Hospitality Zone Vibrancy

The opening plenary conversation will showcase the insights and expertise of leaders in hospitality zone planning and development and will apply those insights to the issues confronting districts everywhere. This panel discussion will help identify criteria necessary to achieve, sustain, and evolve hospitality zone vibrancy

Jeffrey Yarbrough  CEO Big Ink PR and Marketing	Ernest Collin  Executive Director Arts & Entertainment City of New Orleans	Facilitator Elizabeth Jackson President The Urban Agenda	Rose Reyes Director of Music Marketing Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau	Alfonso Morales Assistant Professor Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Wisconsin
Shirley Lowe Executive Director Old Strathcona Business Association	Discussion Topics What elements make a district or hospitality zone vibrant? What role does music play in creating vibrancy and facilitating socializing? How can public space use be integrated into a vibrant district without competing with hospitality venues? What other factors are critical for vibrancy? How can promotions highlight the district as a destination for dining, music and entertainment with a unique “brand”?  What role can city planning, economic development and district management play in facilitating the social economy?			Janice Solomon Executive Director Toronto Entertainment Improvement Area Business District
James Keblas Director Seattle Mayor’s Office of Film and Music				Rachael Snedecor Executive Director Livermore Downtown, Inc.

The reinstatement of downtown districts and Main Streets as the premier place to shop, dine and socialize has created opportunities for city leaders to revitalize their economies by means of vibrant hospitality zones. Street activity such as vendors, buskers and special events are key to jump starting vitality and vibrancy. Dining and entertainment venues attract foot-traffic that paves the way for further district revitalization. Well-known and well-loved hospitality venues and events become destination “anchors” that benefit surrounding retail shopping, dining and living opportunities through their built-in customer bases.

The dynamic balance required to create and sustain vibrancy include:

• A mix of experiences, diversions and commercial options that appeal to multi-cultural and multi-generational patrons
• A seamless visual experience, including nighttime lighting, cleanliness, noise control, etc. that is appropriate to pedestrian use of the zone.
• Attention to managing transition points between day, evening and late-night activity
• Participatory activities on the street and in venues that facilitate social interaction