Setting the Stage
by Danny Summers
Three years ago, at The Fall Event 2023 in Cincinnati, Maggie Nichols of Eureka! Ranch showed us how important it is to Set the Stage for creative and innovative thinking.
Through both her keynote presentation and the workshop that followed, Maggie emphasized the importance of regularly pulling your team away from the day-to-day demands of the business. By creating an environment free from interruptions and routine distractions, people have the opportunity to think differently, challenge assumptions, and develop the next great ideas for their business.
Maggie called it Innovation Engineering.
By the way... you can still watch her presentation in The Group WebSystem? Simply login and go to Clients-Only menu and select Training-Eureka! Ranch.
The idea of Setting the Stage has stayed with me.
In fact, it's one of the guiding principles we use every year as we plan The Fall Event.
We ask ourselves:
What setting will inspire people?
What environment will encourage conversations, new ideas, and lasting relationships?
Where can we create an experience that allows participants to leave their everyday responsibilities behind and focus completely on learning, sharing, and connecting?
Setting the Stage: Hotel Cleveland
I truly believe Hotel Cleveland gives us one of our best opportunities yet.
Selecting historic hotels is nothing new for The Fall Event. Thinking back to recent Fall Events, a few examples come to mind: Hotel Dupont, Wilmington, DE (2021), Netherland Hilton, Cincinnati, OH (2023), and now, Hotel Cleveland (2026).
Each has offered far more than simply a place to sleep.
Each has helped create an experience.
Built in 1918, Hotel Cleveland has welcomed presidents, entertainers, business leaders, and generations of travelers. It has witnessed more than a century of Cleveland history and stands today as one of the city's true architectural landmarks.
A $90 Million Renovation
Over the years, the hotel has carried several different names.
In June 2024, following a $90 million renovation, it reopened as Hotel Cleveland, joining Marriott's distinguished Marriott's Autograph Collection.
The description on the Autograph Series website says it perfectly...
Hotels that Leave You Speechless... "See for yourself what it’s like to experience something that’s exactly like nothing else."
Most of us spend far too many nights in hotels that all seem to look alike.
Hotel Cleveland isn't one of them.
The designers carefully blended modern amenities with the building's remarkable history, creating an experience that feels both timeless and contemporary.
Our General Sessions will take place in the magnificent Forest City Ballroom, shown in the image at the title "Setting the Stage."
If you'd like a preview of the hotel before arriving in September, Click Here for a virtual tour.
One detail I especially enjoy is the mural found in every guest room, depicting downtown Cleveland as it appeared in 1877—a subtle reminder that history is always part of the experience.
Setting the Stage... for the Movies
Last week I shared Cleveland's connections with Superman. Here's another.
If you're a fan of A Christmas Story, you'll discover that many scenes from the beloved 1983 film were also shot in and around Cleveland.
Remember Ralphie standing in front of the Higbee Department Store (middle photo below) window, dreaming about the Red Ryder BB Gun? (Photo below left.)
That very building is connected to Hotel Cleveland, just beyond Terminal Tower. You'll be able to walk to the exact location where one of the movie's most memorable scenes was filmed.
And there are more Cleveland connections to The Christmas Story. The Parker family home (above right photo) is actually in Cleveland and open to the public. It, along with a museum across the street, will provide more of The Christmas Story! And if a visit (and museum) is not enough, you can even make reservations to spend the night to have the full Parker Family experience, complete with the overloaded electrical outlet and famous leg lamp, seen in this photo. Check it out here.
It's just another example of how Cleveland continues to surprise visitors with its history, architecture, and stories.
I have several more movie connections to share, but I'll save those for another edition of GROUPtalk.
For now...
Have you registered for The Fall Event 2026?
Have you reserved your Hotel Room(s) at Hotel Cleveland?
Our hotel block closes September 5, but I expect it to fill before then. Don't wait! Links for both are below.
Mark your calendar for September 28 - October 1.
Bring your ideas, your curiosity, and your willingness to share.
We'll take care of Setting the Stage for you to Get Connected in Cleveland!
Sharing is at the heart of The Group and your ideas are very important. If you have any trouble logging into The Group WebSystem, please let me know. Are you and your staff all subscribed to our eLists such as GroupEs, Retail-Grower, Retail-Landscape, Owners-Only, and a number of others? Need help subscribing? Let me know so I can show you how you can sign up.
Danny Summers
[email protected]
Tel: 678-909-7770
Cell: 678-761-7145
REMEMBER: Your interaction (by phone and email) with Group Service Providers such as Tim Quebedeaux, John Kennedy, Seawright & Associates, and of course Danny Summers are included in your retainer!
