The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB) has named a new senior vice president, sales and marketing. This person brings 39 years of diversified sales and marketing experience within the hospitality industry to the DMCVB.
In his new role, Bill Bohde will develop a long-term business strategy to support integrated and competitive sales and marketing positioning and will direct the Bureau’s strategic plans into key alignment with short- and long-term goals.
Bohde is joining the DMCVB from Kansas City, Miss., where he served as the vice president, convention sales, for seven years at the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association. There, he negotiated a deal to bring the 2012 Major League Baseball All Star Game to Kansas City. He also successfully presented bids to host the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Big XII Basketball, Walmart, Skills USA, Cerner Corporation, National Baptist Convention and Sam’s Club.
Bohde also served as the vice president, convention and tradeshow sales, for the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, where he generated $10–12 million in convention center revenues and confirmed more than 500,000 definite room nights annually.
Prior to his work at the Kansas City CVA, Bohde served as director of marketing at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown, where he oversaw Convention Sales, Services and Catering teams for two years. Bohde has a combined 21 years of experience working for Marriott Hotels & Properties at various locations including the New York Marriott Marquis. Additionally, Bohde served as the director of sales and marketing at the Doubletree Hotel & Conference Center in Chesterfield, Miss., and the Washington Court Hotel on Capitol Hill.
“Bill’s extensive knowledge of the tourism industry will undoubtedly give Detroit a competitive advantage in terms of marketing and selling the destination,” said Larry Alexander, president and CEO of the DMCVB. “We’re excited about his passion to promote Detroit’s markets and are pleased to have him at the Bureau.”
Bohde is a member of various organizations including Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI), Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and American Society Association Executives (ASAE).
