LANSING, Mich.
The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau (GLCVB) and the Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority (LEPFA) announced a collaborative agreement between the GLCVB and Lansing’s 125,000-square-foot downtown convention center. The key element of the new partnership assigns the Lansing Center’s future sales responsibilities to the GLCVB. This partnership hopes to leverage the sales expertise and success of the GLCVB to strategically grow group business and revenues of the Lansing Center.
“Due to an upward trend in overall group bookings for the region, a more efficient booking process has become necessary for the community as a whole,” said Jack Schripsema, president and CEO of the GLCVB. “The Lansing Center ... is a critical asset to the future tourism growth of our region. We continue to work with hospitality partners to make Greater Lansing a destination where it’s easy to do business.”
According to LEPFA President and CEO Scott Keith, Lansing Center revenues and occupancy have increased by 30% since greater collaboration efforts with the GLCVB began five years ago. The economic impact of the Lansing Center has increased over $10 million during that same period, Keith said.
Two new members of the GLCVB staff will be dedicated to Lansing Center sales and report to the Vice President of Business Development at the GLCVB. Kristy Doak, CMP, CTA has recently been appointed to the position of Director of Sales for the Lansing Center. She comes to the position after holding previous event planning roles with the Michigan Library Association and the DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids. Penny Saddler, CTA, a long-time Lansing Center employee, will join the GLCVB staff as Lansing Center Sales Manager.
For more information on the Lansing Center, visit https://www.lansingcenter.com/.
