March 13, 2009

M. José Damiani President, 40 Rue François 1er 75008 Paris Detroit Renaissance Center: France Viewed from Canada

Dear M. Damiani:

I, along with my co-chairs Bill Arlinghaus and Ron Horwitz from the spring Detroit 2008 NABC, write to you to express our deep and sincere interest in serving the WBF (2010) should the St. Petersburg, Russia, site not be feasible. We have been working with Sue Carlson and Matt Schonfeld of the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center (tallest tower in the pictures) to consider how such service might be implemented. Please permit me to explain the structure of this proposal document. Then, I shall respond directly to the issues you raised in a document transmitted to me by Dan Morse and Jan Martel. Immediately following this cover letter a copy of your letter appears for ease in reference. The next section presents materials from the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center, the host hotel. Following the Marriott material there is a section of selected commentary about the Detroit NABC and subsequent communications. Next, there is a section of links to materials related to amenities in Detroit and Windsor as well as to pages about the Detroit NABC. Finally, there is a set of Appendices (you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to access some of these). Their purpose is to give you more detailed information about background work done by us following the Boston NABC in November 2008, hotel amenities, and so forth. So that you might easily share information with far-flung colleagues around the world, I have made a modest draft website and have just recently added a link to this report so that all linked sites become “live” for you and anyone with whom you choose to share the URL. That URL is: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~sarhaus/WBF2010/ViveLaDifference.html The issues you raise in your document are ones that we have worked on with our contacts hotel contacts, Sue and Matt. We enjoy an outstanding working relationship with them. • Space o The Detroit Marriott is a 73 story hotel. In the pictures of the complex of towers, the Marriott is the central tower that rises above the four that surround it. The set of towers, and two others often not visible, is referred to as the “Renaissance Center.” This is a fully-enclosed, connected complex, with a food court in the lower level and upscale shops and restaurants spread throughout the entire complex. Life is complete and self-contained within this massive indoor complex. o The Marriott, itself, has 100,000 square feet of space for meeting. In addition, there is space within the Renaissance Center, attached to the Marriott that can be made available to us. That amount of meeting space is another 29,000 square feet. Finally, there is the Courtyard by Marriott, an attached hotel across the street that parallels the river (again, no need to go outside). Courtyard has another 7,000 square feet of meeting space. Thus, the total available to you in the entire Marriott and Renaissance Center complex is 136,000 square feet, which we understand to fall within your general needs. That space includes ballrooms, office space, and other space. Much of it can be combined or partitioned as per your wishes. Matt has worked hard and effectively to respond to your interests on this topic. o The elevators in the complex worked well during the NABC. Because they are in the center of the tall cylinder, one is never far from an elevator—guest rooms and ballrooms within the hotel are strategically located. • Hotel Rooms o The Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center has 1300+ guest rooms. Were we to have 1200 of those, at a variety of price ranges (regular rooms and suites of various sorts), then that would leave us still needing another 800 guest rooms. o The Courtyard by Marriott across the street is a 21 story building with 260 rooms. If we had 200 of those, that would leave 600 remaining. Families have found that hotel an attractive option; it has an indoor swimming pool while the Detroit Marriott has a marvelous fitness center (but no pool). o There are new upscale hotels, one in the MGM Grand Casino; another, the Westin Book Cadillac recently underwent a 200 million dollar renovation. Each of these has about 400 rooms. I gather, from an historical perspective, that at the time the original Renaissance Center hotel was built, in 1989, it was the tallest hotel in the world (it has undergone hundreds of millions of dollars of renovation over the years—none is currently planned for the Fall of 2010). So too, when the Book Cadillac was built originally in 1924, was it the tallest hotel in the world. Both of these hotels are quite expensive. Each has connections to chefs who are regulars on the Food Network: Wolfgang Puck at MGM Grand Casion, and Michael Symon (most recently appointed “Iron Chef”) at the Westin Book Cadillac. o There are a variety of cheaper hotels, as well. There is a wide range of hotel rooms in the downtown Detroit area at all price levels. o We would leave it to the Marriott folks to coordinate ancillary hotel space as per your desires. There is great merit, however, in having as many guest rooms as possible within the Marriott. Sue Carlson has over 20 years of experience with the Detroit Marriott and is very well connected within the broad hotel network of possibilities. In addition to her outstanding competence, she is a charming and delightful person to work with. We also leave with her and with Matt, and official representatives of appropriate bridge organization(s), the negotiation of complimentary rooms and related matters. • Grant o From the ACBL: 100,000 USD value in support of a WBF 2010 Fall tournament in North America. We have an excellent working relationship with ACBL staff Jay Baum, Jeff Johnston, and Wendy Sullivan. o From expected funds through USBF source: 100,000 USD in support of a WBF 2010 Fall tournament in North America. o From the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center: we have negotiated their willingness to participate in a “rebate” program in which a surcharge of 10 USD per day will be placed on each room rented to those coming to the WBF. Thus, one estimate of the amount raised through this program might be: 1000 rooms per day generates 10,000 USD in rebate funds per day. Over ten days, that comes to 100,000 USD. Naturally, the more that come and stay (and pay) in the Marriott, the more funds there will be to work with. o Thus, the total grant would be, we think, at least 300,000 USD.

