![\"Mr](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Bill-Bohde_2014.jpg\")
Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB) is known as the world\u2019s first\u00a0convention and visitors bureau, which this year celebrates 119th birthday.
\n1. Considering that DMCVB is the world\u2019s\u00a0first convention and visitors bureau\u00a0established, could you tell us more\u00a0about this interesting fact?
\nFor the destination marketing industry,\u00a0the first step was taken by Detroit based\u00a0Milton Carmichael, who was\u00a0also the first to take to the road to sell\u00a0his city as a convention site in 1896.
\nAnd, like many of our nation\u2019s pioneers,\u00a0Carmichael\u2019s entrepreneurial footsteps\u00a0paved the way for the rest of\u00a0the world.
\nSoon after taking note of Carmichael\u2019s\u00a0success, other aspiring destinations,\u00a0including Denver, Atlanta, St. Louis,\u00a0and others joined the efforts.
\nIn 1914, a handful of representatives,\u00a0soon to be called \u201cconvention secretaries\u201d\u00a0gathered in Detroit for what would\u00a0be the first organizational meeting\u00a0of the International Association\u00a0of Convention Bureaus (IACB).
\nFrom those first meaningful steps, the\u00a0IACB soon began to jog, then sprint\u00a0into history. Railroad and air travel opened\u00a0up new geographies, and funding\u00a0was allocated to boost competition.\u00a0Not long thereafter, tourism was\u00a0recognized as a viable and valuable\u00a0addition to a destination\u2019s formula for\u00a0success.
\nEven with set-backs resulting from\u00a0the Great Depression, World War II\u00a0and civil unrest, the nation\u2019s first destination\u00a0marketers found creative\u00a0ways to thrive, helping advance the\u00a0profession to the multi-billion dollar\u00a0industry it is today.
\n2. Detroit is known as the great comeback\u00a0city. Why?
\nNational and local publications, bloggers,\u00a0captains of industry and proud\u00a0local residents quietly began to refer\u00a0to Detroit as the \u201cnext comeback city\u201d\u00a0and that message has turned into\u00a0a drumbeat that we no longer igonre.
\nThe message grew organically and\u00a0publications ranging from the LA Times\u00a0to Meetings Focus Magazine have\u00a0dubbed Detroit as \u201cthe Comeback\u00a0City\u201d, the \u201cComeback Kid\u201d, a \u201cCity Reimagined\u201d\u00a0in recent articles. The word\u00a0\u201ccomeback\u201d has dual meanings.
\n![\"Detroit](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Detroit-International-Riverfront_Detroit-Riverfront-Conservancy.jpg\")
First, it touts the fact that Detroit is\u00a0undergoing a rapid transformation.\u00a0Secondly, it urges visits to \u201ccome back\u201d\u00a0to the city and the region if they\u00a0have not been or it has been some\u00a0time since their last visit. Evidence of\u00a0Detroit\u2019s Comeback can been seen throughout\u00a0the city.
\nHere are some examples:
\n\u00b7 The M-1 Rail project is underway\u00a0and will provide a catalyst for investment,\u00a0economic development and\u00a0urban renewal that positively impacts\u00a0the entire region through the\u00a0construction of a streetcar circulator\u00a0system running along. The rail\u00a0project is estimated to be complete\u00a0in early 2016.
\n\u00b7 The announcement of \u201cThe District\u201d\u00a0entertainment area spearheaded by\u00a0the Ilitch family. \u201cThe District\u201d will\u00a0be 50 blocks of thriving businesses,\u00a0parks, restaurants, bars and event\u00a0destinations.
\n\u00b7 A multitude of investments by Dan\u00a0Gilbert, founder of Quicken Loans\u00a0and Rock Ventures, that included\u00a0moving his Family of Companies into\u00a0Detroit\u2019s central business district\u00a0in 2010 in an effort to help lead the\u00a0transformation of a great American\u00a0city. Since then, he has invested more\u00a0than $1.6 billion to purchase and\u00a0renovate more than 70 commercial\u00a0properties accounting for more than\u00a010 million square\u00a0feet in the city\u2019s\u00a0urban core.
