Detroit, MI Event Planning

Key Highlights

Hotels	260
Total Sleeping Rooms	39,128
Committable Meeting Rooms*	76
Largest Exhibit Space	2,400,000 Sq. Ft.
Largest Ballroom	27,200 Sq. Ft.
Average Hotel Room Rate	USD $91
Average Daily Meal Cost	USD $56
Average Weekly Car Rental	USD $337
*Maximum for a single hotel

Detroit, MI Meeting Planning Overview

Welcome to the Detroit Meeting and Event Planning Guide, written with meetings planners in mind. With over 30,000 hotel rooms and one of the largest meeting centers in the Midwest, Detroit is a notable location for any meeting or event. The COBO Center, Detroit's premier convention location, offers 2.4 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space, stunning views of the riverfront and a convenient location near the majority of Detroit's most visited attractions. Also nearby are over 30,000 hotel rooms at luxurious properties such as the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, the 2nd tallest hotel in North America with 72 floors and 1,246 guest rooms.

Detroit offers the advantage of affordability, especially when compared to cities of similar size. Numerous incentive programs are available that reduce the costs associated with conducting out-of-town business. Northwest Airlines offers discounted airfare for travelers to Detroit conferences and conventions. The COBO Center also offers discounts for select dates throughout the year.

From old to modern, cultural to recreational, Detroit event venues are numerous and varied. The elegant Fox Theatre, the 2nd largest theater in the nation, seats 4,800 people, while the 115-year-old, Romanesque-style Whitney Mansion enchants 10 to 400 guests for receptions or dinners in its historic rooms. Belle Isle Park, the largest island park in the United States, is an unexpected spot of green among the skyscrapers and highways of the city, with numerous event facilities such as the Detroit Yacht Club and Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory. Guests can also enjoy the view of the entire city by water on the Detroit Princess, an authentic, five-deck riverboat that cruises the Detroit River. Plus, with options to dine or shop in Windsor, Ontario, situated right across the river, Detroit makes for an unexpected international destination.

Major hotel venues in Detroit include luxury casino properties, such as MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino Hotel and Greektown Casino; as well as upscale properties like the Hotel and Westin Cadillac and Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center.

Though industry has shaped much of what the city is today, Detroit certainly knows how to play just as hard as it works. Enjoy gaming at the area’s casino properties; browse among 100 galleries at the Detroit Institute of Art, which houses Vincent van Gogh's Self Portrait, the first Van Gogh painting on public display in the United States. Cheer on the NBA's Detroit Pistons, MLB's Tigers, NFL's Lions or NHL's Red Wings, as all four teams play for Detroit, one of only 13 cities in the nation to be home to professional teams representing four sports. A Tigers or Lions game can be enjoyed from the comfort of each team's new stadium, the 41,000-seat Comerica Park and 78,000-seat Ford Field. As a Midwest oasis to business travelers and pleasure seekers alike, Detroit's picturesque waterfront skyline houses a vibrant and diverse mix of attractions sure to entice any visitor.

Detroit, MI Area Destinations

Troy, MI

About Detroit, MI / Additional Info

Located in the southeast region of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, Detroit holds the title of the only major city in the contiguous United States found north of the Canadian border. Sitting along the Detroit River, this 143-square-mile city is visited by 15.9 million people each year.

Founded in 1701 as a military settlement for the French, Detroit flourished in the 19th century as its waterfront location made it a hub for shipbuilding and manufacturing. At the turn of the 20th century, Henry Ford helped further escalate the city's growth by forever transforming it into the epicenter of the American automobile industry. Ford's legacy pervades today, giving Detroit its nickname as Motor City and attractions such as the Henry Ford Museum and the Automotive Hall of Fame.

The explosion of the automobile industry also brought a wealth of jobs, leading to a population boom of more than 600 percent in the first half of the 20th century. Today nearly one million people reside in the city's borders, and more than four million live within the greater Detroit metropolitan area. Among U.S. cities where African Americans are in the majority, Detroit is considered an important center for black culture and heritage, Detroit serves as home to the Second Baptist Church of Detroit, the oldest African American church in the Midwest, and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History, the largest museum of its kind in the world. Detroit is also the birthplace of Motown music, as Berry Gordy founded Motown Records in the city in 1959, the studio of which is now preserved in the Motown Historical Museum.