Cocktail Parties The Marriott has a number of outstanding sites that would accommodate the sort of large cocktail parties you mention. Naturally, the amount of funding that we can donate to these events will depend on the amount that is raised through the rebate program. In principle, however, we are happy to work with you at funding these events. The Marriott’s professional staff will do an excellent job of creating the events.

Our infrastructure for this outstanding North American site and for an excellent network of volunteers is already in place! We are ready to move forward and would be delighted, Dear M. Domiani, to have you visit in advance if you wish. It would be our pleasure to introduce you to the staff at the Marriott and to celebrate with you, with them, and with key volunteers, the excitement that we share toward welcoming a WBF event in Detroit and the Great Lakes region. The D’étroit river (linking Lake Erie to Lake Huron along the St. Lawrence Seaway, the world’s longest deep-draft inland waterway) may be “narrow” (“étroit”) but our enthusiasm for such an event, like the Seaway, runs deep!

Avec nos meilleurs vœux,

Sandy Arlinghaus, Ph.D., Address to which communications should be sent: 1964 Boulder Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48104 USA [email protected] Phone: 734-975-0246 http://www-personal.umich.edu/~sarhaus/ Detroit NABC Co-chair

Bill Arlinghaus, Ph.D.; ACBL of Directors, District 12; http://www-personal.umich.edu/~copyrght/wca/ Detroit NABC Co-chair

Ron Horwitz, Ph.D. Detroit NABC Co-chair Original Document transmitted by Dan Morse and Jan Martel:

World Bridge Series 2010

This Championship includes different competitions: Mixed Pairs Open Pairs IMP Pairs Women’s Pairs Senior Pairs Rosenblum (Open teams) McConnell (Women’s teams) Senior Teams

Thus, in total, approximately 5 000 players may participate during the two-week period.

Ideally we need the following: - A space of about 15 000 square meter, divided in a Playing area of minimum 10 000m² Meeting rooms Auditorium with a minimum of 300 seats Storage With internet connexion everywhere

That can be in a Congress Centre close to hotels or in a big hotel. We also need to have a wide range of hotels at different rates, with about 50 free rooms (on about 800: 3 stars, 700: 4 stars and 500 5 stars).

We will bring all necessary material and provide technical personnel

- In addition, we request a sponsorship grant of US$ 300 000 and we hope that the host will be able to offer the Opening cocktail (700 people) and the closing cocktail (800 people).

This grant covers the organisation costs

- Personnel (about 150 persons: fees, per diem, travel) - Equipment - Daily News edition - Bridge vision: video, computer etc. - Transportation of the material - Printing (programme, technical sheets, playing cards etc.),

Of course the sponsor’s name(s) can be associated on many of these items as well as on the programme, the Daily News, the Bridge vision and even in the title of the event if agreed between all the parties

This event will stand for a fortnight period in between September/October.

The economic benefits are very important, aside from the hotels and restaurants themselves, due to the high purchasing power of the participants. The media impact is significant through the 500 accredited bridge journalists who represent around 3000 newspaper columns throughout the world. The matches are rebroadcast on Internet to which more than 100 sites are linked.

