Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/29859
W i t h the buzz these days that the travel/meet- ings/hospitality arena is on the rebound, what better time than to seek the sage advice of sea- soned movers and shakers to give their take on the state of our industry? As we do each year, we put several questions to some of the top CVB heads in the industry in an effort to share their knowledge with those seeking solutions to the daunting chal- lenges faced by many destination reps and planners. Below are the three questions, followed by their answers in their own words. Many industry observers claim that business has improved slightly during 2010 and anticipate it will return to pre-recession levels by late 2011 or early 2012. What is your assessment of the industry’s recovery? How, if at all, will you adjust and fine tune your marketing message as you reach out to potential business, meeting and leisure travelers who may feel tentative about booking business during such uncertain times in 2011? What makes your destination especially visitor friendly and cost effective for travelers during these economically challenging times? TOMNOONAN, PRESIDENT & CEO, BALTIMORE AREA CVA In Baltimore we’ve already started to see signs of a recovery in terms of hotel occupancy and rate so I would agree with that assessment.We should be back to close where we were in terms of business travel, corporate, pharmaceutical business and association business will continue to rebound in the coming years. The United States is posed for recovery this year and into early 2012. Our best marketing message is the fact that we are hosting the launch of Reed Travel’s TOM NOONAN AIBTM in June.We are encouraging meeting planners to sign up to be a hosted buyer where their travel and lodging will be paid for in exchange for them meeting with exhibitors at AIBTM. It’s our opportunity to have 3,000 meeting planners here in Baltimore to see first- hand how much Baltimore has changed as a meetings destination. Planners will be able to discover the changes taking place throughout the city from the new green roof at the Convention Center to the free hybrid shuttle buses now running through downtown.We’ve had a number of new hotels open downtown 20 Black Meetings & Tourism March/April 2011: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com BY GLORIA M. HERBERT