Detroit Auto Show: New Visitor Village at NAIAS Promotes Metro Detroit Entertainment Options

DETROIT, Dec. 29, 2003 -- The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB) is leading an effort to inform the more than 6,000 visiting journalists and 800,000 consumers at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) that there is more to Detroit than just the Motor City moniker. The bureau, along with several partners in the local hospitality community, will staff a "Visitor Village" in the main concourse of COBO Center throughout the show's run.

The Visitor Village will have take-away information on metro Detroit's growing list of entertainment options and tourism professionals that can answer questions and give recommendations on making the most of your time here. Discount coupons and other giveaways will also be available. Participating attractions include The Henry Ford, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Zoo, Fairlane Town Center, Ford Field, Great Lakes Crossing, Motor City Casino, Motown Historical Museum, the New Detroit Science Center, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Walter P. Chrysler Museum.

"This is a spectacular opportunity for our tourism industry," said Michael O'Callaghan, executive vice president and COO of the DMCVB. "These international journalists represent opinion-makers from around the world and we have a chance to educate them as to Detroit's tourism revitalization efforts."

O'Callaghan credited the generosity of the Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) for green-lighting this project with prime positioning near the statue of Joe Louis and COBO's main entrance.

"We work with the DADA every year to accommodate visiting journalists from a hospitality perspective. The customized attractions map we've produced for the last two years, highlighting restaurants and nightclubs that are within walking distance of the show, is one example of that. This Visitor Village takes it to the next level."

Drive-in visitors and local residents are an equally important audience for this information, according to O'Callaghan.

"They are the potential repeat customers to all of the attractions being represented. This gives us a chance to interact with a huge audience and invite them to take advantage of everything our area has to offer. It comes at a great time, when the post-holiday slump has people looking for a chance to get out of the house and see something new."

The Visitor Village will have the same hours of operation as the auto show.