Detroit Doubles Room Bookings for 2014, Snags Several New Citywides
January 26, 2014
When Detroit’s bankruptcy made headlines last year, the local hospitality, meetings and conventions community continued to work hard to spread the word about what they already knew: Detroit’s events business was not only alive and well, but also it was thriving.
The Cobo Center was in the midst of a $220 million renovation that included expanded space, floor-to-ceiling windows facing the Detroit River and a new Grand Ballroom, among other renovations.
The center also had been taken over in 2010 by SMG, a venue management company that worked with local labor to come up with new work rules that went into effect in June 2013.
Thom Connors, general manager of Cobo Center for SMG, said at the time, “This agreement makes Cobo’s costs more competitive with standards for the exposition and meeting industry,”
And now, at the start of a new year, the city has even more to brag about, with bookings in 2014 tracking 208 percent ahead of last year, according to Bill Bohde, senior vice president of sales and marketing for the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau.
In 2013, there were 129,500 room nights booked, and this year, so far, there are 236,600 on the books, with another 35,000 to 40,000 expected by the end of the year. Next year has approximately 165,000 already booked as well, Bohde said.
“We have a solid foundation to have an equally good year in 2015,” he added. “One of the reasons that’s driving the success is we have an extremely attractive product to offer meeting planners.”
Here are just a few of the major groups booked in 2014:
The Christian Congregation of Jehovah Witnesses, attracting 60,000 room nights and almost $57 million in direct spending;
Nation of Islam, with 7,000 room nights and $3.7 million in spending; and
Neighborhood Works America, 7,800 room nights and spending of $1.4 million.
Despite the bankruptcy, Bohde said the bureau wasn’t impacted or the Cobo Center, since neither are funded through the government. The bureau, for example, is more than 90 percent funded through a 2-percent hotel occupancy tax.
But, it still has been an uphill battle to combat some negative perceptions about Detroit.
In an effort to get ahead of it, though, Bohde said the bureau put into place a marketing campaign that told the story about the $1 billion in development in the city, the renovation at Cobo and the new hotel spaces coming on line, as well as much more good news.
“We decided to attack it head on,” he added. “This destination is healthy. … It’s not shuttered up or closed down.”
In fact, the bureau’s marketing campaign has the tagline “Detroit, America's Greatest Comeback City."
The key is getting meeting planners to the city to see all of the enhancements going on, and Detroit will have that opportunity next year when thousands of attendees come to town for the American Society of Association Executives’ annual meeting and exhibition.
“It’s known as the Super Bowl for the (meetings) industry,” Bohde said. “We’re ready to put on quite a show."
He added, “I hope we’re going to change many perceptions about the way people see Detroit. It’s going to give us a tremendous amount of exposure. It’s really Detroit’s coming out party.”
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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