Detroit's brand.

For better or worse, Detroit is a world renown city. The city's history and reputation are what set the Detroit area apart from nearly every other region on the Rust Belt. Yet, I don't get the sense that the regional decision makers realize that they can turn the brand of Detroit into an economic driver.

Pure Michigan is/was a great campaign. But are there any serious plans for a tourism campaign to specifically market the Detroit area? Something more than "let's meet in the D", which came off as being corny IMO. Other cities have already proven that tourism is as good [[or better) a way to fill hotels as business travel [[http://www.nycedc.com/NewsPublicatio...%20tourism.pdf). All Detroit has to do is step up to the plate and effectively use the brand power that it already owns.

I've noticed that Chrysler -- of all entities -- has lately been proactive in embracing brand Detroit. They have a TV spot advertising the Caravan that I've seen running in NYC [[so I assume it's a national ad), that ends something like "it's time to drive Detroit again". Why can't the region likewise use its name for its own gain?

Thoughts?

Well, growing up in Detroit has been seen as being tough and unpredictable by people in my new home in Los Angeles. Its often followed with a "OH, from DETROIT" , followed by some time of a nod and the telling of others "HEY, he is from DETROIT".........Then no one really EFF'S with me from then on EVER...LOL. How do you turn that into a tourist draw?

I find it amusing, but pretty across the board. I dont remark on it to be negative, just info on something i see. Id love to see Detroit recover. Ideally Id love to see that be because of its wonderful historic buildings and friendly people [[no matter what outsiders think).


People I run across who have visited [[usually for some distant kinda family connection) have left with nice things to say, but never seem to have anything specific to say, nor know where they really were [[IE city boundaries) or what they saw. So even tho pleasant, nothing really stands out to them in memory.

Go to filmdetroit.com to see how Detroit markets itself to the film industry.

Go to detroitsports.org to see how Detroit markets itself to sports event organizers

Go to visitdetroit.com to see how Detroit markets itself to meeting planners.

When Detroit gets a coherent plan for reinventing itself from the downtown to the neighborhoods,and follows through with it, then it will be attractive to a lot of investors, immigrants, and tourists.

It has to market itself as a new kind of city and of course if the big 3 are smart, they should invest in this theme.

The recipe is not an easy bake but it can be done if people from the bottom up get involved in community affairs, and dont let themselves be bullied into accepting a bunch of other 200 million dollar casinos etc...

The suburbs need to feel this is something they can gain from since they dont for now seem to give a crap.

The corporate sector neds to get involved in the creation of this branding, not shy away from the negative issues that mar Detroit's image. The Kresge foundation is doing the best they can do. It's a lot more difficult to take the lead on something so vast and perilous than say fund PBS shows or school lunch programs. They are actually engaging the city in a dialogue for a positive change unlike some of the past mistakes repeated time and again for short term gain.

Detroit has an advantage over most big cities in that property values can attract transformative projects on existing quality buildings. The vacant land wont be that much of an issue if the plan is well thought out. Detroit has a lot to offer planners because it needs new solutions. If Detroit keeps demolishing its empty heritage buildings to put up new ones, then it wont attract positive attention. If it keeps shooting itself in the foot, saying yes to bigger highways and the lack of parking space and such, then it will fail and deserve to fail.

The city administration should put a moratorium on new building util the plan comes about later this year. This would show that they mean business.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by n7hn

Well, growing up in Detroit has been seen as being tough and unpredictable by people in my new home in Los Angeles. Its often followed with a "OH, from DETROIT" , followed by some time of a nod and the telling of others "HEY, he is from DETROIT".........Then no one really EFF'S with me from then on EVER...LOL. How do you turn that into a tourist draw?

---

I get a similar "OMG, you're from Detroit?" reaction from people that I meet too. But I also think that there is a general curiosity about the city from outsiders -- especially foreigners -- and Detroit doesn't do a good job of tapping into that for economic benefit.

I have a coworker who is planning to visit Detroit this summer because she thinks of it as America's music mecca. She was born and raised in NYC, but reads a lot about Motown. She's always quizzing me about such as what Cass Tech is like now, and whether the Brewster Projects still exist.