Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau's Annual Membership Meeting Focused on Educating Professionals and Elevating Events

25/01/2017 10:00

DETROIT, Jan. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Educating local professionals for the future of the hospitality industry was a major focus at the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau's (DMCVB) 2017 Annual Membership Meeting today at Cobo Center.

Three education sessions left attendees with a valuable set of ideas on why online reputation management is important, ways to increase customer satisfaction and how current legislation and issues are affecting the hospitality industry.

"As our city moves forward, Detroit's visitor numbers will increase immensely, so it is vital that our hospitality community continues to provide first-rate customer service to ensure our guests tell their friends and family about the good things happening here," said Larry Alexander, DMCVB President & CEO.

"Detroit is rapidly becoming the new 'it' city, a city ripe for investment, and an intriguing place to live work and visit," said Alexander. "Major media outlets such as the New York Times and National Geographic have recently helped spread the positive news about Detroit's comeback."

Alexander also announced the Bureau's initiatives for the coming year that includes hosting a number of conventions and sporting events. The slate includes 12 multi-hotel pieces of business such as AAU Junior Olympic Games, Nike Mid-East Qualifier, Youmacon and SAE World Congress, WCX.

The Detroit Sports Commission (DSC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the DMCVB, will focus on the implementation of the strategic plan for Detroit sports. In 2017, the DSC will create the Detroit Sports Organizing Corporation, a new permanent local organization committee whose role will be to identify and bid for sporting events that make financial sense for the region. The Sports Commission will also be introducing a new advertising campaign and sales video to specifically attract the sports market to Detroit.

In collaboration with Travel Michigan and Brand USA, the DMCVB will continue to expand its efforts in the international markets of the UK, Germany, China and Canada.

On the marketing side, the DMCVB is continuing the "America's Great Comeback City" advertising campaign to incorporate the growing number of economic development projects taking place. A brand new website will also be rolled out mid-year that will offer a new design and better functionality to the current visitdetroit.com.

Two important studies performed in 2016 will help the Bureau achieve their goals this year. The studies were the Detroit's Intellectual Capital report and the Tourism and Hospitality Workforce Analysis. The Intellectual Capital report highlights the back story of ten industry segments in Detroit that are thriving and contribute the most to the region's economic well-being. The Tourism and Hospitality Workforce Analysis reviews the employees and the taxes that are generated from the industry.

The meeting featured three education session speakers including Scott Caufield, DMO sales manager, Midwest with Trip Advisor; Adrian Tonon, director of customer service with the City of Detroit; and David Bargamian, attorney with Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker, LLC.

To view the 2017 DMCVB marketing plan, activity calendar and reports, go to visitdetroit.com/marketingplan.

The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau is a private, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to market and sell the metropolitan Detroit area on a worldwide basis as a destination for leisure and business travel including conventions, trade shows, corporate meetings, tours and incentive travel to maximize additional visitors, visitor expenditures, state and local tax revenues, and job opportunities.

More than 700 businesses are represented in the DMCVB's membership. The DMCVB was founded in 1896 as the world's first convention and visitors bureau. visitdetroit.com