Destination Cleveland seeks volunteers to help with upcoming conventions, large events

CLEVELAND — Cleveland is in the spotlight, and now the city needs help showing just how brightly it shines. 

If you love The Land and have some free time this year, Destination Cleveland is looking for you. The nonprofit is restarting a volunteer program that could land you front and center of some of the city's biggest upcoming events. 

"Our volunteer program is something we're launching to help us with all the demand of all the large conventions," said Gordon Taylor, Destination Cleveland's chief sales officer. 

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One large upcoming event is the annual meeting and exposition for the American Society of Association Executives, coming to the Huntington Convention Center in August. Destination Cleveland is looking for up to 300 volunteers to help stage the event that is expected to bring in more than 5,000 attendees. 

Ways to get involved include "volunteering at our hotels, concierge, letting people know recommendations for restaurants, how to get somewhere," Taylor said. 

There's also the Pan-American Masters Games, kicking off this weekend, as well as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony's return to Cleveland in October. Taylor said he wants all visitors to the city to feel the love. 

"We want to give people a warm welcome and a warm feeling when they come to our city, to feel our enthusiasm," Taylor said. "And there's no one who can do that better for us than our locals. 

Taylor says to volunteer, there are few job requirements. 

"Loving Cleveland ... a passion to serve others is always good," Taylor said. 

Prior to its relaunch this year, Destination Cleveland oversaw the volunteer program before the COVID-19 pandemic. Taylor says it's not just visitors who benefit from the experience.

"[Volunteering] is really a way in my opinion to form really meaningful personal connections with others," Taylor said. "And that's hard to do these days, but this is a great platform for it and it's a great way to support your city."

To register for the Destination Cleveland Volunteer Program, click here. To learn more about other opportunities to get involved, click here.

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