Cobo infusion

Some good news coming out last week in terms of economic impact on Detroit. An influential trade group, the American Society of Association Executives has decided to host its 2015 convention in Detroit. Basically, this is the association of associations, the Super Bowl of conventions. The honchos who decide where various conventions and conferences will take place are going to be visiting Detroit - 5,500 decision makers in total. The MDCVB estimates we will get over 1,300 spin-off events from this convention, as 20% of the attendees plan a future event in the host city within five years of the convention. If we do a good job in 2015, this convention could help boost the image of the City tremendously, given all of the potential secondary (and tertiary, if anyone comes back for a visit with family) visitors. We have five years to get our act together...Still, a bit of good news and good luck for Detroit! The investment in our tourism and hospitality sector, including the airport, Cobo, hotels, etc. looks like it may start paying off soon...

Here are the reports from the Free Press and News:

http://www.detnews.com/article/20100306/BIZ/3060312/1001
http://www.freep.com/article/20100304/NEWS01/3040439/1322/Meeting-planners-are-headed-to-Detroit-in-15