| Trouble viewing this email? Click here. |
 |
 |
Dear Friends:
I have good news to share with all of you. On Monday, I joined Governor Walker, DOT Secretary Mike Gottlieb and our friends at Visit Beloit to officially re-open the Beloit Welcome Center.
From the beginning, the Governor felt strongly that a Wisconsin Welcome Center should be more than a rack with literature. Opening the doors of the highest traffic center was one of our top goals from the very first day Deputy Dave and I started at Tourism.
The new arrangement is the result of a public-private partnership between Tourism, DOT and Visit Beloit. The agreement creates a branded presence for TravelWisconsin.com in the three interstate centers -- La Crosse, Kenosha and Beloit.
And here is the best part -- the three co-branded centers will distribute travel brochures at no charge to the state's travel and hospitality industry. This will make it easier for the tourism industry – mostly small businesses – to have a no-cost presence at the highest traffic rest areas, which together serve over 500,000 travelers per year.
This is a definite shift in current operations and it's not without some adjustments. In the end, we believe this is a win-win for our entire tourism industry.
I'd like to thank DOT and the staff of Visit Beloit for their extraordinary cooperation and for their speed in getting the center open for July 4th weekend. Visit Beloit reports over 4,000 travelers were served over the holiday!
I also want to take this opportunity to thank all of our Gateway Visitor Information Center partners for their ongoing commitment to serve the thousands of travelers that pass through their communities. We continue to work with all of the GVIC's to fine-tune operations so we can best serve our travelers and the tourism industry.
Before sending guides to the centers, please check our industry site for procedures. If you have questions after reviewing the information, contact Joellyn Merz Customer Services Manager or your Regional Tourism Specialist.
Best Wishes,
Stephanie
|
|
|
 |
| |
Wisconsin Arts Board and JEM Grants
As we welcome the Wisconsin Arts Board to Tourism this month, we are already discovering many natural synergies between the two organizations especially through our grant program. The JEM program has historically included many tourism projects that already have an arts focus or tie. However, we have fielded several questions about whether the arts community can apply for JEM grants. And the answer is a resounding YES! -- as long as applications still comply with the statutes and rules.
Packers, Media Personalities and Celebs Blog for TravelWisconsin.com
Soon-to-be Packer Hall-of-Famer William Henderson is among the celebrities and hometown favorites sharing their Wisconsin vacation memories on the TravelWisconsin.com blog. Other notable Wisconsin figures blogging include former Packer Gilbert Brown, sportswriter Jason Wilde, Milwaukee-based food critic Kyle Cherek, Milwaukee Fox 6 reporter Justin Williams, actor Mark Metcalf among several others.
Tourism Staff Changes
There have been a number of staff changes this month with some new faces, modifications in job duties and goodbyes to two of our colleagues. Also check out the Tourism photo from a recent staff gathering to celebrate our increase in appropriation for the Tourism budget.
-
We are excited to welcome Danielle Johnson to the Public Relations team this month. A recent UW Eau Claire graduate, she got her feet wet in PR with the Eau Claire Jazz Festival.
-
Jeri Krohn, previously with the Arts Board, is now the Secretary's Office Executive Secretary. Contact Jeri if you need to get in touch with Stephanie, Dave or George to schedule an appointment or book them for an event. She is also the point person for the coordination of grant check presentations.
-
We are also excited to add Adrienne Tracy to our Customer Service Center. When you need information or have questions, she may be the one you speak with.
-
Shelly Allness has moved to Industry Services. Some of the duties she will perform include the Travel Green Wisconsin program manager, serve as liaison with the DNR and Wisconsin's 11 tribes, and manage the film tax credit program and other special projects.
-
We are also pleased to have two summer interns on board to help us out: Megan Finley and Ryan Unsworth. They have interests in hospitality, government, communications and marketing. They are working in a number of different areas of the Department, gaining experience and helping us out.
