Rapid Exchange - All Posts

You can’t book a meeting into Grand Rapids if you don’t know when Grand Rapids will be open. That was the challenge that confronted Experience Grand Rapids as the COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant... Read More ›

As the COVID-19 pandemic raged on, Experience Grand Rapids invited leisure travelers to “Dream Grand” and look forward to a Grand Rapids/Kent County getaway whenever restrictions ended. Well, that day... Read More ›

Did you know that Grand Rapids enjoys a national reputation as a premier convention destination? Last year, we were named one of America’s Top 25 Convention Cities – alongside such heavy hitters as... Read More ›

Even as business headlines focused on the negative economic impacts of COVID-19 in 2020, Grand Rapids/Kent County remained a hotspot for capital investment. Major development projects were announced... Read More ›

Business and leisure travel came to a virtual standstill in 2020, which further depressed customer counts at local hotels, restaurants, breweries and other hospitality providers already handicapped by... Read More ›

Now that the local businesses' broken windows have been replaced, the beautiful art boards that cover them have come down. These boards, which serve as an art expression and important social justice... Read More ›

Angela Nelson, Vice President of Multicultural Business Development, responds with a statement and open letter addressing the recent killings of Black people, protests in our city and destruction to... Read More ›

Experience Grand Rapids makes a big impact on the economy and quality of life in West Michigan thanks to the talents and dedication of our diverse employees. From the leadership of our CEO to the... Read More ›

Experience Grand Rapids makes a big impact on the economy and quality of life in West Michigan thanks to the talents and dedication of our diverse employees. From the leadership of our CEO to the... Read More ›

If you’re a frequent user of Instagram and happen to follow travel influencers or hashtags, then you can’t miss the increasing number of posts from people traveling the world – many of whom are black... Read More ›

In the never-ending quest to attract visitors to Grand Rapids/Kent County, the professional world of association management plays a vital role. In fact, the number one convention or group meeting... Read More ›

One year after Beyoncé’s stunning Coachella performance, a Netflix documentary chronicled her journey and took a behind-the-scenes look at creating an impeccable concert. To viewers’ surprise, the... Read More ›

Art matters to Grand Rapids. Especially public art. That affinity is evidenced in the city’s veneration of La Grande Vitesse , a 42-ton steel sculpture by Alexander Calder that graces Calder Plaza in... Read More ›

Experience Grand Rapids makes a big impact on the economy and quality of life in West Michigan thanks to the talents and dedication of our diverse employees. From the leadership of our CEO to the... Read More ›

When you think of Grand Rapids, you might think about the award-winning craft beer and food scene. Or perhaps the fact that it’s Michigan's second largest city with a history of furniture... Read More ›

Experience Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids/Kent County tourism industry closed the books on another record year in 2018. This was the ninth consecutive year that hotel room revenue – our barometer... Read More ›

Grand Rapids, a shift is taking place. Some would characterize the shift as cultural. Some would say it’s a power shift, or perhaps even a paradigm shift. One local group intently focused on making... Read More ›

The tourism industry is as healthy as I’ve experienced in my 36-year career. In fact, it is prospering at a pace that makes it challenging for our hundreds of stakeholders to keep up with available... Read More ›

Have you taken notice of all the cranes throughout downtown lately? There are a variety of construction projects in the works from restaurants, entertainment venues, hotels and much more. In fact, in... Read More ›

Whether they come for a business meeting, a weekend getaway, a family vacation, or an annual convention, West Michigan visitors’ interests are as diverse as their backgrounds. So, when it comes to... Read More ›

As the newest member of the Experience Grand Rapids leadership team, I’m commonly asked, “What do you do?” and “What does multicultural business development mean?” In short, I lead and support the... Read More ›

Experience Grand Rapids is excited to partner with Magic 104.9 and Grand Rapids Public Schools to promote the #GRSummerProject.... Read More ›

“What does Experience Grand Rapids do?” That’s a question we're often asked. Our reply is saying we inspire people to visit Grand Rapids for leisure and conventions. Which is the short, not so fun,... Read More ›

As Grand Rapids’ and Kent County’s destination marketing organization, our team has the privilege every day of telling – and showing – people what a great place this is to visit. That’s our job. But... Read More ›