Testimonials

On behalf of SISO I want to commend you and your Huntington Place colleagues for the terrific job you all did to host this year’s SISO Leadership Conference, from the meeting space layout and support, to the excellent food served throughout the event.

Our group is made up of senior level show organizers from many of the largest and most influential for-profit show organizing businesses across the industry, so they are not an easy group to please or impress, but your team did both!

Many of the attendees had not seen Detroit in many years, if at all, and I heard nothing but positive comments about their experience in your great city.

I very much look forward to my next opportunity to run an event at the Huntington Place Detroit!

David Audrain, Executive Director, Society of Independent Show Organizers

 

On behalf of our team I want to let you know how much I appreciate the level of professionalism and service provided by Brad Sparks, supervisor of public safety and security at the Huntington Place, Detroit, during our company's  international training event. In my role as Director of Corporate Security, I am responsible for the safe movement of the company's owners and executives as well as the safety of the 5,000 business owners in attendance from all over the world. Prior to this position, I have worked in the field of law enforcement both at the state and federal levels for close to three decades. I can say without hesitation that Brad is one of the most professional and accommodating security professionals I have worked with.

Brad agreed to meet with me during my advance so I could go over the logistics of how I need to provide for movement and transport of our owners and executives utilizing the rear loading dock. Brad wanted to make sure all my needs were met, and he was extremely professional and detail oriented in all our planning. By the time we were through planning, I felt extremely confident that things would go well. Not only did Brad do a thorough job working through the advance with me, but as issues or concerns arose during the three day event, Brad was right there to provide assistance and help me find solutions. As a result of our collaboration, I encountered no problems or issues at your venue throughout our event, which is not generally the norm.

I know that when things don't go well, you certainly hear the complaints, so I wanted you to hear the good, and I did not want Brad's efforts to go unnoticed. Thank you again for having people and protocols in place which provide for a safe environment during our event.

Phil Carlson, Director of Corporate Security, ACN,Inc.

On behalf of our SME staff and myself, I wanted to express our sincere thanks to  the extended Huntington Place staff for executing our event with a very high level of service and expectation.  No question was too small, and no task was to large for you and your team.  Elliott, you were always available and responsive, even on your days off.   Your leadership and follow-up were very much appreciated throughout the entire show process.   It was great to be back in our home city and work with our Detroit partners.     

A special thanks to Cedric who was amazing in getting our turnovers and ballroom sets done in a timely manner.   Kyle and Gary in IT who resolved bandwidth issues and internet installments.   Thanks to the event staff, i.e. Lily (the closer), Lindsay and Ally for supporting you and the event.   Centerplate which included Lake, Erica and their team who were responsive on catering and hospitality deliverables.  In addition, show management enjoyed working with your in-house providers, i.e. Conti, Cleaning crew, and Premier.  They all did a great job and were very responsive to our show management needs and our customers.  And of course, Rajiv who is always supportive and looks out for the best interest of the customer, especially SME.  I know that Rajiv enjoys working with our team from Freeman, we have a long history, and both work together as partners to insure the success of the event and that was illustrated from move-in to move-out.

Joan Press, Director Event Operations, SME

I wanted to personally email you both to let you know what a pleasure it was to work with Elliott Bowman on this event. Elliott was incredible to work with, from our first meeting and all of the answers he provided me leading up to the event, to making sure everything ran as smooth as possible on site. Handling 40 meeting rooms at a time was not easy, especially when you throw in a ballroom and trade show floor on top of it, but Elliott helped make it all seem effortless. He’s definitely a calming force in the sometimes chaotic life of a major conference & tradeshow. I appreciated his professionalism, his ability to solve literally any issue that came up for me, his quick text responses and his friendly demeanor. He’s a gem. Thank you for partnering with us to make this event such a success. I hope we get the chance to bring it back to Huntington Place again in the future.

Lynda Kisell, Event Services Administrator, SME

The Urban Land Institute has not held a meeting in Detroit for 40 years. What do you say when you break your own records: Detroit is amazing! Our  ULI Spring Conference in Huntington Place broke previous ULI records: more participants, more sponsorship money raised, more local members attending, more associate members upgrading to full membership!

ULI set records and the national real estate community was able to get an update on Detroit's resurgence. Thank you.

James C. Bieri, Esq. CRX, Principal, Stokas Bieri Real Estate

I wanted to again that you for all your help in making WCX a success. The TCF  Center team is always a great group of professionals, but the entire building staff stepped up big time this year. Your team makes Huntington Place one of the easiest facilities to work in and we appreciate that very much. SAE looks forward to continuing and growing our relationship with Huntington Place because we have professionals like you to help us all along the way.

Rajiv, I wanted to especially thank you for the constant attention you provide my team. You are truly one of the best and you do it in a friendly, easy-going way that helps my team have confidence that the job will get done. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

I look forward to seeing you all again and building more business with SAE and Huntington Place.