The most recent editions of these Championships, which take place every four years, were held in: 1978: New Orleáns (USA) - 1982 : Biarritz (France) - 1986 : Bal Harbour/Miami (USA) – 1990 : Geneva (Switzerland) – 1994 : Albuquerque (USA) – 1998 : Lille (France) – 2002 : Montreal (Canada) – 2006 : Verona (Italy)

Letter of Invitation and Welcome from the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center:

March 13, 2009

M. Jose Damiani President, World Bridge Federation 40 Rue François 1er Paris, France 75008

Dear M. Damiani,

The Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center and downtown Detroit are honored that the World Bridge Federation is considering our city and our property to host the 2010 World Bridge Series. After enjoying such an overwhelming response from the American League and the participants of the 2008 North American Bridge Championships, we are thrilled to welcome such a prestigious, worldwide event to Motown. During the NABC championships the ACBL was able to operate the tournament entirely on our property. This grew an eagerness not only in the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center to expand our involvement in Contract Bridge tournaments, but in the city of Detroit to welcome a broader, international group of players and fans. Working in close conjunction with the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, we are excited to extend a humble and heartfelt invitation to the World Bridge Federation to host the 2010 World Bridge Series in the heart of Detroit, at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center.

During the 2010 World Bridge Series, we look forward to offering a location and facilities that will place the World Bridge Federation front and center during the tournament and provide undivided attention to your needs. The 1300 guest rooms at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center will provide in conjunction a facility to accommodate nearly the entire roster of players, family and fans, but also the unique ability to centralize the event into one, grand location. Coupled with the attention routinely given by our Convention & Visitors Bureau to those visiting our beloved city, we know that the 2010 World Bridge Series in Detroit will be remembered as one that received all of the World Bridge Federation visitors with open arms and left an indelible impression in their minds.

In addition to the welcome and reception the World Bridge Federation would receive by our residents and business owners, the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center would like to highlight some benefits you will receive right here at our hotel.

• Funding- The Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center will include a $10 Rebate built into the room rate to assist in the raising of funds for the 2010 World Bridge Series. $10 from each reservation made here at our hotel will go directly back to the WBF generating an estimated $100,000 in funding for the event.

• Location- The Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center is located on the Detroit River, an international waterway, and the constantly evolving and vivacious Riverwalk. In the heart of downtown, steps away from world class restaurants, sports and gaming. Across the river is Windsor, Canada, and the busiest border crossing in North America.

• Facilities- The Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, located within the world headquarters of General Motors, is a destination within a destination. The hotel boasts 1300 guestrooms and suites with over 100,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.

• Dining- Offering the latest in dining options for every budget, there are three upscale establishments for Fine Dining as well as a food court which occupies the lower level of the Renaissance Center.

• Accessibility- Located 20 minutes from Detroit’s Metropolitan Airport, Detroit is the largest hub for Northwest / KLM Airlines and DTW is serviced by every major airline. In 2002, Northwest Airlines opened its new McNamara Terminal with 98 new gates, vastly improving the delivery of services to travelers. The airport’s new North Terminal replaces the existing Smith and Berry terminals—making DTW one of the newest, most operationally-capable and efficient airports in North America. Together, DTW features two new terminals, nearly 150 gates, six jet runways, and two modern Federal Inspection Services facilities for international arrivals.

• A Revitalized Urban Destination- Current changes from city center to the suburbs, have deepened the commitment to Detroit’s prosperous future and positive visitor experience. New stadiums dot our skyline along with the addition of new attractions and entertainment venues.

We are confident that the newly renovated Marriott Hotel, within walking distance of revitalized downtown Detroit, along with Detroit’s excellent accessibility, will provide an exceptional venue for the 2010 World Bridge Series!

Meeting, Exhibit and Banquet Facilities

We have over 100,000 square feet of Meeting, Exhibit and Banquet space of which we are pleased to offer full use for the 2010 World Bridge Series. There is an additional 7000 square feet at our sister property, the Courtyard Detroit Downtown, as well as 29,000 square feet on the Renaissance Center complex for a total of 136,000 square feet for use by the WBF.