\n3. What do you find as the main adventages\u00a0of Detroit as a meeting destination?
\nDetroit is a well rounded destination\u00a0that offers plenty of options for\u00a0meeting planners. The highlight of\u00a0the region is the new Cobo Center.
\nBuilt by the City of Detroit, it was originally\u00a0opened in 1960 and named\u00a0Cobo Hall in honor of former Detroit Mayor Albert E. Cobo.
\nThe newly remodeled and renovated\u00a0Cobo Center has been transformed\u00a0into a world-class convention and meeting\u00a0facility.
The $279 million expansion adds more\u00a0than 200,000 additional square feet\u00a0of new and reconfigured meeting\u00a0and banquet spaces: 100 breakout spaces\u00a0total. All told, Cobo Center now\u00a0has\u00a0723,000 square feet of exhibition\u00a0space: 623,000 of it contiguous\u00a0and 100,000 more along the Detroit\u00a0River. In addition, its rigging capabilities\u00a0rival those of any North American\u00a0facility.\u00a0Cobo Center now offers\u00a0all the latest technology assets, starting\u00a0with free WiFi via a robust bandwidth\u00a0available throughout the facility.
\n![\"Cobo](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Cobo-Ballroom.jpg\")
The in-house, centrally controlled\u00a0communications system has programmable\u00a0video displays outside every
\nmeeting room. Other assets include\u00a0a new 4,500-square-foot sound stage\u00a0and an on-site video studio with full\u00a0production services and satellite up-link\u00a0capabilities.
Detroit\u2019s connectively to the world\u00a0and our accessibility at Detroit Metro\u00a0Airport is a definite advantage.
\nWith one of the world\u2019s busiest air transportation\u00a0hubs, Detroit offers nonstop\u00a0flights to 150 destinations in the\u00a0world. Downtown Detroit has more\u00a0than 5,000 hotel rooms, including Detroit\u00a0Marriott at the Renaissance Center\u00a0(currently undergoing extensive\u00a0renovations) and Courtyard Detroit\u00a0Downtown Marriott.
\nIn addition, the Atheneum Suite Hotel\u00a0and Conference Center has 174 luxury\u00a0suites and is located near Greektown\u00a0Casino, restaurants, nightclubs and\u00a0more. In total, the Detroit area has\u00a0more than 40,000 hotel rooms.
\nSo whether visitors are looking\u00a0for\u00a0chic and luxurious, quaint and charming,\u00a0or comfortable and affordable,\u00a0they\u2019re sure to find their perfect match.
\nDetroit and its surrounding suburbs\u00a0offer dining options to satisfy\u00a0any appetite along with distinct, dynamic\u00a0attractions, many of which are\u00a0uniquely Detroit. Related to its reign\u00a0as the Motor City are the Ford Rouge\u00a0Factory Tour, Automotive Hall of Fame\u00a0and Woodward Dream Cruise.
\nRegional cultural destinations include\u00a0the Arab American National Museum,\u00a0Detroit Institute of Arts, Charles H.\u00a0Wright Museum of African American\u00a0History, Broadway In Detroit and many\u00a0more.
There are three top-notch casinos\u00a0and music plays daily at a variety of indoor\u00a0and outdoor venues, and at the\u00a0Motown Museum, Michigan Opera\u00a0House and Detroit Symphony Orchestra.\u00a0Detroit is home to four professional\u00a0sports teams, great college sports,\u00a0many scenic public golf courses, waterways,\u00a0lakes, parks and outdoor spaces.
\n![\"Campus](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/CampusMartiusTurner09_Paula_Turner.jpg\")
4. According to the ICCA Statistic Report,\u00a0USA is the first in the world by\u00a0the number of held meetings. What\u00a0is your share here? And cooperation\u00a0with neigbouring countries?
\nWhile our share of the international\u00a0meetings market is small in comparision,\u00a0Detroit is making strides become\u00a0more attractive to international\u00a0meeting planners. We have created\u00a0several forgein language videos to expose\u00a0the destination to international\u00a0travelers.
