What makes your city a top meeting/convention destination? An exciting new convention center opening in late 2008 less than four miles from one of the nation's 10 busiest airports, in a destination known for its great weather. We target medical industry associations - but not at the exclusion of other groups. We are surprisingly busy during the summer because of our low rates, and our new convention center will be surrounded in shade. We can easily accommodate 3,000 to 8,000 attendees.
Tell us about a meeting you're thrilled to have just signed on or a recent meeting you're very pleased with.
There's Super Bowl XLII next month - we were the lead organization on that successful bid. The National Conference on Tobacco or Health recently chose Phoenix for its annual meeting for 4,000 delegates in June 2009.
What is your perspective on destination leadership?
Five years ago, we borrowed a page from successful neighborhood associations that had moved their local agendas forward. That grassroots effort provided funding for our new convention center, restored to local CVBs marketing dollars that had been slashed the prior year, and established formula funding for the Arizona Office of Tourism.
What is your city's roadmap for the future?
A bustling, vibrant urban core is emerging. Arizona State University has opened a 15,000-student downtown campus; 20 miles of light rail begins operation in 2009; a new medical campus for research is under way; the third phase of our genomics research facility is coming out of the ground; new downtown hotels have been announced; condos and a boutique grocery store are being built; and there's the new convention center. We also have a strategy to follow the Super Bowl and the 2009 NBA All-Star Weekend with bids for Major League Baseball's All-Star Weekend and NCAA Final Fours … and, yes, more Super Bowls.
What green initiatives is your city and/or convention center undertaking?
The Phoenix Convention Center was designed and is being built with LEED certification as the goal. Certified wood products and adhesives, as well as carpeting and paints with low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions are being used in its construction. The facility also incorporates extensive solar paneling, desert landscaping, and computerized tracking for heating and air conditioning levels. Our catering firm will feature sustainable menus and reusable utensils.
How do you see the role of the bureau changing in the future?
In the next economic downturn, local governments' memories of our successes over the past six years will fade, and CVBs will need to step into visible advocacy roles. Our industry needs to be "sexier." Most people out there don't have a great impression of the word "tourist," but we can't seem to move on to another term, such as "guests" or even "visitors." We need to emulate economic development entities that have evolved from pursuing "high tech" to "biotech" to today's "knowledge-based" industries.
What is your biggest challenge as a DMO?
Burgeoning alternative facilities for large meetings - and not just in Las Vegas. DMAI, along with IAAM, has produced an evolving "Best Practices" template that many of us are using to enhance the client experience. Look for that process to have PCMA member input during 2008.