Chris Holman welcomes Jack Schripsema and Julie Pingston from the Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau (GLCVB) to the MBN studio. Jack has been President and CEO of GLVCB for the last eight years and has used his position to build the Lansing Area into a true tourist destination. In this interview, Chris talks with Jack and Julie about recent developments, statistics from the 2019 GLVCB Annual Report, and Julie’s new role as President and CEO.

The region reported a strong 61.6 percent occupancy rate for 2019, and overall hotel room demand increased to over 1,060,000 hotel room nights, according to Smith Travel Research (STR) data. Additionally, the Greater Lansing CVB added ninety-one new members in 2019 and held a membership retention rate of 94.6%. Find more details in the 2019 Annual Report.

Listen to the full interview below!

About Julie Pingston 
Pingston is the current Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and has been with the GLCVB for 27 years. Her responsibilities included overall organization operations, as well as, direct oversight for convention services, membership, event coordination, the Greater Lansing Sports Authority, the East Lansing Visitor Center and the Certified Tourism Ambassador Program.
More details HERE

About Jack Schripsema
Schripsema joined the GLCVB in 2012 and has been instrumental in helping drive overnight visitation, topping the one million room night mark in 2016. Schripsema’s leadership and passion for the industry was recognized with multiple awards including being named CVB Star of the Year at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism and earning a Michigan Meetings and Events Lifetime Achievement Award.
More details HERE