Guest Rooms

We are pleased to extend the special following rate for the 2010 World Bridge Series

at The Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center:

Guest rooms rates:

Standard: $139

Please let me know if you have any questions and thank you for considering the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center as the site of the 2010 World Bridge Series! Our property and our city are eager to welcome an international group of players and fans with the World Bridge Federation. We hope we will have the opportunity to discuss these options further and look forward to working with you to create a memorable and successful event in 2010.

Sincerely,

Matt Schonfeld

Matt Schonfeld Sales Manager Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center Renaissance Center Detroit, MI 48243 Phone: 313-568-8289 Fax: 313-447-2109 E-mail: [email protected]

Selection of comments about the Detroit NABC, Spring, 2008.

From those with considerable NABC experience: • Joan Gerard: Have you two recovered??? Never, but absolutely never have I seen more dedicated, devoted and caring people in charge of running a tournament. I have already written to Ron and told him the very same thing. We should be cloning the 3 of you and sending you round to all the NABC's in ACBL land and we would never have an unhappy player nor an unsuccessful NABC. You two and Ron made Detroit a place for everyone who was there to remember with nothing but happy thoughts. The hospitality was super and the smiling faces of all the volunteers made everything wonderful. … I hope you are now both resting and sitting back and thinking about what a wonderful job you all did. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. • Jan Martel: The site and hospitality and everything were great - thank you for all of your hard work! • Roni Gitchel Atkins: I just want to say that you all did a FANTASTIC job. Wonderful organization, volunteers… • Sandy DiMartino: Well I hope you are getting some well needed rest after a wonderful tournament. You and your volunteers (and Bill of course) did a great job. … Again thanks for a great time and will look forward to seeing you in Boston.

From experienced local players: • Don Rumelhart: Once again, let me congratulate the three of you for a job well done. I must confess, I had no idea how much work went into a tournament. Three cheers for the three chairs! • Stacey Tessler: Congratulations on a heck of a job by you, Bill and Ron. The tournament was a delight and the entertainment and food-- tops. Thanks for all you did and your countless donated hours • Barbara Jur: It was great fun. Thank you for all your work. • Dick Temkin: Thanks, Sandy. You and your co-chairs did a great job. Everything I heard was also very positive.— as response to the following note sent out from SA, On Mar 28, 2008, Just a quick note to tell you how much I appreciated all your help! Everywhere I went during the NABC I heard what wonderful volunteers we had here in Detroit and how friendly everyone was. Thank you so much! Many ACBL staff noted how efficient, effective, and friendly all the volunteers were. Folks from all over, from newcomer to experienced national-goer, had only the highest praise for the Detroit volunteers. Congratulations to all of you!

From those reading the final tournament report: • Georgia Heth: My gosh Sandy, this is impressive. It looks more like a dissertation than a tournament report. I assume it is okay to forward everything to my district's chairmen? • Joan Gerard: A very, very impressive report - almost as impressive as the NABC....I appreciated seeing my comments in the report. They were meant from the bottom of my heart. This report should be used by the ACBL to share with the various host groups. It would be very beneficial.

• Harriette Buckman: o Wow! This is indeed the most complete end-of-NABC report I have ever seen. Though Chicago is not yet on the schedule, it will be, and I have forwarded your work to the current Unit president who, I hope, will be my successor. Great work. o I love the idea of handing over a CD to whomever needs it. Again, great job. • Linda Mamula: Wow. I am just so impressed with your report. You have provided a roadmap for all future chairmen. Thank you for sharing all your research. (And I'm not even a future chairman.)

