Hotel Information

A block of hotel rooms has been reserved for NAFA’s 2026 Institute & Expo (I&E) attendees at discounted rates. All hotels are within walking distance of the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.

Why Book Your Hotel Room in the NAFA Hotel Block?

• Lower Rates! Based on a guaranteed percentage of attendees staying in official conference hotels, NAFA can negotiate with the hotels to provide discounted rates from their normal charges.
• Closest hotels to the convention center.
• Earn hotel loyalty rewards points when booking in the official hotel block.
• Immediate email acknowledgement of your hotel assignment.
• Reliable customer service available to assist with your reservation needs.
• Protection in the event the hotel has oversold guest rooms.
• Network easily with other conference attendees staying in the official hotel block.

Recommended Travel Dates

I&E kicks off on Sunday, April 12 with pre-conference events and the Welcome reception. The event concludes on Wednesday, April 15 with a NAFA Gives Back Activity and a joint reception with the Conference of Automotive Remarketing (CAR) Awards Reception. We recommend you arrive in Cleveland to enjoy Sunday’s events and plan to stay through Wednesday, departing Thursday, April 16.

Poaching and Piracy-Be Aware!

Hotel piracy is when companies and groups who ARE NOT affiliated with NAFA contact you and to book hotels in the NAFA conference block. Orchid Events is the ONLY official housing company for I&E. Booking through Orchid Events, ensures you will be working with a reputable company, that your credit card information is secure, and that you will benefit from all services provided to conference attendees at the official hotels. Reservations made through any agency other than Orchid Events will be at your own risk. NAFA has contracted, discounted room blocks at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown, Marriott Cleveland Downtown, The Westin Cleveland, and Drury Suites Cleveland ONLY.

If you are contacted by anyone other than Orchid Events, please contact Orchid Events at help@orchid.events or call 800-572-9707.

Welcome to The Land. Cleveland, OH offers an easy-to-access location with seamless transportation options that make getting here and getting around simple for attendees. Home to the iconic Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and a thriving culinary scene that blends local flavor with global flair, Cleveland provides a memorable backdrop for conferences that inspire and connect.

Getting to Cleveland

Located within 500 miles of 43 percent of the U.S. population, Cleveland is situated at the intersection of three major interstate highways (I-77, I-90 and I-71) making it a straight shot for attendees making the trek into Downtown. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is a short 12-mile ride to and from Downtown Cleveland and can be accessed through taxi, car rentals, and rideshare options.

I&E 2026 will take place at the:

Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland
300 Lakeside Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44114

Fun Fact #1: Origin of Superman

Superman was created by Cleveland natives Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster at Glenville High School in 1933. Many Cleveland landmarks, like the Public Square, Leader Building, and Progressive Field, were used as filming locations for the recent Superman movie setting of Metropolis. You can find statues of Superman, Lois Lane, and more on 1 St. Clair Avenue at the Superman Plaza!

Fun Fact #2: First Public Square/Traffic Lights

The first ever traffic signal was installed by James Hoge at the intersection of Euclid Avenue and East 105th Street in the University Circle area in 1908. Originally operated manually from a booth with only green and red lights.

Fun Fact #3: Foundation of Rock ‘n’ Roll

DJ Alan Freed coined the term on his show ‘The Moondog House’ on Cleveland’s WJW station and played a pivotal role in introducing rock and roll to mainstream audiences. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is on the banks of the Erie with many artifacts of the genre.

Fun Fact #4: Guardians of Traffic

Atop Cleveland’s Hope Memorial Bridge, eight massive “Guardians of Traffic” statues watch over the city’s main routes. Each guardian holds a different type of vehicle to symbolize the evolution of transportation—from covered wagons to modern cars. Built in 1932, the sculptures have become one of Cleveland’s most iconic and photographed landmarks.

Fun Fact #5: First Indoor Shopping Mall

The Arcade opened in 1890 as one of the first truly indoor shopping malls in the United States. Located on Euclid Avenue, you can still visit, shop, and dine in the mall today! Also, this was another filming location for the 2025 Superman movie!

Fun Fact #6: Superman – Present Day

Cleveland hosts as filming locations for many major superhero movies. Recently, locations like Public Square and the Leader Building served as stand-ins for the 2025 Superman movie. Also, a Superman statue was unveiled in 2025 outside the Huntington Convention Center.

Fun Fact #7: Cleveland’s Name

The city of Cleveland is named after its founder, General Moses Cleaveland. Local legend states that the name was changed from “Cleaveland” to “Cleveland” due to a local newspaper not being able to fit the former name on their masthead.

Fun Fact #8: Terminal Tower

Located in Public Square, the Terminal Tower was once the tallest tower in North America outside New York City until 1964. It still remains the second tallest building in the state.

Fun Fact #9: Millionaires’ Row

The local Cleveland street of Euclid Avenue was once the home to many mansions from the 1800s to the 1900s. It was the homes of many industrialists including John D. Rockefeller and Marcus Hanna. Only a handful of those homes are still standing due to urban renewal.

Fun Fact #10: A Christmas Story House

A classic Christmas movie, ‘A Christmas Story’ house is located in the Tremont area of Cleveland. While it was only used for external shots for the film, the house has been restored to match the movie and is now a museum and tourist attraction in the Cleveland area for fans of all ages.