James M. Forlenza, Group Director, SAE Events, SAE INTERNATIONAL

Everyone from your exclusive vendors and staff gave 110% to our team and event last week. I personally thank you for working with SAE the past 12 months to ensure our event went off without a hitch! Thank you for checking on us during the week and allowing Freeman to move-in early – that greatly assisted in everyone getting a jump start on move-in.

Again, thank you all and we look forward to seeing you all very soon!

Donna Johnson, Director of Operations, SAE INTERNATIONAL

It was an honor and a privilege to work side by side with you to create a wonderful "five star" experience for all of ASAE's members

Where do I begin? It's so hard because each of you and your teams did a fabulous job for ASAE! From start to finish your teams were all over this one and helping to make it one of the most successful ever Annual meetings. I am so proud of each of you, your beautiful building, your fabulous city, your gracious community and the leadership from Larry and the team at the CVB. There are many things that I will not forget beginning with the professionalism and over the top customer service of your staff, but the one thing that will stick in my mind for years to come is Tuesday when your teams lined up in the atrium and formed the largest clap/thank you line I have ever seen in my 16 years at ASAE; that was a beautiful thing to see and you make me proud. The show floor looked beautiful and of course we loved Cork and Grind -- other centers should take note of this.

It was an honor and a privilege to work side by side with you to create a wonderful "five-star" experience for all of ASAE's members and to show the hospitality community that Detroit is indeed the "comeback city!"

Congratulations to all of you and please come and visit us in DC when you are here!

Pamela A Troop, CMP, Director of Meeting Operations & Special Events, ASAE

I did not get one single complaint of the WiFi. This is unprecedented.

Ally Jenkins, Manager-Conferences, ASAE

Thanks for helping make our 113th convention in Detroit a successful event. Your team is great and we really appreciated everything!

Martin Hamlette, JD, MHA, Executive Director, National Medical Association

The staff at TCF was excellent. Available to answer my questions and a terrific partner in all aspects of event management.

Miller Lois, LD Meetings, National Medical Association

Main Ingredient in North American International Auto Show Successful Recipe

Transition and change are not guarantees of success. Read any article about a sports team experiencing a coaching change and you are sure to see a quote to follow, something like: 'This will be a rebuilding year.' While the automotive industry continues to rebuild, the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS)  experienced what many are calling the equivalent of a world championship. Such success is the result of many factors, but one cannot deny our venue, Huntington Place, plays a huge role for the NAIAS. Simply, it is our 'home field.' The dedication we as organizers of the NAIAS have seen from the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) and the venue management company, ASM Global, has been exactly what was needed.

We have seen and appreciated the 'sweating of the small stuff' that has increased and/or improved the customer experience at Huntington Place, and has been unmatched. Catering options, renovations to eateries and strategic vision for structural improvements are keeping NAIAS the global draw it has always been. The vision of ASM Global as a company specializing in the operation of convention and sports and entertainment facilities has brought new life to Huntington Place; they are a company with a track record of successful business revitalization and facility renovation and management more than 200 locations worldwide.

It is this type of experience that we at the NAIAS need to have to keep our show at the cutting edge. What is greatly appreciated is the methodic, realistic approach to short-term goals, keeping long-term objectives in sight. This is not a case of over promise and under deliver, rather, DRCFA and ASM Global provide experience-based recommendations and actions that fit within budgets, manage expectations and then exceed them. The future is looking brighter for the automotive industry, and as a result, many aspects of local, national and global economies as well. The ongoing changes and renovations we will see at Huntington Place under the DRCFA and ASM Global will keep our collective teams making noted championship runs for years to come.

Few events in the world can match the attention, traffic and impact of the NAIAS. A venue that allows us to house all the positive attributes of this globally significant event is critical. While transition and change does not promise success, the melding of NAIAS, ASM Global and the DRCFA under the roof of Huntington Place has delivered a winning season and is clearly set to establish the dynasty of championships our city deserves.

Rod Alberts, Executive Director, North American International Auto Show (NAIAS)

On behalf of everyone at MEDC I would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to you and your team of professionals for your support of our activities during the Auto Show. You have never failed to deliver a solution that fixes our problem or answers our question. And you do this with, typically, little or no notice. Having you and your team at Huntington Place to depend on makes both my work - and my life - better.

Bob Metzger, Sr. Project Manager for the Automotive office of Pure Michigan/MEDC

Huntington Place and Centerplate staffs went above and beyond to help us deliver what is being called 'the best ITS World Congress' in the 21-year history of the event. And that’s up against Paris, London, Tokyo, Beijing, Vienna and a boatload of “name” international cities. We told ‘em all along that Detroit was the best place to have a World Congress and you helped prove us right.

Gerry Conover, Managing Director, ITS America/PRC Associates

The past few weeks & months have been a true convergence of teams making it possible to ‘plant the flag in the moon and declare Detroit the capital of manufacturing’. We would like to extend our appreciation for all of your efforts and hard work put into making THE BIG M/RAPID a success. The attention to detail and care provided by each of you and each Huntington Place team member did not go un-noticed by our attendees, exhibitors, partners, and staff. SME is truly grateful for your involvement in bringing manufacturing back to Detroit. We look forward to our continued partnership.

