I have great expectations of the local tech industry for 2008. A few weeks back I was fortunate enough to help support a tech event for the Playhouse Square area at Vinea Wine Bar (1220 Huron Avenue). Over 100 people gathered over great wine and spectacular food to talk about the tech industry in Cleveland.

I have always been a big fan of the casual "get together." People talk more freely and good business partnerships are discussed. I am also aware of a coming story in Crain's by Chuck Soder, who reports on the local tech industry, of the great happenings in tech for 2008. That's a story to stay tuned for in January. One of the stories that probably will not be a part of Soder's 2008 highlight is the expansion of the Hanna Tech Hotel ("HTH"). The HTH is located in the Hanna Building - Ground Zero at Playhouse Square. I remember the birth of the HTH at a dinner over a year ago with Art Falco of Playhouse Square, Tom Einhouse of PSF Management and myself.

The conventional wisdom at the dinner was that the City of Cleveland was missing a number of opportunities in the realm of tech-based start-ups. Typically, these types of new companies are housed in someone's garage, the local Starbucks or the Uncle's Office. Rarely are these companies captured in a cool, Downtown setting.

The concept was to offer the entrepreneur everything he or she would need to start-up a Company outside of capital. So, we created offices with all the furniture, connectivity, and telecom, collaboration one could handle for an all inclusive monthly fee and no long-term lease or commitment.

As a start-up company grew (or shrank), the HTH could move the company through various sized suites (all at different monthly fees).

The concept has proven very amenable to the entrepreneurial community. So much so, that the Hanna Building and Playhouse Square Foundation have committed to expanding the HTH concept. Currently, the HTH is on the third floor of the Hanna Building and occupies about 3,800 square feet.

Discussions are taking place to double the size of the HTH. I am pleased to say that three companies presently in the HTH - Game Communications (taking up about 60% of the space), Lendable.com and Powers Financial. Two other start-up companies are about to join the HTH family.

It has always been my contention that the City of Cleveland should have a continuum of real estate offerings to tech companies. I have also advocated that we, as a community, should be supporting start-up and emerging growth companies as much as possible.

The HTH is a commitment to offer that support and it is exciting to know that the commitment and the space itself is expanding.

By the by, I am pleased to be a regular contributor to Great Lakes Geek. I have been a friend of Dan Hanson (the man behind the Geek) for a number or years and was humbled when he asked me to be a contributor.

I look forward to connecting with the tech community in 2008. Please feel welcome to connect with me at mdealoia@mac.com.