Ohio puts out welcome mat for thousands of visitors

(BLACK PR WIRE) COLUMBUS, Ohio – (July 11, 2008) The Ohio Tourism Division and Cincinnati city officials are working to ensure that thousands of NAACP delegates and visitors receive a warm welcome as the 2008 National Convention kicks off on July 12, just months before NAACP’s centennial in 2009. The convention, which lasts through the 17th, is expected to generate up to $10 million in economic impact through hotel rooms, meals, tips and other tourism-related activities.

This year’s Convention, themed “Power, Justice, Freedom, Vote,” will include delegate meetings, inspirational speakers, important discussions about minorities in business and the economy, youth programs and much more. In addition, the Convention will feature special guest appearances from presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain.



According to Ohio Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher, Ohio was a natural choice to host the 2008 Convention for reasons that extend beyond convention facilities and transportation.

“Our state has a remarkable legacy of freedom and African-American achievement throughout history,” said Lt. Governor Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. “Ohio had more anti-slavery societies than any other state in the nation, and at the height of slavery and the Underground Railroad, the northern banks of the Ohio River marked the border to freedom for runaways – about 40,000 of which traveled through our state.”

Ohio’s legacy of the Underground Railroad is just one part of its role in African-American heritage in America, which is celebrated at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati. The state also has fostered the development of world-famous authors such as Harriet Beecher Stowe, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Langston Hughes and Toni Morrison; as well as artists, inventors, educators, architects and influential politicians. Today, Ohio is home to many sites that commemorate those individuals, as well as renowned cultural institutions such as the King Arts Complex in Columbus; and Karamu House in Cleveland, the oldest African-American theater in the United States.



“The Karamu House exists today because of two Oberlin College graduates, Rowena and Russell Jelliffe, who set out to establish a place where people of all backgrounds and races could find common ground through the arts," said Terrence Spivey, artistic director of the Karamu House. “That spirit of collaboration demonstrated by our founders is the same thing that keeps our arts community alive and thriving today.”

“Ohio has always been a beacon of freedom – which is a key tenet and focus area of this year’s NAACP Convention – and a destination that welcomes African-Americans with open arms,” said Alicia Reese, assistant state tourism director and leader of the state’s minority tourism campaign. “As the Convention approaches, we encourage all Americans to examine Ohio’s role in our nation’s story and consider a visit to the places that bring those monumental experiences to life.”

The Ohio Tourism Division is working with NAACP Convention planners to ensure visitors are provided with relevant travel information during their stay in Ohio. The Division also recently launched a multicultural tourism campaign with minority-owned Singleton & Partners in Cleveland to promote Ohio’s many attractions and capitalize upon minority travelers – the state’s fastest-growing visitor segment.

For more information about Ohio travel destinations, visit www.DiscoverOhio.com or call 1-800-BUCKEYE to speak with a trained travel counselor.

About the Ohio Tourism Division

The Ohio Tourism Division is the premier source of information for travelers and media about Ohio’s vibrant tourism experiences, attractions, and economy. Division marketing programs contributed to an estimated $38 billion in visitor sales in 2007 and 454,000 jobs sustained by visitors to the state. A part of the Ohio Department of Development, the Division’s mission is to promote and celebrate Ohio’s unique travel opportunities and market the state’s outstanding quality of life.