Lauren E. Nastase, Show Operations Manager, SME

I wish to extend to you my sincerest thanks to Huntington Place for welcoming the 106th annual session of the National Baptist Congress to the great city of Detroit, Michigan. On behalf of myself and the entire Congress staff, please know that we are very appreciative to you for providing your time and professionalism during our national event.

Dr. T.B. Boyd III, President and CEO, R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation

The Huntington Place Was Beautiful

When we were elected to represent our local union at the American Federation of Teachers convention, we were not excited to hear it would be held in Detroit. The city created visions of dirty buildings, crime and danger. We were so pleasantly surprised by how wonderful our experiences were!

The Huntington Place was beautiful. The People Mover was efficient and really a great way to see downtown. The waterfront, including a free concert was a phenomental place to experience a sunset.

The restaurants were fantastic - from tiny places like TCF Joe's and Sweetwater to fancier places like Andiamo's and Joe Muer Seafood. Our evening at the Detroit Institute of Arts was terrific. The artwork was first-class. In addition, every person we encountered was friendly and helpful.

So, thank you, Detroit, for a wonderful experience. We will be back.

Lynn Diagostino, Rachel Binda-Lis and Sue Raichilson, Buffalo Teachers Federation

Thank you for your generous hospitality at the recent Customer Advisory Board meeting. I am a fan of Detroit before the meetings, but always leave being even more enthralled. It was especially great to see the changes that are on the horizon at Huntington Place. I look forward to working more closely with the staff for my event there. Congratulations on your vision and accomplishment. Huntington Place will be a showcase and centerpiece for the city on the rise.

Heidi Hagstrom, CMP, Director for ELCA Youth Gathering, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

On behalf of NeighborWorks America, I would like to thank you and your staff for the service provided during our May  NeighborWorks Training Institute. Your team was instrumental to ensuring that our program was an overwhelming success. They were extremely welcoming and provided a wonderful atmosphere for everyone involved.

The support we have received from Detroit has been tremendous. We appreciate the partnership and look forward to working with the Huntington Place again. All the best with your upcoming events!

Andrea James, Director of Operations, NeighborWorks America

Thanks for the extra effort you and your staff provided at Huntington Place. You exceeded our expectations and we appreciate the attention and service we received.

Darwin Beacham, Detroit NAACP

The conference went very well and on behalf of NCSI and DoD, thanks for “making this happen.” You were instrumental in expediting this and handled every problem we had with a solution. The main session area looked spectacular and no one left thinking we “settled for an exhibit hall”! I know this is something you don’t normally do and we appreciated it…also, the exhibit hall also left a lasting impression on everyone.

John Skipper, Chief Executive Officer, NCSI,  Department of Defense Intelligence Information Systems (DoDIIS) Worldwide Conference

Michelin has sponsored the Michelin Media Center at the North American International Auto Show since 1989. Since the beginning, we have sought to raise the bar each year in regards to access, service, capacity, technology and amenities. This year was a clear high point. The support from the new management team at Huntington Place was excellent and a superb match to the world-class experience we were seeking to create for more than 5,000 international journalists.

Lynn Mann, Director of External Communications, Michelin North America

I want to express our deep appreciation for the extraordinary efforts and generosity you and your team put forth to make our event extra special. From the red carpet to the table flowers to the table cloths to the outstanding service by your team, you went out of your way to help make it a great event. We were pleased so many Detroit area leaders were able to join us and enjoy your hospitality as well.

Steve Grigorian, Chief Operating Officer, Detroit Economic Club

I have grown very fond of the people I work with in Detroit during the Bargaining/PA/PR Conference. I especially appreciate the way everyone came together during our recent date change. I also look forward to working with you on next year’s conference. Our working relationships grow with each year. Thanks again and I appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Chris Piggott, Michigan Education Association

As part of our quality process we evaluate our suppliers on their performance...Congratulations, Huntington Place has scored (five of five) and has exceed our expectations for the Michigan Minority Procurement Conference....Kendra Cook helped us make a complex show a success. We enjoyed working with her. Thanks to all who helped make things happen. I look forward to working with your team on future projects.

Brenda Veit, Project Manager, The Harmon Group, Michigan Minority Procurement Conference

It was clear that everyone at Huntington Place was committed to making sure our convention was a success. It was a pleasure working with all of you. Good luck with the renovation. We can't wait to see the final product!

Kitty Owens, Director AFT Meetings and Travel Dept., American Federation of Teachers

I want to thank you and your amazing team for providing such wonderful service to the Michigan Library Association for their conference on Nov. 7-9th. Your team did a fantastic job meeting our needs, especially with such short notice. The City of Detroit has a “gem” for a convention location in Huntington Place.

Julie Farkas, Chairman, MLA Conference