Leadership Notes: Convention Center, Omni opening result of Chamber vision, planning

The opening of the new Oklahoma City Convention Center and the accompanying Omni Hotel is a landmark moment for our community, and one that would not have happened without the Chamber’s efforts.

More than 15 years ago, this organization began the work to assess our community’s competitive position in the meetings industry and began laying out a roadmap for how we bring more business to Oklahoma City. The Chamber funded a study that gave us the information we needed to build the right size and type of facility, and identified other assets we would need to be a success.

With a successful Chamber-led campaign to pass MAPS 3 in 2009, we were on our way, and now 11 years later, we see this vision become a full reality for our city.

I want to congratulate the city staff, the architects and the contractors of the convention center; and the entire Omni team on a job well done. We have created a dynamic environment that is going to be incredibly attractive to meeting planners and attendees alike.

Why is this so important? This industry is a critical part of our future. It brings billions of dollars to our community each year, providing jobs, diversifying our economy and supporting our quality-of-life infrastructure. It also exposes visitors to this amazing place we call home, giving them a chance to go back and tell the story of Oklahoma City, spurring greater growth in the future.

The work continues as we work to bring meetings in 2021 and beyond. I look forward to sharing stories of our success.

This story originally appeared in the Jan. 2021 edition of The Point.