LARRY ALEXANDER
Larry Alexander was appointed by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm to the five-member Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority in February 2009,  and was elected the first Chairman of the Authority at its inaugural meeting in March.  He is president and CEO of the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau and a 30-year veteran of the hospitality and tourism industry. 

Alexander leads an innovative, multi-award winning convention sales, marketing and convention services effort that has often exceeded CVB industry standards for performance. In 2002 he introduced a 10-year tourism vision for the region and a Tourism Economic Development Council to maintain accountability for that vision. These efforts have led to improved regional beautification; service training of hospitality industry workers; and infrastructure improvements.

Alexander navigated the efforts to land some of the world's most coveted sporting events, including Super Bowl XL in 2006 and the 2009 NCAA Men's Final Four. He also created and leads the Detroit Metro Sports Commission, a subsidiary of the bureau responsible for landing the 2003 and 2008 AAU Junior Olympic Games and the 2008 Women's International Bowling Congress, and for contributing to the successful bid for the 2005 MLB All-Star Game.

Before stepping into his DMCVB role, Alexander was the managing director of the Westin Hotel-Detroit Renaissance Center (now under Marriott ownership), responsible for the marketing and operations of one of the nation's largest hotels. He also served as general manager of the Westin Miyako in San Francisco, the Westin-O'Hare in Chicago and the Westin Hotel Cincinnati.

Alexander is a board member of the American Society of Association Executives, the Michigan Society of Association Executives, The Parade Company, The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, The Detroit Zoological Society, New Detroit and Forgotten Harvest.