Page 21 - LRCC FOCUS March 2020

#LOVELANSING

Jack Schripsema, GLCVB President/CEO Retiring March 19

AFTER A LONG AND SUCCESSFUL CAREER in the hospitality Focus: Nightlife, particularly in downtown Lansing has seen quite an uptick
industry, Jack Schripsema, CTA, president and CEO, the past few years. How is the increase in entertainment options changing the
has announced his retirement from the Greater Lansing dynamic in the community?
Convention and Visitors Bureau (GLCVB). Schripsema
plans to step down on March 19. Schripsema: It is so important, particularly for segments like our group meeting
sector. Our central location has always been something that we’ve used to our
Schripsema joined the GLCVB in 2012 and has been advantage. With all the added restaurants and fun entertainment options, we
instrumental driving overnight visitation, topping the are bringing back groups that haven’t been here in years. We’ve able to maintain
one million room night mark in 2016. Schripsema’s a safe region that is easy to navigate. We now have reasonably priced, big city
leadership and passion for the industry was recognized amenities with a family-friendly, small-town feel.
with multiple awards, including being named CVB Star Schripsema
of the Year at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism Focus: You have been instrumental in securing funding from the legislature for
and earning a Michigan Meetings and Events Lifetime Achievement Award. the Heritage Hall? What will the impact be once that opens?

Schripsema shared some thoughts about his tenure with Focus Magazine. Schripsema: That is going to be one of the biggest game-changers for tourism.
The Capitol is one of the critical assets in our community. Heritage Hall will
Focus: What has been some of GLCVBs best accomplishments during your make it much more accessible to visitors. What I envision will be like the
tenure? national mall on a smaller scale. Families coming to Lansing will make that
part of their experience. It will become a must-see activity. I don’t think we have
Schripsema: We’ve had eight years of tourism growth in our region. Every any idea yet how much impact that will have on tourism in greater Lansing.
three years, we have Anderson Economic Group do a study on local tourism.
In 2018 we had 5.3 million visitors, which is a half-million increase over Focus: What do you see as the most important priorities for the region from a
2015. Those visitors spent about $680 million directly at local businesses. The tourism standpoint in the next few years?
economic impact to the region was more than $1.1 billion.
Schripsema: Infrastructure. You don’t have to ride around this area too much
Focus: There are hundreds more hotel rooms available in Lansing than there to know that we have real issues with roads and streetscapes. We need to make
were a few years ago. How has the changing landscape impacted tourism? the entrances to our community much more welcoming. I’d like to see a couple
more game-changers. What if we had a water Park like a Great Wolf Lodge-
Schripsema: Since 2015, eight new hotels have opened in our region, adding type of facility.
850 rooms a night in added inventory to the region. The development occurred
because developers are seeing the growth of tourism in the region and have We’re doing well in sports-related tourism but could take things to the next
been willing to invest in new hotels, which is going to foster more development. level if we had a Legacy Center — an all-purpose indoor/outdoor sports facility
I don’t think this is the end of it. I think it is the beginning. with everything under one roof. n

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