Detroit, MI Key Stats for Meeting Planners

Time Zone: Eastern Time (ET)
Convention Center(s):

Cobo Conference & Exhibition Center

Hotel at Convention Center? No
Sleeping Rooms 1 Mile from Convention Center: 0

Airport(s):

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

Destination Type(s):

Golf Destination
Smoke-free Restaurants

Special Event Venues
190
Population
4,296,250
Restaurants
200
Country Code
1
Sales Tax
6.00%
Currency
U.S. Dollar
Standard Tipping Practice
10-20%
Electricity
120V / 60Hz
Official Languages
English

Credit Cards and Travelers Cheques widely accepted? Yes

All average costs based on U.S. Government Per Diem rates as published by the U.S. General Services Administration.

Detroit, MI Area Destinations

	Population	Meeting Hotels	Hotel Rooms	Special Event Venues
Troy, MI	80,980	15	1,889	11

Cities Near Detroit, MI

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Ann Arbor, MI	44 mi	47 min	n/a	N/A
Grand Rapids, MI	160 mi	2 hr 24 min	48 min	USD $250+
Cleveland, OH	167 mi	2 hr 49 min	50 min	USD $375+
London, ON	209 mi	2 hr 18 min	1 hr 5 min	USD $350+
Buffalo, NY	256 mi	4 hr 28 min	1 hr 6 min	USD $375+
Chicago, IL	282 mi	4 hr 31 min	1 hr 9 min	USD $200+
Indianapolis, IN	319 mi	4 hr 56 min	1 hr 10 min	USD $225+
St. Louis, MO	550 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 45 min	USD $250+

Detroit, MI Climate Information

Detroit's location in the northern United States places the city in a continental climate region. Detroit experiences fairly cold winters, with average temperatures struggling to reach the low 30s. January, the city's coldest month, has an average temperature of 23°F. Summer temperatures range from the high 70s to the low 80s.

Moderate snowfall is prevalent from November to April, and average monthly precipitation for the city ranges from two to four inches. The best time to travel to the city is the fall, when precipitation is low and temperatures remain mild.

Meeting Planning in Detroit, MI

Cobo Conference & Exhibition Center

Located on the waterfront, Detroit's COBO Center serves as the centerpiece of the city's meetings and events venues. The massive 2.4 million square foot complex provides ample room for up to 10,000 people in a convenient and picturesque location. With stunning views of the banks of the Detroit River, the center has 80 meeting rooms that comprise 178,446 square feet of the facility's floor space. Over 700,000 square feet of exhibit space provide for one of the largest continuous exhibit floor plans in North America. Adjacent facilities include the 12,191-seat COBO Arena and the 20,525-seat Joe Louis Arena.

The COBO Center boasts numerous amenities, including catering by ARAMARK, and audio-visual equipment. Additionally, 1,000 indoor parking spaces and 1,200 rooftop parking spaces are available. However, guests without a car will find transportation to and from the center easy, as People Mover, Detroit's public transportation rail system, has an indoor station at the center.

Widely considered one of the best convention centers in the Midwest, the COBO Center has hosted a variety of top-tier conventions and events. The G-7 Summit Committee, annual North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) and annual Society of Automotive Engineers International Congress convention are just a few of the high-profile events that have chosen the COBO Center as their prime meeting location.

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Detroit, MI Airport Information

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)

Approximate taxi fare: $41 USD

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, also known as Detroit Metro Airport, is the 10th busiest airport in the United States with more than 35 million passengers annually. The airport is the primary hub for Northwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines. Its six terminals and 150 in-service gates connect Detroit to 160 domestic and international destinations. Chicago is the leading passenger destination by capacity and New York City is the leading passenger destination by demand.