Extension into the future: • Jonathan Steinberg (to an e-mail group of his): As you probably know the ACBL provides all NABC Chairs with a comprehensive chapter by chapter manual, re: planning a future NABC in your city. ACBL's meeting planners are always available to answer any questions. The recent Detroit NABC is being used as a model how to plan and run an excellent NABC. Sandra Arlinghaus has prepared a comprehensive report (see attached Word document and various links) that I recommend reviewing as planning for the Toronto 2011 Summer NABC continues. • Hannah Davis (Louisville, 2011, Chair): o I met you both in Detroit, and Bill I saw you in Vegas. I am the chair of the NABC in Louisville, and am working on fund raising. Potential sponsors are interested in what can be done as splashing their names all over the promotional items. If you have items left over that I can show the sponsors, I would love to have a few. I would appreciate any help you can give me. Your report is fabulous and I am reading it and ingesting the information. o Somehow, I doubt it. Anyway, I need to know if the Detroit National website will still be up and running on February 23rd. My fund raising chair and myself are going to make a pitch to an insurance company and want to show your website. If this company does not come through, we are going to try a few more. If you could let me know how long the website will be up, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks for all your help. o Thanks. I know your website will help us in securing a company to help us. Will let you know how it goes. • Vangie Smith (Louisville, 2011, Fundraising Committee Chair): o My name is Vangie Smith and I am in charge of fundraising for the 2011 Louisville NABC. I think your website is very good and am interested in some of the particulars … o Thank you so much for your kind letter and all the information I was able to glean from your website. I printed your final report and have been reading it. It is so well written and contains a wealth of information. I used a lot of your material when Hannah Davis and I went to Columbus, Ohio, Monday to present our case to Nationwide. I work with them a lot and am in hopes that they might match what Compuware did. I may contact you again for tidbits that only you would know. I feel unworthy next to the effort you and your co-chairs made, but am trying to copy the "best". Thanks again, • Frank Lombardo (Boston, 2008, Chair): Great to hear from you and it was memorable sitting with you in the suite overlooking the river that morning. See you in Boston and looking forward to it. Thanks.

From those upon hearing about current efforts:

• Rich DiMartino: Great job, Sandy and Bill. I was initially lukewarm about having the World Championships here with such short notice but this certainly has promise. • Aileen Osofsky (ACBL Goodwill Chair--general comment, particularly in reference to current effort):....you never cease to amaze me.!!!!! I am so happy to hear from you....and all that you have put in motion...... you can be sure whatever little you think I can do....I am there to do it.... • Brian Walker (Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau—comment in reference to current effort): Sandy, please include Dan Doyle on future correspondence as he is the sales manager for your account. Yes, we want the business! Thanks! • Joan Gerard: This is an incredible site [reference to a preliminary website].... simply stupendous..... The whole world needs you to promote anything from ant spray to the finest of anything... YOU ARE THE BEST! Thanks for caring. • Sue Carlson (Senior Event Manager, Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center): What an extraordinary woman you are! Most of the words below (that you have used to describe your friends) also apply to you... Utterly delightful, incredibly intelligent, straightforward, strong, etc! You are amazing and so dear. The Detroit ACBL went so well in Detroit because of all of your (and Bill's) hard work. Your help in finding another (wonderful) for Detroit is spectacular! I have so much respect for you and Bill and really appreciate your friendship. We look forward to welcoming the "Team Trials" [and 2010 WBF] with as much warmth as we did for ACBL.

Links:

