Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism returned to its annual in-person rotation among venues this week — which in 2021 meant the City of Detroit and our own Motor City Casino Hotel. [1-4]
As a reflection of official state position on visitor attraction, organizer requirements regarding COVID-19 protocols were noteworthy. Proof of vaccination or “negative COVID test 72 hours before the conference” was required for attendance. Additionally, masks were “required, regardless of vaccination status in all indoor settings ….” [5,6]
According to the CDC, 58.6% of all Michigan residents have received their first dose of any vaccine, 54.3% have completed the applicable protocol. [7]
One of the key points of focus for recognition this year was the Monroe County Museum System “Save Our Stories” campaign. The Conference broadly focused on museums as a means to help “strengthen communities and contribute not only to the quliaty of life and placemaking, but as an economic driver in heritage tourism. [8,9]
Notwithstanding budgetary challenges that have impacted key promotional efforts such as the “Pure Michigan” campaign, Michigan venues remain strong in substance when it comes to visitor experience. [10,11]
Case in point: The statewide Iron Belle Trail. As part of work on enhancement of its own nature exploration, hiking, and bicycle network, the city of Trenton leveraged their resources by connecting to the Downriver Linked Greenways. [12-14]
In a summary of Trenton as a “Pure Michigan Trail Town,” Conference organizers added the following. “Trenton developed a Trail Town Master Plan and together with its Parks and Recreation master plan, laid the framework to promote community access to the waterfront, a walkable downtown, and a healthy way of living.
Trenton has both access to water trails by being located on the Detroit River, as well as biking and walking trails that are now linked to the Michigan Iron Belle Trail, as well as the Downriver Linked Greenways.
‘Michigan is home to four seasons of trails, with a wide variety of great trails and trail towns,’ said Michael Morrison, Pure Michigan Trail Program Manager at the MDNR. ‘With its expanding trail network and location along the Michigan Iron Belle Trail and Detroit River American Heritage River Trail, the city of Trenton is uniquely positioned to receive Pure Michigan Trail Town Status.’
The trails and towns that receive this designation are identified as among the best of the best in the state of Michigan, promoting healthy lifestyles, conserving natural resources, and providing a catalyst for economic activity in their communities.
Returning to where visitors were encouraged to focus in preparation for this 2021 event, Pfizer and Grand River Aseptic Manufacturers front line workers were spotlighted “for their work to produce and distribute lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines ….” [15,16]
Although still more aspirational than present, this was claimed to be allowing people to “live fully and resume traveling safely” — as no doubt everyone in attendance and reading this article is most anxiously anticipating.
References
- “Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism” Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
- “Back On: Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference On Tourism Launches Nov 2” Amy Lane (August 2021) Traverse City Business News.
- Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) (home page).
- Motor City Casino-Hotel (home page).
- “Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)” CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- “Novel Coronavirus Reports” CDC.
- “Coronavirus: COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard” (November 7, 2021) Michigan.
- “Save Monroe’s Stories” Monroe County Museum System.
- “[Preservation Glossary] Today’s Word: Heritage Tourism” National Trust for Historic Preservation.
- “Pure Michigan Is Back: Rebooted Ad Campaign Gets $15 Million State-Funded Boost” (January 5, 2021) Michigan Business Network.
- “Pure Michigan campaign reboots with $30M appropriation” Mark Sanchez (October 24, 2021) MiBiz.
- “Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail” Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
- “Parks & Recreation” City of Trenton.
- Downriver Linked Greenways (home page).
- Pfizer (home page).
- Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing (home page).
