GIVING BACK

BORDER TO BORDER TRAIL, ANN ARBOR STATE CAPITOL, LANSING

How members support their communities and the environment and help visitors do the same By Kelly Skarritt-Williams

CONVENTION AND VISITOR BUREAUS (CVBs) are key participants in the communities they serve. They know the ins and outs of the community and where they can best provide service or have an impact. For that reason, they are uniquely situated to help event planners find ways to give back, or make eco-conscious decisions. For meeting planners looking to bring in some environmental considerations or plan a hands-on group activity, the CVB contact can connect you with the right people and organizations to accommodate your group and meet expectations and education goals.

Ann Arbor is a natural fit for an eco-friendly event. Many Ann Arbor restaurants focus on locally sourced food, plant-based cuisine and beverages, as well as sustainable approaches to packaging. Learn about exotic animals while supporting a conservancy at the Creature Conservancy, which works hard to educate visitors about the perils of exotic pet ownership.

Visitors to Ann Arbor can be environmentally conscious when choosing options for lodging, too. Many area hotels are green leaders, committed to sustainability. You will find accommodations with electric car charging stations, low-flow plumbing, energy-efficient lighting, and robust recycling programs. The Destination Ann Arbor staff is ready to help you plan your next event with sustainable options in mind.

Volunteerism is often what makes a community go ’round, and the Sault Ste. Marie CVB strives to model what it preaches. “We have worked hand in hand with the Downtown Development Authority to support their Michigan Main Street Project initiative to help improve the area through renovation, beautification and a renewed spirit of volunteerism among the community,” says Linda Hoath, executive director of the Sault Ste. Marie CVB.

Sault Ste. Marie CVB donates time and effort to raise money every year to support good causes in the area. “The Sault Ste. Marie CVB has assisted our youth through donations to sports teams, our veterans through a fishing club, our Chippewa County Historical Society, renovations to a historic ice rink and

so much more. On top of helping groups of people, we have always been committed to helping a healthier, more active community by donating to trail systems and water trail systems too,” Hoath says.

For some CVBs, being environmentally responsible is one way they give back to their communities. “We are committed to helping our region protect and conserve our tourism assets,” said Mary Beth Stutzman, President and CEO of the Alpena Area CVB. “We advocate for responsible development, especially along the shorelines of Lake Huron. We also recently donated $5,000 to Alpena to help repair erosion and damage caused by high wind and wave action along our shoreline.”

Marquette County also is committed to preserving the natural environment, ensuring that its lovely current views remain pristine for tomorrow’s generations, and encourages visitors to do the same. “Marquette County asks visitors to pledge that they will respect the trails and lakes and observe the ‘leave no trace’ principles,” said Susan Estler, executive director of Travel Marquette.

The Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau Services team can share multiple resources with event planners looking to give back while they are in town. “From raking leaves at the zoo to packing items at the food bank, the GLCVB can make those connections,” says Tracy Padot, vice president of marketing communications for the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau. As the first CVB in Michigan to implement a certified tourism ambassador program in 2010, the organization has more than 500 frontline hospitality staff trained to help accommodate any request a group may have. The GLCVB team strives to provide a positive visitor experience leading to happy attendees which creates content planners and, ultimately, repeat bookings.

FISHING TOURNAMENT IN SAULT STE. MARIE Get Connected

ALPENA AREA CVB visitalpena.com 989.340.2288

DESTINATION ANN ARBOR AnnArbor.org 734.995.7281

GREATER LANSING CVB lansing.org 517.487.6800

SAULT STE. MARIE CVB saultstemarie.com 800.647.2858

TRAVEL MARQUETTE travelmarquette.com 800.544.4321

DETROIT IS MORE THAN A DESTINATION. IT’S A CONVERSATION.

We have a simple but powerful pledge for meeting attendees who come to Detroit: When you hold your event in our city, you’ll leave a better person — and you’ll leave Detroit a better place.

That’s because convention tourism in Detroit is a win for everyone. Attendees can revel in our world-class facilities, amazing hotels and exciting restaurants. They also connect with our greatest resource: the people who live here and make our communities so dynamic. We’re proud to be the largest Black-majority city in the U.S., home to 50,000 Black-owned businesses and a one-ofa-kind culture of music, art and history. In turn, our local citizens and enterprises — small, large and in-between — prosper when visitors come.

Learn more about our commitment to helping Detroit thrive. DETROIT IS A BLACK WOMAN | MURAL BY NDUBISI OKOYE

Top Left to Bottom Right: Rochelle Riley (Arts and Culture Director, City of Detroit); Tony Whlgn (Whlgn House); Charlie G (Content Creator & Infl uencer); Kwaku Osei-Bonsu (EastEats).