Experience Grand Rapids will continue marketing the city and the county to visitors and conventioneers around the world.
A new, five-year contract was just announced by the county. Officials say the promotion is working.
“And when they find us, they love us.”
That’s Kent County Administrator/Controller Daryl Delabbio, describing what happens when those who scout out places to hold conferences and conventions find out about all that Grand Rapids and Kent County have to offer.
“The amenities we offer, the service we offer, just the overall environment - people are friendly and there’s a lot to take in in Grand Rapids.”
The list goes on as Delabbio tells us about the new Experience Grand Rapids contract - formerly called the Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention and Visitors Bureau - which markets the area as a 'destination place'.
“This helps us with our economy not only by putting what we call 'heads in beds', (but by) having people come to our area, enjoy our amenities, stay at our hotels and motels, eat at our restaurants.”
The county receives a five percent tax on hotel and motel occupancies, called the Lodging Excise Tax.
And due to what Delabbio calls “remarkable” growth in hotel use, he says the county felt good about a five-year deal with Experience Grand Rapids, versus the previous three-year deals.
Not to mention all the new hotels on the horizon.
This year, Delabbio says they expect revenue to be $8.5 million. That’s up from five years ago when they received about $4.9 million in hotel and motel revenue.
“New hotels are great. That means this is a market that people want to come to.”