\nThe Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors\u00a0Bureau is currently working with\u00a0the State of Michigan and Brand USA\u00a0to promote the region as a destination\u00a0for leisure travelers, business travelers\u00a0and meeting planners.
\nDetroit is located on the Detroit River\u00a0which acts as an international border\u00a0crossing into Canada. We work very\u00a0closely with our Canadian friends in\u00a0Windsor, ON and have had several\u00a0meeting and convention groups that\u00a0have utilized hotels on both sides of\u00a0the river.
\n![\"Redwingsfan](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/RedwingsfanKid_Dave-Reginek-Detroit-Red-Wings.jpg\")
5. Could you single out the most important\u00a0or biggest event Detroit has\u00a0hosted?
\nHosting the Super Bowl in 2006\u00a0was the most important and biggest\u00a0event that Detroit has had the\u00a0honor to host. Perhaps there was no\u00a0other city in the history of the Super\u00a0Bowl that had more misperceptions\u00a0to overcome than Detroit in hosting\u00a0Super Bowl XL. Yet, when the teams,\u00a0visitors and national media left town,\u00a0nearly 2,000 stories had been written\u00a0and aired with an estimated 90 percent\u00a0of them portraying a positive or\u00a0neutral image of the city and the area\u00a0which played host.
\nThe day after the Super Bowl, Frank\u00a0Supovitz, former Senior Vice President\u00a0of Events for the National Football\u00a0League called Detroit\u2019s performance\u00a0\u201cabsolutely perfect\u201c and stated that\u00a0\u201cexpectations were clearly exceeded.\u201c He said, \u201cThis city has every reason to\u00a0be proud.\u201c
\nThe event attracted 100,000 visitors\u00a0to the region and was viewed by 900\u00a0million sports fans. The economic impact\u00a0generated by hosting Super Bowl\u00a0XL was $261 million.
\nThe post Great transformation for undisputable comeback appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.
\n", "content_text": "Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB) is known as the world\u2019s first\u00a0convention and visitors bureau, which this year celebrates 119th birthday.\nRegarding Detroit, as a meeting destination and its advantages we had the honor\u00a0to talk with Mr. Bill Bohde, Senior Vice-President, Sales & Marketing.\n1. Considering that DMCVB is the world\u2019s\u00a0first convention and visitors bureau\u00a0established, could you tell us more\u00a0about this interesting fact?\nMr Bill Bohde\nFor the destination marketing industry,\u00a0the first step was taken by Detroit based\u00a0Milton Carmichael, who was\u00a0also the first to take to the road to sell\u00a0his city as a convention site in 1896.\nAnd, like many of our nation\u2019s pioneers,\u00a0Carmichael\u2019s entrepreneurial footsteps\u00a0paved the way for the rest of\u00a0the world.\nSoon after taking note of Carmichael\u2019s\u00a0success, other aspiring destinations,\u00a0including Denver, Atlanta, St. Louis,\u00a0and others joined the efforts.\nIn 1914, a handful of representatives,\u00a0soon to be called \u201cconvention secretaries\u201d\u00a0gathered in Detroit for what would\u00a0be the first organizational meeting\u00a0of the International Association\u00a0of Convention Bureaus (IACB).\nFrom those first meaningful steps, the\u00a0IACB soon began to jog, then sprint\u00a0into history. Railroad and air travel opened\u00a0up new geographies, and funding\u00a0was allocated to boost competition.\u00a0Not long thereafter, tourism was\u00a0recognized as a viable and valuable\u00a0addition to a destination\u2019s formula for\u00a0success.\nEven with set-backs resulting from\u00a0the Great Depression, World War II\u00a0and civil unrest, the nation\u2019s first destination\u00a0marketers found creative\u00a0ways to thrive, helping advance the\u00a0profession to the multi-billion dollar\u00a0industry it is today.\n2. Detroit is known as the great comeback\u00a0city. Why?