-
Two of our staff members have moved on to new opportunities this month. Janet DesChenes, former Marketing and Communication Director, accepted a new position in the private sector. Congratulations to Laura Muenich on her retirement. We wish them both well!
Note: that decisions to refill these positions are underway. Any questions about staffing should be directed to Deputy Dave.
"Power of Tourism" Power Point
Regional Tourism Specialists now have a Power of Tourism power-point presentation to take on the road to the industry. This presentation focuses on the importance of tourism as an economic driver. It will have a unique feature that allows a destination or region to customize the presentation to make it applicable to their constituents. Contact your Regional Tourism Specialist for more information.
Refreshed Official Travel Guide
A new version of the Department's Official Travel Guide is now available! You can access a downloadable version on our website.
Tourism at State Fair
The Department will again be having our annual travel information booth staffed by our industry partners at the Wisconsin State Fair this year. Stop by the Product Pavilion and say hello!
Tourism Dashboard
See the Department's July metrics report. New this month are stats on the newly launched mobile version of TravelWisconsin.com. Over 33,000 pages were viewed on the mobile site in June with spikes over the weekends. The takeaway? Travelers are using both the mobile site and apps while they are traveling.
Tourism Grant Tip of the Month
Remember that Tourism in no longer offering a May round of JEM Grants beginning fiscal year 2012. Please plan ahead and submit your JEM application accordingly!
Wisconsin in the News
Many of our tourism news and clips are online but here are few recent highlights:
- Elkhart Lake was featured in an OnMilwaukee.com article highlighting the charm of the area deeper than racecars.
-
Midwest Living showcased culinary delights in the Southwest region of WI.
-
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel included a story about Bayfield as a charming nautical escape.
-
Lisa appeared on WISC-TV Ch 3 for an on-air interview and talked about a few fantastic and budget-friendly WI summer vacations: Devil's Lake, Apostle Islands, Eagle River and Cave of the Mounds.
|
 |
| |
New! Travel Green Wisconsin Signage
Stephanie and Dave personally delivered new Travel Green Wisconsin signage to American Players Theatre in Spring Green (see photo) early this month. Each certified business can expect to receive the new sign courtesy of the Department. Our Regional Tourism Specialists are delivering them in person this summer.
Congratulations New Members
The following businesses have recently earned TGW certification:
-
Boreal Shores, Bayfield
-
Candlewood Suites, La Crosse
-
Dahlmann Campus Inn, Madison
-
Landmark Resort, Egg Harbor
-
Token Creek Eco-Inn, De Forest.
A special note of recognition to Token Creek Eco-Inn, they scored 112 points due to their sustainability commitments! In addition, we give a special 'green thumbs up' to the Pinehurst Inn in Bayfield. They continue to hold the highest score (140 points!) and they actually improved it via their recent renewal. Way to go!
Travel Green Wisconsin in the News
Read the recent Journal-Sentinel article about the Green Leaf Inn, which will soon break ground in Delavan. The article talks about Travel Green Wisconsin and includes an interview with Steve Sandstrom from the Pinehurst Inn.
Travel Green Wisconsin Advertising Launching Soon
Did you know Wisconsin has the first state-sponsored green travel program? Travel Wisconsin's "Travel Green Wisconsin" program shares the benefits of eco-friendly travel in our state. Paid search and online media placements will begin running on August 1, 2011. Our online marketing program will be featured in popular 'green' websites that include Yahoo, Our Amazing Planet and Living Green and many others. Social Media will also be in the mix targeting Travel Green events and articles. In the meantime, find more information on the program by visiting the Travel Green directory: http://bit.ly/GreenMeansGo
New Green Travel Lists
Watch for Travel Green Wisconsin travel lists posted to TravelWisconsin.com. If you have a great idea for a green itinerary, we encourage you to fill out a travel list and submit it online.
Learn More
Contact Shelly Allness and she'd be happy to help you with your Travel Green Wisconsin questions or application. You can also reach her at (608) 261-8767.
|
|
