Member Newsletter
November 2024
President's Message

The month of October is always a whirlwind of activity and the Choose Lansing and Lansing Sports Commission teams have been immersed in so many opportunities throughout the month.
As we continue to grow the meetings market, our sales staff attended the Small Market Meetings Tradeshow, the Grand Rapids Meetings Marketplace and worked here locally with the MSU Travel Arrangers to get in front of potential clients to bring event business to our community.
The Lansing Sports Commission hosted many impactful events in October and there were also some exciting announcements for the future. The NCAA Division 1 Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Regionals will take place at Forest Akers in 2026, the 2028 National Collegiate Bowling Finals will be held at Royal Scot Golf & Bowl and the NAIA Men’s and Women’s Bowling National Championships will take place at Royal Scot in 2026 and 2027.
Members of the marketing team attended the Design + Accessibility Summit, MACVB Annual Conference, Content Marketing World, and Adobe MAX to stay connected with the industry and enhance the creative process. We also began working with Wheel the World to map our accessibility features to be showcased on our website and the Wheel the World website.
We’ve presented the 2025 Business Plan and are finalizing the 2025 Budget for the organization. And, last but not least, we’ve wrapped up our membership renewals and thank all of you for your continued support and collaboration! Looking forward to a great 2025! As always, please reach out to me at jpingston@lansing.org if I can assist you in any way. Thank you!
Join us for an informative session on the upcoming Labor & Employment law changes taking effect on February 21, 2025. These new regulations include mandatory paid sick leave of 72 hours for all workers, and an increase minimum wage to $15, with the elimination of the tip wage by 2030. This legislation has significant implications for all Michigan Business Owners.
Foster Swift will lead the discussion, providing expert insights and answering your questions on these impactful updates. Don't miss the opportunity to understand how these changes may affect your business and what steps you can take to ensure compliance.
Multiple dates are available.
- Register to Attend on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
- Virtual Option - Register to Attend on December 9, 2024, from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
All in-person sessions will be held at the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce on the 2nd floor at 500 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing, MI 48912.
Choose Lansing® is excited to announce that Cindy Holmes, CTA will be transitioning into the new role of Membership & Visitor Services Coordinator. In addition to her current duties coordinating visitor services, Cindy will join Melissa Nay in helping with member engagement and events.
Meet CindyThanks to everyone who joined us at Zap Zone XL on October 10, 2024 for the fall CTA & Member Mixer!
Highlights
Join us for this FREE seminar. This 2-hour program is presented by Justin Moore of Spartan Krav Maga. It will give you and your organization the tools to help deal with the unexpected. The presenter will show participants what to look out for and what to do in a bad situation.
When: Monday, November 18, 2024
Time: 9-11 a.m.
Where: The session will be held on-site at the Choose Lansing Office, 500 E. Michigan Ave., Ste. 180, Lansing, MI 48912.
Read MoreCelebrate the magic of the season at the 41st Annual Silver Bells in the City on Friday, November 21, 2025! This cherished tradition features a festive atmosphere filled with music, dazzling light displays, and holiday cheer!
Enjoy a colorful electric light parade, the lighting of Michigan's official Christmas tree, a vibrant holiday market, a drone show, fireworks finale, and family-friendly activities that capture the spirit of the season! Choose Lansing is also the proud sponsor of the Community Sing featuring Zach Seabaugh from The Voice.
Experience a night of joy, community, and unforgettable memories to kick off the holiday season!
Read MoreJoin the MACVB for a webinar this November that will provide crucial updates on Michigan's electric vehicle (EV) charging station network. Attendees will learn how stakeholders, including hotels, restaurants, and attractions, can qualify for rebates from Consumers Energy.
The session is expected to last between 25 and 35 minutes, offering valuable insights into money-saving opportunities for local businesses.
Interested participants can register through the following link: Webinar Registration. A Zoom link will be sent out 24 hours prior to the event.
Register to AttendJoin Us for a FREE Seminar!
We invite you to our Choose Lansing office in downtown Lansing for a two-hour introductory class on First Aid, CPR, and AED. This session is designed to equip you with essential skills to handle emergencies confidently until professional help arrives.
