If You Build Hotels, Will They Come?

Detroit hopes that additional hotel units will draw more people to the city, and help remake its image in the process.

1 minute read

October 17, 2003, 8:00 AM PDT

By David Gest


“Spurred in part by the 2006 Super Bowl, [thousands of] new hotel rooms are slated for construction in downtown Detroit…” City officials believe that the big game will give the city the visibility needed to reverse its negative image. They hope that more hotel rooms downtown and at casinos will sustain the influx of tourists and businesspeople. But is the city putting the cart before the horse? Some argue that Detroit officials should first improve the city as a destination, and “[need] to do some heavy PR to combat the negative image painted by the press over the years…” Without more amenities in the city, many worry that the market won’t be able to support the additional rooms.

Thanks to David Gest

Thursday, October 16, 2003 in Metro Times Detroit

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