\nNational and local publications, bloggers,\u00a0captains of industry and proud\u00a0local residents quietly began to refer\u00a0to Detroit as the \u201cnext comeback city\u201d\u00a0and that message has turned into\u00a0a drumbeat that we no longer igonre.\nThe message grew organically and\u00a0publications ranging from the LA Times\u00a0to Meetings Focus Magazine have\u00a0dubbed Detroit as \u201cthe Comeback\u00a0City\u201d, the \u201cComeback Kid\u201d, a \u201cCity Reimagined\u201d\u00a0in recent articles. The word\u00a0\u201ccomeback\u201d has dual meanings.\nDetroit International Riverfront – Detroit Riverfront Conservancy\nFirst, it touts the fact that Detroit is\u00a0undergoing a rapid transformation.\u00a0Secondly, it urges visits to \u201ccome back\u201d\u00a0to the city and the region if they\u00a0have not been or it has been some\u00a0time since their last visit. Evidence of\u00a0Detroit\u2019s Comeback can been seen throughout\u00a0the city.\nHere are some examples:\n\u00b7 The M-1 Rail project is underway\u00a0and will provide a catalyst for investment,\u00a0economic development and\u00a0urban renewal that positively impacts\u00a0the entire region through the\u00a0construction of a streetcar circulator\u00a0system running along. The rail\u00a0project is estimated to be complete\u00a0in early 2016.\n\u00b7 The announcement of \u201cThe District\u201d\u00a0entertainment area spearheaded by\u00a0the Ilitch family. \u201cThe District\u201d will\u00a0be 50 blocks of thriving businesses,\u00a0parks, restaurants, bars and event\u00a0destinations.\n\u00b7 A multitude of investments by Dan\u00a0Gilbert, founder of Quicken Loans\u00a0and Rock Ventures, that included\u00a0moving his Family of Companies into\u00a0Detroit\u2019s central business district\u00a0in 2010 in an effort to help lead the\u00a0transformation of a great American\u00a0city. Since then, he has invested more\u00a0than $1.6 billion to purchase and\u00a0renovate more than 70 commercial\u00a0properties accounting for more than\u00a010 million square\u00a0feet in the city\u2019s\u00a0urban core.\n3. What do you find as the main adventages\u00a0of Detroit as a meeting destination?\nDetroit is a well rounded destination\u00a0that offers plenty of options for\u00a0meeting planners. The highlight of\u00a0the region is the new Cobo Center.\nBuilt by the City of Detroit, it was originally\u00a0opened in 1960 and named\u00a0Cobo Hall in honor of former Detroit Mayor Albert E. Cobo.\nThe newly remodeled and renovated\u00a0Cobo Center has been transformed\u00a0into a world-class convention and meeting\u00a0facility.\nThe $279 million expansion adds more\u00a0than 200,000 additional square feet\u00a0of new and reconfigured meeting\u00a0and banquet spaces: 100 breakout spaces\u00a0total. All told, Cobo Center now\u00a0has\u00a0723,000 square feet of exhibition\u00a0space: 623,000 of it contiguous\u00a0and 100,000 more along the Detroit\u00a0River. In addition, its rigging capabilities\u00a0rival those of any North American\u00a0facility.\u00a0Cobo Center now offers\u00a0all the latest technology assets, starting\u00a0with free WiFi via a robust bandwidth\u00a0available throughout the facility.\nCobo Center – Ballroom\nThe in-house, centrally controlled\u00a0communications system has programmable\u00a0video displays outside every\nmeeting room. Other assets include\u00a0a new 4,500-square-foot sound stage\u00a0and an on-site video studio with full\u00a0production services and satellite up-link\u00a0capabilities.\nDetroit\u2019s connectively to the world\u00a0and our accessibility at Detroit Metro\u00a0Airport is a definite advantage.\nWith one of the world\u2019s busiest air transportation\u00a0hubs, Detroit offers nonstop\u00a0flights to 150 destinations in the\u00a0world. Downtown Detroit has more\u00a0than 5,000 hotel rooms, including Detroit\u00a0Marriott at the Renaissance Center\u00a0(currently undergoing extensive\u00a0renovations) and Courtyard Detroit\u00a0Downtown Marriott.\nIn addition, the Atheneum Suite Hotel\u00a0and Conference Center has 174 luxury\u00a0suites and is located near Greektown\u00a0Casino, restaurants, nightclubs and\u00a0more. In total, the Detroit area has\u00a0more than 40,000 hotel rooms.