submitted by Heather Anderson, Huntington Place
DETROIT – Huntington Place convention center in Detroit is experiencing its very own ” summer glow up,” similar to some of our favorite makeover stars like Sandy Olsson from Grease or the unstoppable Gracie Hart from Miss Congeniality. Huntington Place is transforming into a leading force in the convention center industry, driven by a 5-year contract extension awarded to ASM Global, the construction of a 600-room JW Marriott hotel that will directly connect to the convention center, and the acquisition of the 3,000-space Joe Louis Arena garage, setting new standards with its bold and confident evolution. We wanted to update you on these exciting developments and make sure you’re up-to-date on what you might have missed over the summer break!
The Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) awarded a 5 year contract extension to ASM Global, moving into its second decade of managing Huntington Place, Michigan’s largest convention center and the 16th largest in the United States. This contract extension marks one of the biggest steps toward solidifying the future of Huntington Place Convention Center and the beginning of its summer transformation. As the world’s leading venue management company and producer of live event experiences, ASM Global is the preeminent management and content partner with over 400 venues worldwide. Claude Molinari, DRCFA Chairman, highlighted the impact of ASM Global’s management: “When a show manager or association manager comes to Huntington Place and they realize that it’s managed by ASM Global, they know they’re going to be getting a professionally managed facility that is bar none top of the world because ASM Global does this better than anyone else anywhere.” No one else offers the benefits of global scale and best-in-class local operational execution to create value and drive profitability. For more information click here.
Another key part of this evolution is the development of a new 25-story JW Marriott hotel, announced by the Detroit-based Sterling Group. Scheduled for completion by early 2027, this luxury hotel will be directly connected to Huntington Place and will be the second-largest hotel in Detroit by room count. With this addition, Huntington Place will be well-equipped to host even larger events, accommodating a greater number of out-of-town attendees and cementing its position as a premier destination for major conferences and gatherings. For more information click here.
Finally, just as Gracie Hart proved there’s more than meets the eye, Huntington Place’s makeover includes the acquisition of the Joe Louis Arena parking garage. This savvy move, saving significant taxpayer dollars, adds critical parking capacity to support the center’s expansion. With these developments, Huntington Place is ready to take on the world, showing off its new look with pride and proving that Detroit’s convention scene is not just a contender, but a champion in the making. For more information click here
About Huntington Place
With 723,000 square feet of exhibit space, Huntington Place, Detroit’s convention center, boasts one of the largest contiguous exhibit floor spaces in North America and has the largest ballroom in Michigan with 40,000 square feet. It is a LEED Gold certified venue and has received numerous industry awards for excellence including the 2020 USGBC Leadership Award for Building Performance, making it the only convention center in the history of the award to receive it. It is the 16th largest convention center in the United States. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and huntingtonplacedetroit.com.
About ASM Global
ASM Global is the world’s leading producer of entertainment experiences. It is the global leader in venue and event strategy and management—delivering locally tailored solutions and cutting-edge technologies to achieve maximum results for venue owners. The company’s elite venue network spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than 350 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, performing arts venues, and convention and exhibition centers, including The Moscone Center, San Francisco; ICC Sydney, Australia; Olympia London; Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, China; and P&J Live in Aberdeen, U.K. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. asmglobal.com.
