Thanks for joining us on Episode 12 with our guest Butch Spyridon, President & CEO at Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. The Traveling Podcast is hosted by industry veterans Dan Sherman and Ryan Barth, CMP.
In this episode we'll touch on the top stories in group business travel, live events and sports (subscribe to the Market in a Minute newsletter). In addition, Butch will share his thoughts on reinventing Nashville through developing a long-term destination branding strategy, driving group business demand, selling the NFL on hosting one of their largest live events ever and leading through crisis.
Butch Spyridon
President & CEO
Nashville CVC
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/butch-spyridon-120a399/
Bio: 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 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 eight consecutive years.
Spyridon serves on the Executive Committee of the U.S. Travel Association and as Chair of Destinations International.
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.
The Traveling Podcast is Presented by: HIP Network
HIP Network is a B2B digital media company shaping the hospitality industry’s agenda with expertly curated content that fuels growth. To learn more, please visit www.HipNetwork.com
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