DMCVB Announces Launch of Medical Meetings Initiative

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DETROIT — The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau Wednesday announced the launch of “Think Detroit. Think Medical.”, a collaborative effort of area health care leaders to bring medical-related meetings to Detroit and contribute to the state’s economic recovery.

The announcement was made at the Michigan Health & Hospital Association board of trustees meeting on Mackinac Island. 

“Medical meetings are an untapped market for the metro Detroit region,” said Bob Riney, 2012 chair of the DMCVB and president and chief operating officer of Henry Ford Health System. “[The region] has unique medical assets including physicians and health care leaders who are nationally recognized as experts in their field. We have some of the most innovative practices in health care quality, wellness design, surgical technology and simulation, and more.”

Medical meetings will generate an estimated 18.2 million room nights in competitive cities over the next eight years. The economic impact generated is in excess of $9 billion.

The DMCVB can accommodate meetings of all sizes, with and without exhibit space, in Detroit and surrounding suburbs. The newly renovated Cobo Center is creating a buzz among national meeting planners, according to the DMCVB.

“Detroit’s differentiator is its edginess,” Riney says. “Health care is mission-driven. Our health sciences assets, our diversity … these are our strengths. People want to come and see what makes this region a medical magnet. We can take people behind the scenes to see innovations at work at unique medical destinations. We need to ask for the business.”

A Medical Meetings Advisory Council comprised of senior physicians and executives of the collaborating health systems was announced as part of the launch.

“Health care leaders have agreed to leverage their influence at the national level to help reinvent Michigan starting with the Detroit region,” said Riney. “Health care is a major contributor to the state’s economic recovery. ‘Think Detroit. Think Medical.’ is an example of the positive impact of the state’s health systems working together for the good of the whole.”

For information on “Think Detroit. Think Medical.”, visit www.meetdetroit.com or call: 800-DETROIT (338-7648).

For more information on the DMCVB, go to www.visitdetroit.com.