The Creative Class Group will embark on a variety of initiatives influenced by the creative group they have identified. They will perform research to help Le Méridien identify new development opportunities by applying their exclusive ‘creativity index’, using the Creative Class Group’s one-of-a-kind framework; technology + talent + tolerance and territorial assets. CCG will help to connect Le Méridien hotels to key contacts in each city from the fields of tourism, culture, art, design and cuisine. They will work to acquire influential speakers to participate in “New Perspective Events” at Le Méridien hotels across the globe. CCG  will also curate content for the ‘Hub’ libraries selected based on their research on the core attributes, values and preferences of the Creative Class. The books selected will comprise of a mix of contemporary and foundational books about creative culture in the arts, design, economy and society, as well as localized books reflecting each cities history and characteristics.

Read the full release here.

Photo © Ralph Gibson

Check out this interview.

Here are the featured spaces:

• A Masterful Modern Reno in Historic Georgetown, Washington D.C
  
• Cold Office Space Turns Sweeping, Luxurious Living in Downtown Toronto

Read about my travel adventures in the business section of today’s New York Times.

In her September 3 blog post, “Creative Florida”, Rana Florida asked for thoughts about Florida tourism. As a resident of St. Petersburg, Florida, I thought I should respond.

Tourism has long been the golden goose in Florida but it is also a double-edged sword. We have no state income tax in large part due to the sales tax revenue that tourism provides. When the tourists come, the coffers fill and all is well. When we have downturns in the economy or other disruptions (such as hurricanes or 9/11) our budgets shrink. This volatility prevents us from having a predictable revenue stream which in turn means less long-term planning.

For better or worse, tourism also defines Florida. For many it is great to have that identity but I know a lot of creative class entrepreneurs in high-tech who lament that they can’t attract talent or VC interest because no one takes Florida seriously as a business environment.

But to me the largest impact of tourism is that it has made us lazy (I say this with love, Florida!). Tourism is easy money and we have coasted on that for too long. When the tourists just arrive with bags of money, why innovate? Why invest in our schools or our infrastructure? Why make the hard tax choices when we can raise the bed tax on hotel rooms or local tax on car rentals? We need to rethink tourism and make it a higher value experience, one that leverages the service economy and makes it more creative and innovative.

Florida had a wake-up call last year when, for the first time since WW2, we had a net outflow of population. That is a seismic shift in the underpinnings of Florida’s economy and I hope that it forces us to look at diversifying our economy and making the harder choices of developing industries beyond the beach and theme park.

Richard Florida will discuss economic competitiveness, demographic trends, and cultural innovation at the Global City Forum in Abu Dhabi on April 7. Over 1,000 urban decision-makers from 250 cities will be gathered at this event.

Global City is the only international forum where public and private leaders exchange best practices and share sustainable urban strategies. This unique networking platform dedicated to mayors, urban planners, decision-makers and leaders, will be held in Abu Dhabi in April 2009 – for the first time in the Middle East.

What do you consider the greatest challenges of globalization and sustainability that face your city?

Rana and Richard Florida and event organizers, Reed Exhibitions

Global City, Abu Dhabi - Emrites Palace

Richard's representative from Abu Dhabi

Richard giving the morning keynote

Mr. Eid AlMazroi advisor to the chairman of the Department of Planning and Economy, Rana & Richard Florida

Richard gave the keynote address yesterday at the Festival delle Citta Impresa (A Festival of the City – Enterprise) in Schio, Italy (just outside Venice).  The Festival, organized by Nordesteuropa Editore, took place in an architecturally and culturally creative textile prototyping factory.  The event spurred vibrant discussions about the future challenges of the economy, politics and society, creativity and research.

Meet Richard and Rana Florida at their Toronto home in this House & Home video tour. See even more in the April 2009 issue of the magazine.

We just returned from Moscow where Richard was the keynote speaker at the Federal Agency on Youth Affairs, Government of The Russian Federation alongside other notables including Virgin’s Richard Branson, Apple guru Guy Kawaski, and best-selling author John Naisbitt. The conference focus was the role of innovation among the country’s youth, with audience members ranging in age from 14-25 years old. We enjoyed a fabulous dinner at the famed Cafe Pushkin and Kawaski was lucky enjoy to get his shoes shined by Branson. What do you think of Moscow’s Creative Class?

Richard and Rana at dinner at Cafe Pushkin with Naisbitt, Kawasaki and our hosts

Opening Keynote by Richard

Rana and Richard with conference organizer, Mikhail