July 26, 2004

The United States Conference of Mayors joined with the International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (IACVB) at the IACVB Annual Meeting in Boston on July 16. Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline and Conference Executive Director Tom Cochran served as panelists during a plenary session moderated by Spurgeon Richardson, Chairman of the IACVB Board and President and CEO of the Atlanta CVB. Other participants were J. Stephen Perry, President of the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention Visitors Bureau and Rick Antonson, President and CEO of Greater Vancouver CVB.

The theme of the discussion centered on the importance of the mayor to be totally involved in promoting tourism for his or her city. Cicilline told the audience he has recently created a cabinet level post devoted to tourism within his city government. He encouraged a stronger partnership between the Conference of Mayors and IACVB.

Cochran cited statistics proving how crucial tourism and conventions are to local metro economies and budgets. He also stressed the need for city councils to be educated on the economies of tourism and conventions because in some cities there is not an awareness of just how large the industry is within the overall metro economic product.

Cochran also informed delegates that Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz is spearheading an effort that has been endorsed by the Conference of Mayors to create a new Cabinet post in the Federal Government devoted to Arts, Culture and Tourism.

IACVB Board Chairman Spurgeon Richardson has raised within the convention chiefs organization the question of "performance measurements." He is urging that the professional aspects of the CEOs be strengthened. He has led an effort this year to emphasize the need for the CVB CEOs to understand that they must develop performance measurements to gain support from city halls and local business to invest and support travel and tourism as an essential part of a thriving local economy.

Leaders of IACVB and the Conference of Mayors agreed that we will continue to share best practices and serve as national advocates for promoting tourism of America's cities within the USA and around the globe. The two organizations, along with the Travel Business Roundtable, continue to point out that the USA government does not spend a cent promoting tourism in American cities while France and Spain spend millions.