sustainability. The LEED Gold-certified building features an urban farm and a 14-acre green roof. On-site amenities include a Starbucks, a UPS Store providing printing services, water refill stations on each level, and full ADA accessibility. Levy Convention Centers is the exclusive caterer. All CECU conference sessions will be held here, with the Tuesday evening event at the nearby Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The convention center does not operate its own public parking, but ample options sit within a short walk:

• The Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland is directly connected to the adjacent 1,200-space Huntington Park Garage, which is operated separately. It connects to the building via an indoor walkway/tunnel — the most weather-protected option.
• The Willard Park Garage (601 Lakeside Ave) is also a short walk away.
• Normally, parking in a surrounding garage is $10-$12 a day, though rates are subject to change depending on events happening in Cleveland.
• In addition, there are more than 5,000 walkable parking spaces surrounding the Center provided by city surface lots and garages.

Metered street parking is available on nearby downtown streets but is limited and time-restricted. Booking a garage space in advance is recommended during major events.

By air: The Huntington Convention Center is located approximately 12 miles from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE). Rideshare/taxi from the airport typically runs about $25–$40 and takes roughly 18–25 minutes depending on traffic.

By rail/transit: The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) Red Line connects the airport directly to downtown. Take the RTA Red Line from the airport's lower level to Tower City Station downtown. The ride takes approximately 30 minutes and costs $2.50. From Tower City, the convention center is a 10-minute walk. Trains run every 15 minutes throughout the day.

Rideshare/driving: Uber, Lyft, and taxis serve the downtown core; drop-offs can use the Lakeside entrance. Interstate access is via I-90.

Downtown Cleveland offers a dense cluster of hotels within walking distance of the convention center. CECU's official room blocks in recent years have centered on the connected Hilton and the adjacent Marriott:

• Hilton Cleveland Downtown (100 Lakeside Ave E) — directly connected to the convention center; the largest hotel in the city, offering 600 rooms newly refreshed in spring 2025. About 0.2 miles.
• Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Tower — across the street from the Huntington Convention Center and steps from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. About 0.3 miles.
• The Westin Cleveland Downtown — adjacent to the Huntington Convention Center and near the Cleveland Public Auditorium. About 0.3–0.4 miles.
• Drury Plaza Hotel and Hampton Inn Cleveland-Downtown — both roughly a 4-minute walk from the Lakeside entrance and offering complimentary breakfast.

Nearly 5,000 rooms at all price points are within walking distance of the venue. Book early, as the closest hotels fill quickly for large conventions.