Experience "The D"

No not Dallas. I had the opportunity to speak for MPI and the Detroit CVB last week and I am so glad I did!

I have to admit I pictured Detroit as a run down, filthy, dangerous city--not anymore at least in the key downtown (hey it takes a while to bring a "whole" city back to life --you have to start somewhere.).

I only got to spend a little less than 24 hours there, but I certainly saw enough to peak my interest. The RenCen (Renaissance Center) right on the water where the Marriott is (the view of the river is incredible) was great (more in a later post on that). Neat restaurants springing up, historic buildings being renovated into theaters, Professional baseball, football and hockey all right downtown, Three (and really four if you count two at MGM) casinos. A new three mile River Walk right (wait for it) on the river (clever place to put one right?).

Both fortunately and unfortunately the only other facility than my hotel I got to see was the Motor City Casino--wow! I am not a gambler and casinos I could really take or leave. What did impress me was the architecture and decor of much of it and especially in the new 400 room hotel they are building. And guess what? They want you to stay in your room! Or at least they are not pushing you out. The linens, the furniture, the technology. You won't really care if you leave. The food in their Fine dining restaurant, Iridescence, was incredible both in the way the menu was put together and the presentation itself.

We met Assad Farag (VP of Hotel Operations - equivalent to the GM) whose background is Upscale with an international flavor. He has been at the St Regis in NYC, The Plaza...you get the idea. And his taste and experience shows. His choice of Director of F&B, Lucio Arancibia is from Mandalay Bay among other places, and apparently is quite a chef himself. Brad Baldwin, corporate sales, seems to really be a good and genuine relationship builder and is really enthusiastic about the new facility.

Oh and by the way--if you have not flown into Detroit in a while, you won't recognize it. The last of the old terminals are to be replaced by next year I believe.

Dont' write Detroit off your list. In a few years it is going to be one of the hottest things going and it is well on its way now.

And no - Detroit CVB and Motor City Casino do not know I am writing this. Promise.