A wide range of dining options, numerous retail stores and one-of-a-kind services have earned Detroit Metro accolades such as "Airport with the Best Overall Concession Program" and "Airport with the Most Unique Services" by Airport Revue News. The airport also offers wi-fi service.

Detroit Metro has short-term and long-term parking as well as economy parking. The McNamara Terminal garage has 11,489 spaces on 10 different levels. Free shuttle service is available for travel between terminals and parking facilities.

Detroit, MI Train Information

Detroit Amtrak Station

Detroit is part of the Michigan Services Amtrak route, which serves station across Michigan and in Indiana and Illinois. Detroit's station is serviced by the Wolverine train, which offers daily service between Pontiac, Michigan, and Chicago. Other stops include Michigan cities Dearborn, Ann Arbor, Jackson and Michigan City.

Detroit, MI Public Transportation

Detroit Department of Transportation Buses

Established in 1922, the Detroit Department of Transportation is the largest bus transit carrier in the state with its 52 fixed-route lines seeing an average daily ridership of 133,996 people. Riders can feel safe in taking advantage of the bus system, as in 2007, the Detroit City Council voted to have armed deputies aboard some of the heavily-traveled routes. Marked by green and yellow stripes, the buses travel 52 routes across the city. One-way adult fare is $1.50 and one-way senior fare is $0.50. Reduced fares are offered for students and Medicare cardholders, and fare for children under 44 inches tall with an adult is free. Monthly, biweekly and weekly GoPass packages are available.

For more information: 313-933-1300

SMART Buses

Nearly 225,000 people take advantage of Detroit's Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) buses each week. SMART serves suburban Detroit, and its fleet of 640 buses offers fixed-route, connector and community transit services to 7,000 bus stops in the Detroit area. All buses are wheelchair accessible and air-conditioned. Regular fixed-route daily fares are $1 for children ages 6-18 and students $1.50 for adults and $0.50 for seniors and people with disabilities. Fixed-rate buses run approximately 23 hours a day, seven days a week.

For more information: 866-962-5515

Detroit People Mover

The Detroit People Mover is a fully automated light rail system that services the city's business district. The elevated rail system consists of 12 driverless vehicles that traverse 2.9 miles of track. The rail system includes 13 stations that stop at popular destinations such as the COBO Center, Joe Louis Arena, Times Square, Greektown and Financial District. The People Mover operates Monday through Thursday from 6:30 AM to midnight, Friday from 6:30 to 2 AM, Saturday from 9 to 2 AM and Sunday from noon to midnight. Fare is $0.50 per ride. The People Mover offers unlimited ride convention passes for $1.25 per day in quantities of 100 or more.

Car Rentals

Car rental facilities are widely available in Detroit. On-site car rental companies at the Detroit Metro Airport include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and National.

Taxis

Travelers can easily flag down a taxi in the downtown area, but should call a taxi company to schedule pick-up for areas outside of downtown. Metro Airport Taxi services airport travelers at the ground transportation stand at the terminals.

Approximate Taxi Fares from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

Allen Park
Ann Arbor
Belleville
Brownstown
Canton
Dearborn/Dearborn Heights
Detroit (Downtown)
Garden City
Inkster
Lincoln Park
Melvindale
Plymouth
Rawsonville
Riverview
River Rouge
Redford
Rockwood
Southgate
Taylor
Wayne

$26
$47
$26
$19
$31
$31
$41
$26
$21
$27
$27
$37
$29
$29
$34
$35
$34
$27
$19
$19

Distance To...

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Ann Arbor, MI	44 mi	47 min	n/a	N/A
Grand Rapids, MI	160 mi	2 hr 24 min	48 min	USD $250+
Cleveland, OH	167 mi	2 hr 49 min	50 min	USD $375+
London, ON	209 mi	2 hr 18 min	1 hr 5 min	USD $350+
Buffalo, NY	256 mi	4 hr 28 min	1 hr 6 min	USD $375+
Chicago, IL	282 mi	4 hr 31 min	1 hr 9 min	USD $200+
Indianapolis, IN	319 mi	4 hr 56 min	1 hr 10 min	USD $225+
St. Louis, MO	550 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 45 min	USD $250+