I’m Sheila Neal, Associate Vice President of Strategic Alliances at Visit Detroit. I lead the development and management of national and international industry partnerships that strengthen Detroit’s position in the meetings, conventions, and events marketplace.

My work is centered on creating strategic relationships that go beyond sponsorships. I focus on partnerships that give Visit Detroit access to industry intelligence, customer engagement, thought leadership, workforce development, and opportunities that help us better understand how we can serve meeting professionals and grow business for our destination.

With more than 30 years of nonprofit leadership and hospitality experience, I’ve built my career around bringing people and organizations together, creating meaningful experiences, and developing partnerships that deliver measurable value. I’m especially passionate about connecting our industry relationships back to Detroit’s hotels, venues, businesses, and communities so that the impact extends beyond any one event.

As a proud native Detroiter, I love sharing the story of a city that continues to evolve, innovate, and surprise people. At IMEX, I’m always interested in connecting with industry leaders, association executives, meeting professionals, and potential partners who are thinking differently about collaboration, destination engagement, workforce development, and the future of our industry.

If you see me at IMEX, please introduce yourself. I’m always interested in a conversation about what we can build together.