EW is currently on a tour of the USA, visiting locations including LA and Fort Lauderdale. Here, editor Tom Hall examines the USA's potential MICE-friendly infrastructure developments in the continent.
EW has become well acquainted with the USA of late, and while we love the nation’s venue and destination offerings, we’re often less enthusiastic about the arduous commuting prospects.
When riding the New York Subway, for example, we could not help but feel that the USA’s infrastructure is often at odds with its reputation for thinking big. The MICE industry across the USA, however, could be about to benefit from a spate of epic schemes from both government and the free market.
The White House recently put its money where its mouth is on infrastructure by approving a study into a high-speed train project between Washington DC and New York that could transport passengers between the two cities in just an hour.
The US Federal Railroad Administration approved a grant of US$27.8m to a private company called Northeast Maglev to study the maglev technology, or magnetic levitation, in which cars are levitated and propelled by magnetic force.
The train, not dissimilar to the existing Japanese system, could travel at around 300mph, and the first leg of the project could connect Washington to Baltimore in 15 minutes at a cost of about $10bn.
The MICE industry is welcoming the prospect of vastly quicker travel to events. President and CEO at Palm Beach Show Group Scott Diament questioned why technologies such as maglev trains, were not considered sooner. “These trains can reach speeds of more than 270mph and there’s no reason why the USA should have fallen so far behind this,” he adds.
The technology has also won praise from global dignitaries, with Japanese ambassador Kenichiro Sasae reportedly saying the proposed scheme would be a great asset to the busy Northeast Corridor.
Javits Center’s president and CEO Alan Steel also praised the plans. He told CMW that he would support a united scheme to bring America’s transportation in line with the world’s best. “Generally speaking when America is behind the curve, its catches up. I think things like maglev trains are necessary. We do not have as much efficient, truly forward looking infrastructure as we need,” he commented.
With America’s election looming, infrastructure is a hot topic. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump backs fossil fuel energy for the next 15-years, but has indicated the need to begin rebuilding America’s infrastructure, which, by most estimates, needs a $3.6 trillion investment.
The man Trump backs is Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors. His vision includes electric powered cars and electromagnetic rail systems like the Hyperloop – levitating pods propelled through partially pressurised tubes at more than 700mph.
Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, backs increasing federal infrastructure funding by $275bn over a five-year period, with an infrastructure plan that would result in up to $500bn in federally supported investment.
The USA is thinking big again, and MICE will benefit.