• Preliminary 2010 website, including an online link to this proposal: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~sarhaus/WBF2010/ViveLaDifference.html • Detroit 2008 NABC o website: http://www.detroit2008nabc.org/ Site donated for two years after the tournament for the benefit of those planning other tournaments. There are more links on this site as well as a great deal of information not only about the tournament but also about the city itself, tours with clickable maps, Excel spreadsheets, pdfs, virtual 3D images (requires Google Earth), and other exciting internet displays of material. Visit all the pages and links…”ride” the People Mover (elevated monorail)—see what downtown restaurants and other attractions are near People Mover stops o Final Report, Word Document, top report layer with all links o Final Report, pdf of entire document in one layer • Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center host hotel. • Courtyard by Marriott, Detroit (across the street from, and connected by interior walkway to, the Marriott at the Renaissance Center). • Renaissance Center • City of Detroit Official Website • Detroit Convention and Visitors Bureau • Detroit Chamber of Commerce • Detroit People Mover Monorail: downtown circuit • City of Windsor Official Website • Detroit Renaissance • The Detroit Institute of Arts • Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village • Meadow Brook Hall • Motown Historical Museum • Woodward Avenue. • River Cruises: Diamond Jack; Boblo.—Cruise part of the St. Lawrence Seaway! • Choice of Ann Arbor Michigan, by AARP, as the healthiest town in the US to retire to. CASINOS • MGM Grand Detroit Casino, 1300 John Lodge Freeway and Abbott Street, Detroit 48226 • Greektown Casino, 555 East Lafayette Blvd., Detroit 48226 • Motor City Casino, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit 48201 • Casino Windsor, 377 Riverside Drive East, Windsor, Ontario N9A 7H7 Canada RECENT EVENTS HOSTED IN DETROIT (all but the first in downtown Detroit) o 2004 (September 14-19), PGA, 35th Ryder Cup Matches o 2005 (July 12), Major League Baseball, All Star Game, Comerica Park o 2006 (February 5), National Football League, Superbowl, Ford Field o 2007, Summer, ABA Nationals o 2008, (March 6 – 16), ACBL Spring North American Bridge Championship, RenCen o 2008, (March 28 and 30), NCAA, Basketball Regional Championships, Ford Field o 2009 (April 4 and 6), NCAA, Basketball Final Four Championships, Ford Field

Appendices:

o Background Work: Volunteer Base and Welcoming Attitude When Bill and I were in Boston in November 2008, we heard near the end of the tournament that St. Petersburg (Russia) was probably not going to be able to fund the open World Bridge Federation (WBF) event that had been scheduled there for early autumn of 2010. We commented to Bill’s ACBL colleagues that although times were certainly tight financially all over, that Detroit had just recently shown itself to have both an outstanding site and crew of volunteers. Our infrastructure for the site and for running a tournament, with a network of volunteers, is already in place!

As is our custom when we work together, we have divided the labor to optimize our complementary skill sets. Since Boston, Bill has been engaged in a number of activities that are directly or indirectly related to the topic at hand--bringing a major WBF event to Detroit. Since Boston, Bill was able to complete visiting District 12 units at meetings with all Board members being given a chance to participate. o Interest in having this event is very high. It would be very welcome. o Key volunteers are interested in once again participating and helping in any way that they can.

We are encouraged that both the facility at Ren Cen and the volunteer base are here. There remain questions from some of the locals as to why this event would be something to support. So, education is in order. We focus on the following ideas: o What is good for Detroit is good for the entire midwestern region containing it. o A WBF event, as is an NABC. It will pump money into Detroit’s economy. o A WBF event is an opportunity to showcase the good points of locating a business here to the rest of the world. WBF participants are often leaders in their own nations and know how to spot opportunity of various sorts in various locales. o WBF events offer local players a chance to participate without travel cost...much like having an Olympic Games in one's own backyard. This would be a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity for many locals. o If Detroit is able to step up to the plate for this event, it will be held in high regard in many ways--what is good for the image of Detroit is good for reputation and good for the broader region, as well...especially in terms of long-range planning.

More broadly, we have been working in a number of related directions. o Also, while we were in Boston, we talked to Joan Gerard and to Jan Martel about possibly attracting USBF Senior and Women's Trials to Detroit in the Summer of 2011. Joan is currently working with the Detroit Marriott to see what sorts of possibilities might come about. Naturally, we are very hopeful here. Bill has also mentioned this possibility to local units and they are excited about this opportunity, as well. There is lots of support for the event and, again, key volunteers are willing and happy to welcome the group. If Detroit were to have a 2011 event, there could be a natural symbiotic relationship between the 2010 and 2011 events. o Bill has been working on "bridge in schools" in a number of ways. Again, he has talked to colleagues on the ACBL Board of Directors and has communicated with a contact provided by Jay Baum (and has ongoing communication in that regard). Bill wishes, and so does the contact, to have curricular adoptions of bridge system-wide taught in mathematics classrooms (after school programs and other elective opportunities are great but are not the same as major curricular innovations). Bill target system is Detroit--with a smaller system (such as Flint, for example) as a possible pilot project. He has been in touch with local university contacts about using university-level facilities as training-grounds for teachers in a system-wide effort. He has also been in touch with a local group here that has had success in getting bridge into the Ann Arbor school middle school system as an after school event. That's wonderfully encouraging and again a symbiotic arrangement appears to be in the making. WBF/USBF events in this region can work to stimulate interest--back and forth. o Young "athletes" need "heroes"...a WBF event would bring star players right into the backyards of emerging athletes. The presence of the first "mind-sports" event in Beijing this past year seems an important media opportunity in many regards and a selling point for bridge, for bridge in schools, and so forth. o Older bridge players also need heroes; indeed, this past summer, AARP chose Ann Arbor Michigan (about a one-hour drive west of Detroit) to be the healthiest hometown to retire to in the United States. Naturally, we expect an increase in the educated older population in that college town and therefore in the bridge-playing population in the Detroit metropolitan area. o Finally, the Great Lakes region is one of considerable interest. A few years ago, Bill and I were pleased to work at running upscale bridge events on Great Lakes cruises. These appeared to be of particular interest to European tourists: both were on ocean-going vessels—one on the German ship Columbus and another on the French ship Le Levant.

