Destination Downriver pitches regional marketing; council to review Vision 2040 survey

Representatives from Destination Downriver gave a presentation to the Riverview City Council about regional marketing and how the organization can help promote the city’s businesses and events. Speaker 1 introduced "Mr. Rich Williams and Kate Curry of Destination Downriver." Kate Curry identified herself as the program director and said Destination Downriver is hiring staff to expand content production and leverage partnerships with Visit Detroit and Pure Michigan. "We're actually hiring staff to, leverage some of the partnerships we have," Curry said.

Rich Williams framed the group's mission as changing the region’s narrative and telling stories about small businesses, recreation and redevelopment along the river. He emphasized multimedia approaches — monthly TV programs, podcasts and social media — and said the group works to get features placed on larger platforms that reach hundreds of thousands of visitors. Williams said Destination Downriver typically asks member municipalities to participate through an annual membership fee of about $5,000 ("about $13 a day") and described membership as pooled buying power: "You put $5,000 in, you better get $5,000 or more worth of, exposure out of it."

Council members asked practical questions about audience targets, metrics and whether Riverview events (summer fest, tree lighting, golf) fit the strategy. Curry and Williams said the program targets in-state and regional visitors and visitors who already use nearby hotels for business and sports tournaments. Curry provided a performance note: since she began, social media engagement had increased by over 50 percent, which she said reflects more frequent posting and the allocation of a staff person to content.

Council and Destination Downriver agreed to follow up: city staff will share results from the Vision 2040 public engagement survey when available so Destination Downriver can identify story "nuggets" to promote. No membership decision was recorded at the meeting; council planned further discussion in a study session and to consider the item at a subsequent meeting.