Pure Michigan Tourism Update

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
Pure Michigan - TOURISM UPDATE
Facebook Twitter
Connect with the Travel Industry

from the desk of dave lorenz

Winery

Greetings from Germany! I am here in Berlin as part of a Great Lakes USA sales mission to encourage international travel from the German markets to Michigan and our surrounding Great Lakes region. We have had some very productive meetings so far, and it is very encouraging to see the interest in travel opportunities in Michigan. 

In addition to Germany, I will also be traveling to the UK and China in the coming weeks. When we are on these missions talking with tour operators and travel media, it is extremely beneficial to have information on new accommodations, attractions and events happening in the coming year to be able to share and highlight. For international travel, having this information up to a year in advance is ideal so that our agencies in Germany, the UK and China can incorporate it into the meetings and trade shows they represent us at throughout the year. Please send any major announcements on new travel product in your area to Michelle Grinnell at grinnellm@michigan.org so that we can organize and circulate to our in-country agency teams.

Before heading to Germany, I had the opportunity to travel throughout the Thumb region with Governor Snyder and promote travel to this beautiful part of our state. We have spent a lot of time this fall talking about hidden gems Michigan has to offer, and I think the Thumb region certainly is one of those gems. Stops on the tour included 3 North Vineyard & Winery and the Lexington Winery & Brewery, a bike ride along the Lexington to Croswell Bike Path as well as tours of local manufacturing and agriculture facilities. Lunch is always my favorite stop, and we had a great one at the Garfield Inn in Port Austin. These tours are always an important reminder of the vast and diverse leisure travel offerings we have here in Michigan and I want to thank our hosts throughout the day for their time and insight as we continue to build on the successes of the Pure Michigan campaign.

Finally, I want to congratulate our friends and colleagues in the Upper Peninsula for making Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Value Destinations of 2017. Not only did the UP make the list, along with destinations like Morocco, Belize and Venice, it was the only U.S. destination to do so. This is a big, and well-deserved, honor - Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2017 is a collection of the world’s hottest trends, destinations and experiences for the year ahead. The publication highlighted the Upper Peninsula as an under-the-radar destination with stunning natural beauty, charming small towns and attractions including lighthouses, hundreds of miles of beaches and waterfalls with Mackinac Island as a standout visitor draw. By all accounts 2016 was a busy year for the Upper Peninsula’s travel industry, and this recognition will keep that momentum heading into 2017.

Don’t forget to join Pure Michigan and the Michigan Brewers Guild on Twitter next Wednesday, November 2 at 5:30 p.m. ET for a Happy Hour Twitter Chat to celebrate Michigan craft beer. Join the conversation following the hashtag #mibeer and be sure to follow @PureMichigan and @MiBrewersGuild.

Sincerely,
Dave Lorenz, Vice President Travel Michigan  
517-335-0007
lorenzd@michigan.org

Tourism News & Trends

Lonely Planet ranks the best destinations for 2017 (Upper Peninsula)
USA Today – October 25, 2016

Pure Michigan campaign celebrates craft beer industry
Crain’s Detroit Business — October 20, 2016

Pure Michigan Tourism Campaign Focuses on Craft Beer Industry
WCHT 600 – October 19, 2016

Governor, State Officials Tour Thumb in Awareness Visit
WIN 98.5 — October 21, 2016

Drone provides rarely seen view of Tahquamenon Falls
Fox 2 Detroit — October 21, 2016

Historic finds uncovered as Capitol Theatre renovations continue
MLive — October 17, 2016

Hotel prices reflect Detroit’s trendy reputation
Detroit Free Press — October 25, 2016 

Belle Isle adds new playground for children with disabilities
MLive — October 20, 2016

LCS USS Detroit Commissioned in Namesake City
Sea Power Magazine — October 24, 2016 

Ford’s Garage restaurant to open Dearborn location this spring
Dearborn Press & Guide — October 19, 2016

National Cherry Festival names new executive director
UpNorthLive.com – October 25, 2016

Michigan's first snow of the season reported in Upper Peninsula
MLive – October 21, 2016

Amtrak adds Chicago to Michigan trains for Thanksgiving travel
MLive — October 22, 2016

michigan destinations 

Superior is a good companion for the rugged Upper Peninsula
The Blade (Ohio) — October 25, 2016

Audio: The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald and everything maritime honored at Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
KCBX — October 24, 2016

Upgrade a campus visit to Ann Arbor, Madison with Graduate Hotels
Chicago Tribune — October 13, 2016

Escape this weekend to a rustic cabin at one of these Michigan state parks
MLive — October 21, 2016

Michigan’s top fall color spot is: Tunnel of Trees!
Lansing State Journal — October 20, 2016

Haunted or not, Michigan offers unique Halloween events
Lansing State Journal — October 19, 2016

Celebrate Michigan-made spirits during Cocktail Week GR
Pure Michigan Blog — October 25, 2016

pure mIchigan news & updates

Upper Peninsula Among Top Value Destinations in World
Travel Michigan Press Release — October 25, 2016

Peak Color Forecast for October 21-27, 2016
Pure Michigan Fall Color Report 

Pure Michigan Radio Show (Feast and Fear Dinner, Pinckney, The Henry Ford, Grand Rapids)
October 23, 2016 

BEYOND MICHIGAN

Branding Arizona: How ‘Pure Michigan’ portends good things for Arizona’s branding effort
Phoenix Business Journal — October 20, 2016
 
The Best Mountain Bike Trail in Each US State for Beginners (DTE Energy Foundation Trail)
Single Tracks Blog — October 24, 2016

 

Bookmark and Share