Meeting News - March 23, 2009 - (Page 16)

94 St. Charles 88 90 Rosemont Chicago Oak Brook Moline 74 80 39 55 57 MIDAMERICA REGIONAL Going for Gold A finalist for hosting the 2016 Olympics, Chicago eyes long-term meetings growth By Matt Alderton Although the global economic downturn is stunting development, job growth, and travel worldwide, at least four cities are counting on a silver lining to improve their economic outlook this fall, when the International Olympic Committee names the host city for the 2016 Summer Games. Among the four finalists along with Tokyo, Madrid, and Rio de Janeiro, Chicago could be the first Midwestern city to host the Olympics since St. Louis, which hosted the 1904 Summer Games. Should Chicago host the Games, the city predicts a decade’s worth of economic growth that will generate tax revenue, create jobs, and further improve the city’s viability as a major convention destination. To support its forecast, Chicago’s Olympic committee, Chicago 2016, recently commissioned an independent economic-impact study to quantify the benefits of being an Olympic host. Released in December, the results suggested that the 2016 Olympics will stimulate as much as $22.5 billion of incremental economic activity in Illinois—$13.7 billion in Chicago alone—between 2011 and 2021. “The long-term legacies and lasting impact of the Games are perhaps the greatest benefits of being a host city,” said Chicago 2016 chairman and CEO Patrick G. Ryan. Past host cities tend to agree. Spokespeople from both Los Angeles and Atlanta—which hosted the 1984 and 1996 Summer Games, respectively—told MeetingNews that the Olympics were a catalyst for both short- and long-term economic growth that left a lasting impression on their local meetings markets. “The Olympics really demonstrated Los Angeles as a meetings venue, and showed people that we were very capable of accommodating extremely large groups,” said Carol Martinez, a senior spokeswoman for LA Inc., the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau. “There were many people who for several years afterwards came to Los Angeles because they saw it on television and wanted to go there.” Echoed Spurgeon Richardson, former president and CEO of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, “From a meetings and conventions standpoint, the Olympics really put Atlanta on the map worldwide. It was a once16 MeetingNews March 23, 2009 ILLINOIS Peoria Bloomington Quincy Springfield 72 Champaign Decatur Findlay 55 70 E. St. Louis 64 Mt. Vernon 64 57 Cairo in-a-lifetime opportunity that really strengthened our ability to go out and attract major conventions from around the world.” According to Lori Igleski, Chicago 2016’s director of events, volunteers, and accommodations, because the city plans to use existing event venues, such as Soldier Field and McCormick Place, it has an opportunity to showcase them to global meeting planners and attendees leading up to the Games, as well as during the event. “The seven years we have before the Games will be packed with people preparing to produce them,” Igleski said. “Hotels, restaurants, and conference spaces will benefit just from people connected to the Games coming to see venues, look for training facilities, and explore hospitality options.” Despite precedent, critics insist that the Olympics’ economic benefits are more imagined than real. Among them is Christopher A. Shaw, author of “Five Ring Circus: Myths and Realities of the Olympic Games.” “Various economic studies from both the left and the right tend to disprove the myth of the Olympics’ economic benefits,” he said. “Tourism does, indeed, increase before, during, and slightly after the Games, but then settles back where it was. Overall spending by tourists benefits a few core sectors—primarily restaurants and hotels near the core of the Olympic city—but doesn’t spill out to other regions, even of the same city, that have paid for the Games, as well.” According to Igleski, it’s all about execution. “You can host the Olympics and do a good job, and you can host the Olympics and do a bad job,” she said. “The mere fact that we’re hosting the Games doesn’t guarantee us all of the suggested benefits; we have to do a good job of execution. If we do, I think there will be a tremendous upside for the city.” Chicago Groups Follow Obama’s Steps Yes you can! Tour Barack Obama’s Chicago with your group, that is. Several tours that show where the president lived, worked, and played in Chicago are now available. About Tours’ fully-narrated tour goes through the Obamas’ Hyde Park neighborhood with a certified guide. It shows where Obama worked at the University of Chicago, the barbershop where he had his hair cut (visitors can sit in the seat), the park where he played basketball, and even the spot where he and wife Michelle first kissed. The tour takes visitors to the historic St. Columbinas Church, where the Obama family’s volunteer work is discussed; the church is also famous for another former parishioner—Al Capone. The tour also shows where the Obama family likes to take walks, their favorite museums, the law office in the Loop where Barack and Michelle met, and the site in Grant Park where Obama made his election night acceptance speech. My Kind Of Town makes sure visitors leave with full stomachs on its tours. They take in Medici—known for its “garbage pizza” (with everything on it) and “Obama Eats Here” T-shirts—and Valois Cafe, a lunch counter formerly frequented by the president, selling a $5 Obama special: two sausages, an egg-white omelette, hash browns, toast, and a mug of coffee. Visitors can also check out the more upscale eatery Spi- A painting of president aggia ($100 and up Obama getting coiffed. per person) on Oak Street. The Obamas’ Valentine’s destination (and considered among Chicago’s best Italian restaurants), Spiaggia offers a view of Lake Michigan and is available for buyouts. Said My Kind of Town Tours owner Marsha Goldstein: “Not only do people want to eat in the same place, they want to eat in the same chair. Everyone that comes here wants to know about his life here.” Women particularly like visiting the salon of Michelle Obama’s designer, Maria Pinto, Goldstein said. Men like the basketball court at 63rd and Hayes, where Craig Robinson was dispatched to check out the game of his sister’s suitor. Obama passed the ball, and passed the test. I —Michael Goldstein www.meetingnews.com http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - March 23, 2009 Contents What’s Up @ MeetingNews.com Meetings Mean Business As 'Meeting Matter' Marriott Unveils Promo Columbus, OH, Addresses Convention Hotel Issues People Making News Orlando Strives for Cost Transparency Is Biz-Class Air Travel Dead? Greenest Planner Awards Mid America Insider Report: Conference Centers Destination Insider: Mississippi Gulf Coast Las Vegas Destination Insider: Cleveland Ad Index Live from the Forum

Meeting News - March 23, 2009

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