Led by our certified trainer, the class features a dynamic and hands-on approach, utilizing a National Safety Council curriculum backed by industry experts in occupational first aid training.
Please Note: This class provides foundational knowledge only and does not include a full certification certificate
Monday, December 9, 2024 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Choose Lansing Office, 500 E. Michigan Ave. Ste 180.
Register to Attend
As the holiday season approaches, we encourage you to submit your coupons and deals through the member portal. Whether it's a special discount on gifts, festive meals, or holiday activities, sharing these valuable offers allows visitors to enjoy the season without breaking the bank.
Read MoreAre you featuring a special Thanksgiving meal? We’d love to help promote it! Please send your Thanksgiving meal details to Lori Lanspeary at llanspeary@lansing.org or Amie Lucas at alucas@lansing.org, and we'll include it on our Holiday Activities & Events and on social media.
New Members
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Read MoreSign up for free member portal training! In-person and zoom options are available.
Stay In the Know with the Member Portal:
- Access the convention calendar – see who’s in town. Great for outbound marketing
- Update your business website listing for both lansing.org and lansingsports.org
- Update your contact information
- Update your photos within your website listing
- Offer a discount or special offer coupon
- Connect with industry peers
- Respond to Hotel, Meeting Facility, or Sports Venue leads
- Pay Membership Dues Invoice
- Post a hospitality job opening on the website
- Post a public event to the website
- Order Visitor Guides
MHSAA Soccer Finals
Grand Ledge High School | November 2, 2024
Area Agencies on Aging Assn of Michigan
DoubleTree | Nov 4-5, 2024 | 250 attendees
MI Art Education Association – Annual Fall Conference
Lansing Center | Nov 6-9, 2024 | 300 attendees
Back to the Hardwood Volleyball Tournament
IM West at Michigan State University | November 9-10, 2024 | 720 Athletes
SHAPE MI – SHAPE Conference 2024
Lansing Center | Nov 9-10, 2024 | 200 attendees
Macomb Intermediate School District – MiMTSS Conference November Symposium
Lansing Center | Nov 12-13, 2024 | 600 attendees
Tremaine Dance Conventions – 2024 Tremaine Dance
Lansing Center | Nov 14-17, 2024 | 500 attendees
Pantheon
MSU Communication Arts and Sciences Building | November 15-17, 2024 | 500 Athletes
Community Mental Health Assn of Michigan – 2024 Home and Community Based Waiver Conference
Lansing Center | Nov 17-18, 2024 | 500 attendees
YMCA MI Youth in Government – 2024 November Program
Crowne Plaza | Nov 24-16, 2024 | 300 attendees
Black and Blue Roller Derby
Ingham County Fairgrounds | November 29 - December 1, 2024 | 250 Athletes
MSAE’s 2024 Annual Conference
Kellogg Center | December 2-4, 2024 | 250 Attendees
Esports - MHSEL Fall Championships
Michigan State University | December 7 | 150 Athletes
PNL Wrestling Championships
Lansing Center | December 6-8, 2024
MI Thespian Society - Michigan Thespians a Chapter Affiliate of EDTA 2024
Lansing Center | December 12 -14, 2024 | 1,000 attendees
NUWAY Christmas Sparty Weekend
Lansing Center | December 27-30, 2024 | 1500 Athletes
- Monday, November 16, 2026, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Thursday, February 18, 2027, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 10, 2027, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, April 20, 2027, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Monday, May 17, 2027, 1 p.m. to 5 pm.m.
- Wednesday, June 9, 2027, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
All classes will be located at the Choose Lansing® offices, located at 500 E. Michigan Ave. Ste 180. Free parking is available in the back of the building that can be accessed from both Cedar & Larch Streets. Light refreshments are provided at each class.
Apply to the Kristina Kauffman Scholarship Fund.
Contact Melissa Nay with any questions.at mnay@lansing.org or by phone at 517-377-1410.
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September 2024 - 58% September 2023 - 58.3% August 2024-62.3% August 2023-63.0% *Source: STR, INC. Republication or other re-use of this data without the express, written permission of STR is strictly prohibited.
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