April 20, 2016
L-R: Michael O’Callaghan and Chris Pokorski, Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau; Shawn Pomaville and Brian Yopp, MotorCities National Heritage Area; Don Nicholson, Cruisin’ Hines and All America Cruise; and Dave Lorenz, Travel Michigan.
The MotorCities National Heritage Area and Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau were recently selected for the 2016 Governor’s Award for Innovative Tourism Collaboration presented by the state’s Travel Commission and the Tourism Industry Coalition of Michigan.
The awards were created in conjunction with the Governor’s Office to elevate the status of Michigan’s tourism industry and to promote innovative collaboration as an effective, efficient and creative operating principle for the industry. The inaugural awards were presented at the 2009 annual Tourism Conference.
MotorCities, a non-profit dedicated to preservation and promotion of automotive industry heritage, and the DMCVB won in the category of “Experience Development & Presentation,” for Autopalooza – a collaborative brand promotion that showcases southeast Michigan’s premier car shows, cruises, races and other events.
Shawn Pomaville and Michael O’Callaghan share a laugh at the award presentation“The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau is proud to collaborate with MotorCities National Heritage Area to promote and help tell the story of the auto industry's impact on Michigan and the world,” said Michael O’Callaghan, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the DMCVB and MotorCities board member.
Another partner under the Autopalooza flag, Don Nicholson of Don Nicholson Enterprises, LLC, said this partnership is important to draw tourism to local events.
“We are happy to be collaborating with organizations like MotorCities NHA and DMVCB,” said Nicholson. “This partnership has always made sense in order to get the word out about our events and draw tourism to our hometown of Westland and Michigan. Bringing tourism to our events and surrounding area is just Pure Michigan. It is an honor to work with great organizations and people.”
Nicholson organizes the All American Cruise, July 9, 2016, and Cruisin’ Hines, Aug. 28, 2016. He is a MotorCities board member and volunteer.
MotorCities Board Chairman and Corporate Historian for Ford Motor Co., Robert Kreipke, said they are honored to partner with so many great organizations to collectively benefit local tourism.
“The award winning MotorCities National Heritage Area has operated over the years to preserve and safeguard the cultural, and industrial legacy of our automotive history, in Southeastern Michigan,” said Kreipke. “As a central organization we partner with many local historical resources throughout 16 counties and 10,000 square miles of Pure Michigan.”
Director of Programs Brian Yopp and Executive Director Shawn Pomaville displaying the award during the dinner and reception.
MotorCities Executive Director Shawn Pomaville called the Governor’s Award a “true honor.”
“We are very honored to have been selected for the Governor’s Award for Collaboration in Tourism,” said Pomaville. “The Autopalooza event is the result of the work of many creative and nontraditional partners committed to the principle that ‘all boats rise together.’”
The awards were presented by Dave Lorenz of Travel Michigan, representing the Michigan Travel Commission, and Julie Pingston, representing the Tourism Industry Coalition of Michigan (TICOM).
Other winners included:
- Cell Block 7 in the category of Non-Traditional Partnerships as a collaboration of Experience Jackson, the Michigan Department of Corrections and the Ella Sharpe Museum
- Michigan Cares for Tourism in the category of Non-Traditional Partnerships