ILEA Nashville January Meeting: Nashville Event Industry Outlook 2023

Let's bring in the new year with an informative meeting to discuss the state of the events and hospitality industry in Nashville!

Join us as we network and tour the Fisher Center for Performing Arts at Belmont University and welcome special guest speaker, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp CEO, Butch Spyridon. Butch will give us very valuable insight as he presents the Nashville Events & Hospitality Industry Outlook for 2023 and beyond.

Schedule of events:

• 4:00 -4:40pm - Check-in, Refreshments & Networking
• 4:40 - 5:00pm - Tour the Fisher Center for Performing Arts
• 5:00 - 6:00pm - Butch Spyridon's Presentation and Q&A

Parking is available in the South Garage located at 1521 Compton Avenue or the Curb Garage located on Delmar Avenue.

About our Speaker, Butch Spyridon, CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.:

"Butch Spyridon has served as the head of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp (NCVC) since 1991. Under his leadership, the NCVC has led the strategic development of Nashville’s hospitality industry, and Music City has evolved into a top global destination, generating over $7.5 billion in visitor spending annually.

During Butch’s tenure, the NCVC has been involved with development initiatives that include the Tennessee Titans, Bridgestone Arena, July 4th, New Year’s Eve, the Music City Center, Music City Walk of Fame, and the city’s branding. He also helped lead efforts to bring British Airways’ nonstop flight to London in 2018, and he led the recruitment and execution of the 2019 NFL Draft, which became the most successful event in NFL history.

In addition, the NCVC has produced two award-winning documentary films, winning Silver Lion Awards at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Combined with the NCVC ongoing sales and marketing initiatives, Nashville hotel demand has grown faster than any other top 30 US city since 2013 and was named a top destination in the world by multiple publications for ten consecutive years.

Spyridon previously served on the Executive Committee of the U.S. Travel Association and has served twice as Chair of Destinations International. As part of the Events Industry Council Global Awards, he is a 2022 Hall of Leaders inductee, considered the lifetime achievement award in the meetings, conventions, exhibitions, hospitality and travel industry.

Raised in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Spyridon graduated from Vanderbilt University. He is a graduate of the Institute of Comparative Political and Economic Systems at Georgetown University. He and his wife, Sunny, have four children and five grandchildren."