April 2016 • $5.00

meetings

Arianna Huffington

SHE SLEEPS,SHE THRIVES

TRAVEL ADVOCATE IN CONGRESS

Dina TitusWILD AND WONDERFUL

FOUNDING FATHERSColorado

British Columbia

2016 INDUSTRY LEADERS

Smart WomenSan FranciscoBay AreaSUPER PLACE TO PARTY

ReportSpecial

WOMEN RISING UP

OAHU & KAUAI

1 2 8s m a r t m e e t i n g s . c o m A P R I L 2 0 1 6

At the height of the economic crisis in Detroit, the

city’s outlook had never seemed so bleak. De-

troit had suffered decades of population decline,

urban blight, political corruption and high crime

rates that left the former capital of the auto indus-

try in shambles. The city hit rock bottom, filing for

bankruptcy in 2013, as the rest of the world wondered how things

had gone so wrong.

But everyone loves a comeback story, and today, Motor City is

back on its feet and moving forward at a rapid pace. Investors

have raised more than $11 billion toward Detroit’s resurrection,

which has put the city back on the meetings map in a major way—

according to Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, con-

vention bookings are up by a whopping 128 percent.

During the annual American Society of Association Executives

(ASAE) meeting and exposition held last year at Cobo Center, Josh

Linkner, a venture capitalist and Detroit native, gave the opening

speech. He praised the city’s radical transformation and great po-

tential for businesses to flourish from the ground up.

Linkner founded investment firm Detroit Venture Partners, and is

one of many entrepreneurs to have infused Detroit with a burst of

tech innovation. In addition, young talent and new projects have

Limmatschwimmen, the annual swim down the

Limmat River in Zurich

Detroit rolls up its sleeves to forge a bright futurepBY MEENA RAMAKRISHNAN

D t it ll it l t f b i htTHE COMEBACK KID

made this up-and-coming destination ready to reclaim its throne as

one of America’s great cities.

Renaissance CityDetroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau was instrumental in turning

the city’s image around through strategic advertising and key messag-

ing. The organization actively works to promote Detroit, through its latest

campaign, as a place of courage and true grit, where great ideas thrive

and success stories abound.

“Our staff consistently works…to help change perceptions and

spread the positive stories taking place in the city,” says Bill Bohde,

senior vice president of sales and marketing at Detroit Metro

Convention & Visitors Bureau. “[Our] campaign emphasizes the

pace of the new development and the transformation taking place,

which is now resonating around the world.”

Downtown Detroit has undergone a renaissance of sorts with The

Detroit International Riverfront at its core. The greenway encompasses

a marina, parks, restaurants, retail stores and skyscrapers. Million-dollar

investments are supporting riverfront development, which includes a

number of hotels facing the Detroit River.

Cobo Center also lines the waterway and recently wrapped up

the final phase of a $279 million expansion, bringing its total footprint

SNAPSHOT DETROIT

MUST SEE

Belle Isle Park

In the middle of the Detroit River lies an island oasis with several unique attrac-

tions. Belle Isle Park has its own aquarium, conservatory, zoo, municipal golf

course, historic monuments and a half-mile swimming beach.

Belle Island Aquarium is an iconic landmark that offers free admission to view

several species of fresh and salt-water fish. Belle Island Nature Zoo also offers

free admission for visitors to experience animal encoun-

ters, with deer feedings and bird ovservation windows.

Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory and Dossin

Great Lakes Museum also provide free admission and

nature-inspired settings for group offsites.

to 2.4 million sq. ft. New additions

to the convention center include

a 40,000-square-foot ballroom,

50,000-square-foot exterior plaza

and stunning 30,000-square-foot

glass-enclosed atrium with floor-to-ceil-

ing views of Windsor, Ontario, across the

river. The building also features a TV broadcast

studio with satellite capabilities and exterior high-tech

video walls located above the entrance.

