The Ohio Valley Region is preparing for another exciting season of volleyball events at the Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC). We know hotel options are an important part of the experience for families, and we want to share how EventConnect, our housing service, benefits clubs and parents.
Why It Matters Where You Book
Hotels in downtown Columbus and around the GCCC carefully track the “economic impact” of events that come to the city. For OVR, the most important number is traceable hotel room nights—the number of rooms reserved by our teams. This figure directly affects:
- How many rooms hotels will offer us in future years
- What rates we can negotiate for our members
- Whether OVR can secure priority dates at the GCCC compared to other large events competing for the same space
Challenges from Last Season
In some cases, hotels set aside hundreds of rooms for OVR teams that went unused or were later canceled. When that happens, those hotels become reluctant to commit as many rooms the following year. That makes it harder for us to secure enough options for everyone.
What EventConnect Provides for Families
When teams and parents book through EventConnect, it gives the OVR leverage to negotiate the lowest available standard rates—the same rates hotels list on their official websites, but often with additional convenience such as:
- Group blocks so teams can stay together
- Easier coordination for coaches and club directors
- Guaranteed best available standard rate (not a markup)
- Direct support to OVR events, helping us retain the best dates and space at the GCCC
If anyone finds a lower standard rate on a hotel’s own website, EventConnect will work with the hotel to honor that price under our contracts.
Cedar Point Events
Please note that housing at Cedar Point is outside of OVR’s control. Cedar Point uses its own housing service, separate from EventConnect. We face the same limited options there as our clubs, and we share your concerns about cost and quality.
How You Can Help
If your club has already booked rooms independently, please let us know the dates, number of rooms, and hotel names. Even those bookings count toward our total room nights and help us continue negotiating the best rates for everyone. But whenever possible, please book through EventConnect using our links, which your clubs will have soon.
Thank you for your support of OVR events. Your hotel bookings not only make travel easier—they help secure the future of our tournaments.
