The purpose of this 1-˝ day event is to help stimulate tourism-related investments by increasing the investment community’s awareness of the many development opportunities available in Michigan.

The Forum will feature panel discussions and presentations on topics of importance to the tourism development and investment community, presented by industry leaders from both the private and public sectors.  Scheduled panel moderators and their planned session topics include:

MSU Provost Lou Anna K. Simon (welcome address)

James Burba, President, Horwath Hospitality Investment Advisors (The Investment Climate for the Lodging Industry);

Joel W. Hiser, CEO, Horwath Hospitality Investment Advisors (Finance: Finding the Money);

Peggy Berg, President, The Highland Group (Designing, Renovating & Repositioning Hotels);

Dr. Ronald C. Fisher, Professor of Economics, Michigan State University (The State of the Economy: Is it a Good Time to Invest in Tourism?); 

Dr. John D. Warbach, Principal, Planning and Zoning Center, Inc. (Development Zones, Land Use and the Environment); 

Dr. Donald F. Holecek, Director, Travel, Tourism and Recreation Resource Center at Michigan State University (Attractions: Job Creators, Traffic Generators, & Revenue Enhancers);

Wanda Spencer, President, The Spencer Group (Asset Management);

William Sheffer, Director, Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds (The Investment Climate for Commercial Recreation Enterprises);

George Zimmerman, Vice President, Travel Michigan (The State of the Michigan Tourism Industry: Cool Cities);

Dr. H. Christopher Peterson of the Michigan State University Product Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources (Consumer Trends: Implications for Tourism Development);

Plus many others!

Information and networking opportunities will be offered across the full range of developments with the potential to attract tourists: lodging properties (both small and large), casinos, marinas, campgrounds, spas, festivals and events, and shopping complexes, in projects that vary in scale from small to large.  Emphasis will be placed not only on new developments, but also on the expansion or renovation of existing properties.  In effect, the forum will be an efficient market where all of the players engaged in tourism development and operations are present in one place and at one time with the mutual objective of “making deals.” 

Forum sponsors include the Michigan Economic Development Corporation; the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University; the Michigan Hotel, Motel and Resort Association; the Michigan State University Product Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources; the Tourism Industry Coalition of Michigan; and the Hyatt Regency-Dearborn.

For more information and registration information, please visit the Forum's web site at www.tourism.msu.edu/forum or call Alex Nikoloff at the Travel, Tourism, and Recreation Resource Center at 517-353-0793 or by e-mail at nikoloff@msu.edu.