\nSo whether visitors are looking\u00a0for\u00a0chic and luxurious, quaint and charming,\u00a0or comfortable and affordable,\u00a0they\u2019re sure to find their perfect match.\nDetroit and its surrounding suburbs\u00a0offer dining options to satisfy\u00a0any appetite along with distinct, dynamic\u00a0attractions, many of which are\u00a0uniquely Detroit. Related to its reign\u00a0as the Motor City are the Ford Rouge\u00a0Factory Tour, Automotive Hall of Fame\u00a0and Woodward Dream Cruise.\nRegional cultural destinations include\u00a0the Arab American National Museum,\u00a0Detroit Institute of Arts, Charles H.\u00a0Wright Museum of African American\u00a0History, Broadway In Detroit and many\u00a0more.\nThere are three top-notch casinos\u00a0and music plays daily at a variety of indoor\u00a0and outdoor venues, and at the\u00a0Motown Museum, Michigan Opera\u00a0House and Detroit Symphony Orchestra.\u00a0Detroit is home to four professional\u00a0sports teams, great college sports,\u00a0many scenic public golf courses, waterways,\u00a0lakes, parks and outdoor spaces.\nCampus MartiusTurner\n4. According to the ICCA Statistic Report,\u00a0USA is the first in the world by\u00a0the number of held meetings. What\u00a0is your share here? And cooperation\u00a0with neigbouring countries?\nWhile our share of the international\u00a0meetings market is small in comparision,\u00a0Detroit is making strides become\u00a0more attractive to international\u00a0meeting planners. We have created\u00a0several forgein language videos to expose\u00a0the destination to international\u00a0travelers.\nThe Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors\u00a0Bureau is currently working with\u00a0the State of Michigan and Brand USA\u00a0to promote the region as a destination\u00a0for leisure travelers, business travelers\u00a0and meeting planners.\nDetroit is located on the Detroit River\u00a0which acts as an international border\u00a0crossing into Canada. We work very\u00a0closely with our Canadian friends in\u00a0Windsor, ON and have had several\u00a0meeting and convention groups that\u00a0have utilized hotels on both sides of\u00a0the river.\nRedwingsfan Kid Dave Reginek Detroit Red Wings\n5. Could you single out the most important\u00a0or biggest event Detroit has\u00a0hosted?\nHosting the Super Bowl in 2006\u00a0was the most important and biggest\u00a0event that Detroit has had the\u00a0honor to host. Perhaps there was no\u00a0other city in the history of the Super\u00a0Bowl that had more misperceptions\u00a0to overcome than Detroit in hosting\u00a0Super Bowl XL. Yet, when the teams,\u00a0visitors and national media left town,\u00a0nearly 2,000 stories had been written\u00a0and aired with an estimated 90 percent\u00a0of them portraying a positive or\u00a0neutral image of the city and the area\u00a0which played host.\nThe day after the Super Bowl, Frank\u00a0Supovitz, former Senior Vice President\u00a0of Events for the National Football\u00a0League called Detroit\u2019s performance\u00a0\u201cabsolutely perfect\u201c and stated that\u00a0\u201cexpectations were clearly exceeded.\u201c He said, \u201cThis city has every reason to\u00a0be proud.\u201c\nThe event attracted 100,000 visitors\u00a0to the region and was viewed by 900\u00a0million sports fans. The economic impact\u00a0generated by hosting Super Bowl\u00a0XL was $261 million.\nThe post Great transformation for undisputable comeback appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.", "date_published": "2015-04-27T10:44:14+02:00", "date_modified": "2017-03-22T10:29:49+01:00", "author": { "name": "Mirjana Novitovic", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/author/officebs/", "avatar": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/slika-.jpg" }, "image": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Spirit-of-Detroit_Vito-Palmisano.jpg", "tags": [ "comeback city", "detroit", "detroit metro convetion & visitors buerau", "dmcvb", "meetings destination", "motor city", "Convention Bureaus" ] } ] }