Indie SpiritNext door, Midtown is one of the fastest-growing

neighborhoods in Detroit. Groups can experience

the cultural heart of the city in Midtown’s many live

music venues and theaters, world-class museums,

such as Detroit Institute of Arts, and boutique

shops and galleries. The neighborhood has helped

fuel the city’s growing culinary and brew pub scene.

Local microbreweries, such as HopCat, provide

intimate event spaces for up to 400.

“For smaller meetings, Detroit has dozens of

unique meeting spaces available, from historic to

recently rehabbed buildings, each with its own dis-

tinct charm,” Bohde adds.

Corktown is slightly off the beaten path, but well

worth a visit for its historic charm and beautifully

restored Victorian row houses. Detroit’s Irish popula-

tion founded the neighborhood in the 1830s. It later

received designation on the National Register of

Historic Places in 1978.

Although residential in nature,

more eateries, local bookstores

and quaint cafes are cropping up

on Corktown’s streets. Visitors can

glimpse some of the earliest dwellings

in Detroit’s oldest neighborhood during

this year’s annual Corktown Historic Home and

Garden Tour, which takes place in June.

Ultimate Fan ExperienceThe section between Downtown and Midtown was

previously underutilized, but that’s all about to

change with several multiuse entertainment venues

under construction near Woodward Avenue. Plans

for The District Detroit include six theaters and three

sports arenas that will be home to the NHL Detroit

Red Wings, MLB Detroit Tigers and NFL Detroit

Lions, making it the ultimate sports experience.

The $627 million Detroit Events Center is one of

the most anticipated venues to arrive at the new

district. The hockey arena will feature dramatic

bowl seating with great sight lines of all the action.

When it’s not crowded with Red Wings fans, the

center will serve as a concert venue with state-of-

the-art technology and fan amenities.

By summer 2017, The District Detroit will con-

nect the two neighborhoods with additional resi-

dential, office and retail developments that create a

vibrant urban setting for locals and visitors to enjoy.

IN 5 WORDS OR LESS…

Motor City is

cool again.

EXPLORE

Granite City Food & Brewery

A new brewery has arrived at Renaissance Center

complex. Granite City Food & Brewery opened in

February with private dining rooms, and an outdoor

patio joins the restaurant this spring. Groups can

sample signature pale ales, IPAs and lagers.

Henry Ford Museum

Visit the largest indoor-outdoor museum complex in

America, which pays tribute to Henry Ford, founder

of Ford Motor Company. His namesake muse-

um provides a historical timeline of the Industrial

Revolution and American transportation.

Construction of the area is expected to generate at

least $2.1 billion in total economic impacts.

“There is so much for meeting attendees to see

and do while in Detroit for their conferences,” Bohde

says. “While here, they will get to experience the

comeback, see all the major changes taking place,

and be an integral part of the comeback.”

Improvements in TransitTo keep on pace with the rest of the city’s improve-

ments, an upgrade to public transportation will come

via the M-1 Rail. As new buildings and city attractions

emerge along Woodward Corridor, the new streetcar

will be critical in connecting Midtown and Downtown

Detroit. Construction is well underway and will be up

and running by late 2016, just before The District is

officially complete.

“The M-1 Rail will fill a vital need to help con-

nect Downtown to Midtown, making it easier and

more affordable for meeting attendees to get around

Detroit,” Bohde says.

The 3.3-mile rail will traverse both sides of Wood-

ward Avenue, servicing 20 stations in 12 locations.

Original plans to expand metro transportation called

for a 10-mile fixed rail car, but it was ultimately de-

termined that a smaller system would better comple-

ment existing bus service and the Detroit People

Mover. The M-1 Rail will spur economic development

and provide a foundation for improved and expanded

public transit throughout the region.

Polk Penguin Conservation Center at Detroit Zoo

Detroit Zoo will soon have the world’s largest pen-

guin facility when Polk Penguin Conservation Center

opens April 18. The 33,000-square-foot center will

hold more than 80 penguins from four species:

Gentoo, Macaroni, Rockhopper and King.