Member Newsletter

March 2023

President's Message
Annual Meeting
CTA Star of the Year
Hospitality Heroes

Ways to Support MSU
Save the Date! Upcoming Member Mixer
2023 Visitor Inspiration Guides
Julie Pingston Elected to MACVB
SkyBridge Re-Opened

New Members
Member Portal Training
Upcoming Conventions & Sports Events
Upcoming CTA Classes
Blogs
Hotel Occupancy

President's Message

It was a wonderful opportunity to host our Annual Meeting at The Venue by Eleven 11 Events on March 2. Thank you to all who were able to attend and celebrate together! Please find the full details from the Annual Meeting along with our 2022 Annual Report within this newsletter. Please see the articles in this newsletter that highlight our CTA Star of the Year and the Hospitality Heroes who were recognized for supporting the community through hospitality. I forward to working with you all throughout 2023 as we move forward with the rebranding of the GLCVB, continuing our work to make our destination welcoming to ALL and hosting impactful conventions and sporting events together.

To start this year’s Annual Meeting we took a moment to recognize the impact of the mass shooting on the campus of Michigan State University. Below are my comments from the meeting.

As we all know, the affect of the mass shooting two weeks ago has been tragic for our campus and our community. We are intertwined as one between campus and community around here and we have discovered the many ways MSU touches us all.

Later in the program we will recognize some hospitality heroes but I would like to acknowledge the ways our hospitality partners became hospitality heroes under the worst circumstances. Our hotels and restaurants within downtown East Lansing kept their customers and staff safe while sheltering in place. There were those who helped escort passengers from the Michigan Flyer that arrived during the lockdown. CATA provided service for students to reunite with their families. There were the many who offered free or discounted hotel rooms for parents and students, and there continue to be the many restaurants and businesses who donate food and supplies to first responders, the hospitals and anywhere else where there has been a need.

While the GLCVB instantly pulled down all marketing and messaging that week, our partners at CVBs around the state did the same. As an organization, we have been overwhelmed by the many national and statewide partners who have reached out to us and our community. We have all felt Spartan Strong together.

In memory of the three individuals tragically lost two weeks ago and in honor of the five individuals with life altering injuries, I would ask for a moment of reflection at this time.

Please reach out to me at jpingston@lansing.org if I can assist you in any way. Thank you

Julie

2023 Annual Meeting Review

The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau (GLCVB) held its annual meeting on March 2 and shared the state of the hospitality industry and 2022 local visitor economic impact. It also celebrated the CTA Star of the Year and recognized six area tourism related businesses as Hospitality Heroes for the contributions to the region.

The year ended with a hotel occupancy rate of 53.7%, better than the 2020 rate of 40%, but still far off pace from the region’s occupancy of 61.6% recorded in 2019. The region’s hotel average daily rate also continued to rebound ending 2022 at $110.29 compared to $92.59 in 2021.

Congratulations to Heather Cooper Kim as CTA Star of the Year

The Team Lansing Foundation, along with the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau (GLCVB), is pleased to recognize Heather Cooper Kim, CTA as the Greater Lansing Certified Tourism Ambassador Star of the Year. Kim was honored at the Greater Lansing CVB Annual Meeting held on March 2, 2023 at the The Venue By Eleven 11 Events in Lansing.

Thank you, Hospitality Heroes

Choose Lansing^TM acknowledged the following local businesses as Hospitality Heroes:

Lansing Center, Morton’s Fine Catering, Marriott East Lansing at University Place and Lansing Brewing Co. - The hospitality community came together to share staff to help the Lansing Center serve 1,000+ guests at the 2023 MLK Day of Celebration.

Holiday Inn Express – Okemos – The hotel gathered supplies and housed people affected by the Knob Hill Apartments fire at the end of December 2022.

Saddleback BBQ – Owners gave back by paying off school lunch debts, helping fellow restaurants in need and donating to those impacted by the Knob Hill Apartments fire.

Pictured left to right: Matt Gillett, Saddleback BBQ; Bethany Morton, Morton’s Fine Catering; Pat Gillespie, Lansing Brewing Company; Tristan Wright, Lansing Center/LEPFA; Amanda Allen, Marriott East Lansing; and Veronica Estrella, Holiday Inn Express-Okemos.

Ways to Support MSU

After the tragedy at MSU, we’ve seen an outpouring of community members looking for ways to support our Spartans.

One way to help is to donate to the Spartan Strong Fund created by MSU. This fund will be used to support students, faculty, and staff with mental health services, campus safety enhancements, and more. Donate here: Spartan Strong. You can also purchase an official Spartan Strong t-shirt with 100% of the profits going toward the Spartan Strong fund.

Your support can make a difference regardless of where you are, or your connection to Michigan State. Find more ways to support, as well as other resources on Michigan State University's website.

Attend the May CTA & Member Mixer

Join us for the Greater Lansing CVB & Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce Joint Mixer on May 9, 2023 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Jackson Field, home of the Lansing Lugnuts, at 501 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing.

This event is sponsored by Tri-Star Trust Bank.

Julie Pingston Elected to MACVB

Julie Pingston has been elected as Treasurer to the Michigan Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus (MACVB).

The MACVB is made up of 50 members of Convention and Visitor Bureaus throughout the State of Michigan. The organization's mission is to serve as advocates for the travel industry and provide leadership to its members through education and communication.

Congratulations, Julie!

Lansing SkyBridge Re-Opened

On Wednesday, February 8, 2023 the Lansing SkyBridge re-opened to the public after closing for renovations. Newly added features include energy-efficient interior and exterior lighting, new exterior architectural panels, security system, ventilation system, and carpet; and accessibility improvements.

The SkyBridge is an important part of downtown Lansing as it provides pedestrian traffic the ability to easily move between the Radisson and the Lansing Center.

Pictured left to right: Chris Swope, city of Lansing; Scott Keith, LEPFA; Calvin Jones, BWL; Lansing Mayor Andy Schor, Julie Pingston, GLCVB and Kenric Hall, Radisson Hotel