Speakers | Visit Detroit

CLAUDE MOLINARI, CDME

PRESIDENT AND CEO | VISIT DETROIT

Since January 1, 2021, Claude Molinari has been the President and CEO of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DBA Visit Detroit).

In this role, Molinari is responsible for overseeing the operations of Visit Detroit and developing its strategic direction. He provides the leadership and direction necessary to enable Visit Detroit to bring meetings and conventions, leisure and business visitors to metropolitan Detroit and accelerate economic growth for the region. He leads the creation of the annual sales and marketing plan of the bureau which outlines the direction Visit Detroit will take to attract tourism and meetings business to the region. He additionally oversees the development of the annual budget.

In addition to overseeing the direction of Visit Detroit, Molinari also oversees the Detroit Sports Commission (a subsidiary of Visit Detroit), which is responsible for securing amateur sports for the region and bringing in regional, national and international sporting events such as the NCAA Men’s Final Four in 2027 and the wildly successful and attendance record breaking 2024 NFL Draft.

Molinari serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) appointed by the Governor of Michigan. The DRCFA oversees the Huntington Place convention center in downtown Detroit which is in the process of undergoing a $500M transformation which includes a 600-room hotel attached to the facility.Additionally, he serves on the board of directors for The Parade Company, the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, the Engineering Society of Detroit, Destinations International, the US Travel Association, and as a director at large for the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG).

He is a USA Hockey official, selected to referee state and national playoff tournaments. Molinari resides with his wife in Northville, Michigan and the city of Detroit.