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 2024 NFL Draft.
Molinari came to Visit Detroit from Huntington Place (also previously known as TCF Center), the 16th largest convention center in North America, where as general manager he was responsible for managing day-to-day operations and business development. His responsibilities included developing a budget, forecasting and financing, and implementing safety, security and crisis management programs for the center. He also negotiated with local trade unions, developed business contingency, facility safety and emergency plans, and assured that annual budget goals were achieved.
Molinari was uniquely positioned to accept his new role as DMCVB president and CEO because of his understanding from the convention center position of the role tourism, meetings and conventions play as an economic driver in the region. He accepted the position at a challenging time for the industry as it dealt with the impact of Covid 19.
Molinari’s history at Huntington Place began when it was the former Cobo Center. From 2011-2016 he served as assistant general manager with oversight of operations, security, events and production services, and union labor services. He was named general manager in March of 2016 by SMG/ASM Global and forged a strong partnership between the DMCVB and the Huntington Place operation during that time.
Molinari serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) appointed by the Governor of Michigan. 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.
