A former Donald Trump protégé and president of the Miss Universe Organization, Maureen Reidy is now the executive director of NYC Big Events, the group created after September 11, 2001, to streamline the process of luring big events to the city. She is also the chief operating officer of NYC Host Committee 2004, the organization formed to work with the planners of this summer’s Republican National Convention.
How do you determine what big events to go after?
We look for three things: an event that will have a substantial positive economic impact on the local economy, one that will create jobs, and one that will provide a platform to showcase New York both domestically and worldwide.
Describe the process of wooing a large event.
First, we reach out to the head of the organization we’re interested in working with. Then we must do our homework—there is a lot of research involved with understanding where the group fits amongst its competitors and in its markets and how New York fits into that. What are their advertisers lookng for? Who is their audience? Once we understand, we put together a presentation for the decision-making group. That group then votes and if it's successful, we draw up contracts and move forward to organizing.
What are the biggest selling points when you are courting an event to New York?
New York is the greatest selling point. The city has the best of everything: We've got the best venues, the best hotels, the best restaurants, the best nightlife. There's more to see and do here than anywhere else in the world. But the best asset we have is the people. The energy, diversity and creativity of New Yorkers is unparalleled.
How about the biggest challenges?
The biggest challenge that we come up against—and really the only one— is cost. But you get what you pay for. New York is never going to be the cheapest city, but it's the highest value for the money because of all it offers. And there are certain things that people assume are more expensive here, but in reality are not. For example, there are about 12,000 hotel rooms that you can get for $150 a night or less.
What was the hardest event to lose to another city?
The Super Bowl for 2008. But I wouldn't say the bid was lost—more like postponed until 2009 or later. We were in the process of putting together a bid to host the game in the New York metropolitan region. We were working in partnership with New Jersey and the game would have been held at Giants Stadium, but the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and the Giants hadn't solidified the necessary plans for renovating the stadium, so we were forced to put the bid on hold. It was a major disappointment because we had worked hard. And I have no doubt we would have won if the stadium renovations were completed, because the bid was so superior. Because New York is superior. I'm an ethnocentric person.
What is the most rewarding event you’ve been involved with?
Each event has something special about it. The MTV Video Music Awards and the Grammys last year were great. And I'm looking forward to the convention. The RNC has never been held in New York and I'm just honored to be part of the team putting together this historical event.
—Alesandra Dubin
Posted 05.12.04
This Q&A originally appeared in our newspaper, the BiZBash Event Style Reporter.
How do you determine what big events to go after?
We look for three things: an event that will have a substantial positive economic impact on the local economy, one that will create jobs, and one that will provide a platform to showcase New York both domestically and worldwide.
Describe the process of wooing a large event.
First, we reach out to the head of the organization we’re interested in working with. Then we must do our homework—there is a lot of research involved with understanding where the group fits amongst its competitors and in its markets and how New York fits into that. What are their advertisers lookng for? Who is their audience? Once we understand, we put together a presentation for the decision-making group. That group then votes and if it's successful, we draw up contracts and move forward to organizing.
What are the biggest selling points when you are courting an event to New York?
New York is the greatest selling point. The city has the best of everything: We've got the best venues, the best hotels, the best restaurants, the best nightlife. There's more to see and do here than anywhere else in the world. But the best asset we have is the people. The energy, diversity and creativity of New Yorkers is unparalleled.
How about the biggest challenges?
The biggest challenge that we come up against—and really the only one— is cost. But you get what you pay for. New York is never going to be the cheapest city, but it's the highest value for the money because of all it offers. And there are certain things that people assume are more expensive here, but in reality are not. For example, there are about 12,000 hotel rooms that you can get for $150 a night or less.
What was the hardest event to lose to another city?
The Super Bowl for 2008. But I wouldn't say the bid was lost—more like postponed until 2009 or later. We were in the process of putting together a bid to host the game in the New York metropolitan region. We were working in partnership with New Jersey and the game would have been held at Giants Stadium, but the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and the Giants hadn't solidified the necessary plans for renovating the stadium, so we were forced to put the bid on hold. It was a major disappointment because we had worked hard. And I have no doubt we would have won if the stadium renovations were completed, because the bid was so superior. Because New York is superior. I'm an ethnocentric person.
What is the most rewarding event you’ve been involved with?
Each event has something special about it. The MTV Video Music Awards and the Grammys last year were great. And I'm looking forward to the convention. The RNC has never been held in New York and I'm just honored to be part of the team putting together this historical event.
—Alesandra Dubin
Posted 05.12.04
This Q&A originally appeared in our newspaper, the BiZBash Event Style Reporter.
