Auto Show Draws Crowds, Detroit Keeps Them Here

The Auto Show is a key event for Detroit, and each year it draws media representatives from many industries, not just from the automotive community. One of those key industries is the travel and tourism media, who come not only to check out the newest car models, but also to check out Detroit. They will evaluate the restaurants, the hotels, the transportation, the entertainment and the people. Then they will publish their evaluations in magazines that will be read by millions of people, who might otherwise never know what Detroit has to offer. The businesses in Detroit are very aware of this fact, and are working hard to show the visiting journalists the very best in service and entertainment to make their visit an enjoyable one. The MGM Grand Detroit and MotorCity casinos have both offered special shuttle buses between the casinos, the downtown hotels and Cobo Center, and both have produced special events for members of the media.

Detroit's new restaurants and businesses, including the casinos, must have a dual focus. First, they must generate a loyal following from in and around Detroit. There are over seven million people living within 90 miles of the City of Detroit, and Michiganders have consistently shown a love for entertainment and a willingness to spend money in order to have a good time. It is very important, therefore, for the various entertainment venues in Detroit to provide a positive experience so that those from nearby will travel into the City again and again.

In addition to focusing on providing locals with a great time in Detroit, businesses in the City must also work hard to earn and keep tourism traffic. This is particularly true for Detroit's new gaming industry. The 1999 State of the States: The AGA Survey of Casino Entertainment, published by the American Gaming Association, showed that over 30% of the nation's casino visits originate in the Midwest. This is a larger percentage than any other region of the country. People in this area of the country like to gamble, and they will travel to do so. What Detroit must do is establish itself as a fun and convenient place to come and play. If players can have the same experience as they get in Las Vegas, and cut down on their travel time, they will come back again and again. And with the many things that Detroit and Michigan offer for travelers during all seasons, they will return.

The Auto Show is a part of Detroit's history, and a pivotal building block in the City's future. Once visitors have the chance to really see all that has been done and all that is still being done to revive the City, they will return. We've built it, and with some hard work during windows of opportunity like the Auto Show, and a little encouragement, they WILL come.