A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

Dear partners in tourism:

This past year was one of the toughest years for the metro Detroit economy.  While it would be nice to say that 2010 will bring smoother waters, indicators are that our challenges will continue as we try to attract new visitors and convention business to metro Detroit.  How do we face these challenges?  In 2010, our mantra is this:  partner, partner, partner.

It is no longer good enough to promote our individual hotel property, attraction or service.  In order to distinguish ourselves from the competition, we need to come together and collectively market ourselves to the rest of the world.

The Bureau has found a way to accomplish this mission.  This year, after much research, many meetings and collaboration with tourism partners across the region, we are implementing our Destination District program.  The Destination District project takes the vast metro area that is known as The D and divides it into small, more manageable regions to market, based on the tourism assets of each district.  The five districts are: Dearborn/Wayne, Downtown Detroit, Greater Novi, Macomb and Oakland.  The hotels and attractions within those districts have worked closely together to develop advertising programs for promoting themselves.   Positioning statements and creative treatments for each one have been developed.  Going forward, on our website, in Visit Detroit Magazine, on our PBS television show, and in our leisure advertising, you will see the destination districts and their strengths highlighted. 

In all areas, from sales, to marketing, to services, to sports, our DMCVB team is stepping outside of the box to find creative ways to market and sell this region.  Those strategies are briefly described in the pages ahead, along with an activity calendar for the year.  We urge you to take advantage of your DMCVB membership and get involved.  Attend our events and tradeshows, meet our staff and use them as resources to promote your business.  As always, we exist to serve our membership.

On behalf of the DMCVB, thank you for your continued support and partnership.



Larry Alexander
President and CEO, DMCVB