Thank you to the more than 900 tourism industry leaders, state and local officials, economic developers, academics, students and others who joined us in the Detroit the past three days at the Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism. It was great to see a record attendance and such a diverse group of attendees at the sessions and networking events. The planning will begin soon for the 2014 conference, which will be at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Traverse City; more to come on that. For those unable to attend, here is the powerpoint from my presentation on Monday.
There was plenty of good news announced at this year’s conference, including the Michigan State University forecast for 2013, which calls for the number of visitors to Michigan to rise by 3% this year, and the spending by those visitors to increase by 5.5%. These gains, if realized, will result in the third consecutive year of advances for the industry – gains which are, in many cases, better than the national average.
We also took time at the conference to reflect on the passing of one our industry’s most important leaders, R.D. “Dan” Musser, Jr., chairman emeritus of Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel. Mr. Musser, as he was called by many of us, was the driving force behind the evolution of this iconic property for decades. It was his vision that led to the doubling of the size of the hotel and the lengthening of the season not just for Grand Hotel but for the entire island. The hotel’s bold and distinctive design and décor is the result of his legendary four-decade partnership with New York City designer Carleton Varney. And Mr. Musser’s influence went far beyond Grand Hotel and Mackinac; he was at the center of industry debate and decision making on every major issue the Michigan tourism industry has faced for a generation.
On a more personal note, my respect and admiration for Mr. Musser come from my own experiences with him. Simply put, he was always there for me and our team. Whatever we needed to advance the industry – advice on a new direction or initiative, rooms to accommodate travel writers or tour operators, help building consensus with other industry leaders – he was always available, generous and supportive. Always.
His well-known attention to detail and care for Grand Hotel guests also were inspirations. Each time I have been at Grand Hotel, he was always a presence, greeting guests in the parlor or as they entered the main dining room. And he was just as active behind the scenes. Several years ago, we were hosting a group of travel journalists on Mackinac, and we were entertaining them at a dinner function at the fort. Grand Hotel provided the catering for this event. I arrived at the fort a few minutes early to make sure we were ready to go, and there was Mr. Musser, checking each warming tray and dinner offering, making sure everything was perfect. This for an event not even being held at the hotel.
We wish the Musser family every comfort during this difficult time. And like so many others, I feel blessed to have known and had time with such a special person.
Safe travels always,
George
For more information, contact George Zimmermann at (517) 335-1862.
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