In two weeks, Cleveland will play host to a mini Republican Convention of sorts as representatives from the state delegations make their way to Northeast Ohio to see where it is they will be spending the week of July 18.
Most of the states have been informed of their hotel assignments which spread out over several counties.
By the time the gavel goes down roughly 15 hotels downtown will be open for business accounting for around 5,000 of the 15,000 rooms needed.
"This is a very walkable city downtown," said Convention CEO Jeff Larson. "You can get from one end of downtown to another in 20 minutes."
The Texas Republican delegation landing the Marriott Key Hotel which sits off Public Square about a half mile from Quicken Loans Arena. The Ohio delegation a few blocks away at the Doubletree at E. 12th and Lakeside.
Others will be a little further out near University Circle like the Kentucky delegation that will be at the Intercontinental Hotel at the Cleveland Clinic. Many more will be in Beachwood where more than a dozen hotels are within a mile of each other off of I-271 and Chagrin Boulevard.
Location will determine where many delegations chose to book events. Those in the Akron Canton area will probably look at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Chief of Staff Pete Fierle said they've had interest.
"We've already secured the New Mexico delegation to come here and hold a private event here at the Hall. We've heard from California and Nebraska." he said.
The California call may have come before they learned they'd be staying at Kalahari in Sandusky which is roughly 60 miles away from the "Q" and 100 miles from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
California impacted by the size of their delegation. In 2012 they were 45 minutes away from the Tampa Convention site. Texas was 25 miles away and the host state Florida ended up also about 25 miles away.