A WBF major event in Detroit is most welcome! We are ready to move forward to help you. For our part, in the long run, the educational component described above represents an effort at knitting multiple bridge strands into a single educational garment that could serve as a model for extension to an entire national or international "wardrobe"...think of the variant on the old song-- Detroit..."if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere"...

Hotel and Other Materials (Information from hotel website’s “Fact Sheet.” ------Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center Renaissance Center Detroit Michigan 48243 USA Phone: 1-313-568-8000 Fax: 1-313-568-8146 Sales: 1-313-568-8129

Directions from the Airport, Detroit/Wayne County—DTW • Hotel direction: 21 miles East. • Driving directions: Take I-94 East, exit Lodge Freeway (M10) South. Lodge Freeway becomes Jefferson Avenue. Turn right on Beaubien. Turn right on Atwater. Turn right at Renaissance Drive. The hotel is on the right. • Estimated taxi fare: 40.00 USD (one way).

Arrival Information • Check-In and Checkout o Check-in: 3:00 p.m. o Check-out: 12:00 p.m. o Video Review Billing, Video Check-out o Express Check-in and Express Check-out • Parking o Valet parking fee: 25 USD daily o Off-site parking, contact hotel for details o On-site parking refers to Self Parking in Beaubien Garage • Pet/Animal Policy: o Pets NOT allowed o Service animals allowed for persons with disabilities

Hotel Details • Layout: o 72 floors, 1,246 rooms, 52 suites o 29 meeting rooms, 100,000 square feet of total meeting space • Guest Room Information (may vary by room type) o General Room Amenities: Air conditioning, alarm clock, bottled water for a fee, coffee maker and tea service, crib, individual climate control, iron and ironing board, luxurious bedding – down comforters, custom duvets, cotton-rich linens, pillows – down/feather, pillows – foam, rollaway bed, safe o Bathroom Amenities: Hair dryer o Room Entertainment: Cable channel CNN, cable channel ESPN, cable channel HBO, cable/satellite TV, color TV, movies/videos, movies/videos pay-per-view o Business Amenities: Electrical outlet desk level, phone feature speakerphone, phone feature voice mail, two-line phone

Services • Complimentary Service: Coffee/tea in-room, phone calls toll free • Guest Services: Concierge desk, full-service business center, room service 5:30a.m. to 11:30p.m. • Safe deposit boxes at the front desk

Restaurants and Lounges: see hotel website for linked materials.

Recreation: Fitness center within hotel; other possibilities elsewhere.

Attractions and Landmarks: see hotel website for possibilities other than those above on the Links page of this proposal.

High-speed Internet Access • Public Areas: Wireless • Guest Rooms: Wired* • Meeting Rooms: Wired

*Wired-for-Business: For a set daily rate of 12.95 USD you get, in your guest room: High- speed Internet access, unlimited local phone calls, unlimited long distance calls (within the country), not available in all markets. Prices may vary in a few markets. ------o Banquet Menus from 2006 o Flyers, available from Bill Arlinghaus, in Houston. He leaves Houston on Monday, March 23, 2009.