Travel WI News

26/01/2023

We're only a few days away from U.S. Travel Association's National Plan for Vacation Day, on Tuesday, January 31. It's a great opportunity to encourage travelers to choose Wisconsin when making plans to use those hard-earned vacation hours. Check out the toolkit for resources to join the conversation!

National Plan for Vacation Day (NPVD) is celebrated annually on the last Tuesday in January. It is a day to encourage Americans to plan their vacation days for the whole year at the start of the year—and inspire them to use those days to explore the USA.

23/01/2023

Know someone doing amazing work in Wisconsin tourism? Nominations are now open for the Governor's Tourism Awards! The Governor's Tourism Awards recognize individuals and businesses that turn BIG dreams into exceptional results leaving a lasting impact on Wisconsin's tourism industry. Submit your nominations by January 31!

https://bit.ly/3HrW3QC

16/01/2023

Ski season is underway — and the Chicago Tribune recommends Wausau's Granite Peak Ski Resort and Upson's Whitecap Mountains Resort as great destinations for a snowy getaway.

SkiWisconsin.com Visit Wausau: Wausau/Central Wisconsin CVB

Ski resorts in Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula have remodeled lodges, updated lifts and piled on the snow for 2022-23 skiing in the Midwest.

13/01/2023

Our winter campaign is LIVE and celebrates Wisconsin's stunning winter wonderland! You'll notice this winter's campaign continues the "Here's to Those Who Wisconsin" brand idea — leaning into Wisconsin's celebratory nature and highlighting shared moments of joy in a way that is unique and ownable to Wisconsin. Maintaining this consistency across our campaigns through multiple seasons is an intentional way we can elevate the Travel Wisconsin brand and reinforce our brand strategy. Watch and share our 30-second spot.

12/01/2023

Wisconsin's outdoor recreation economy is having a WOW moment! According to to the data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Wisconsin's outdoor recreation industry contributed a record-setting $8.7 billion to the state's gross domestic product in 2021. Wisconsin's outdoor economy grew more than three times faster than the state's overall economy, reinforcing the industry's powerful resilience and strength.

The report also underscores the inextricable link between outdoor recreation and tourism with travel, tourism and local trips accounting for nearly $2.8 billion of outdoor recreation's contributions to Wisconsin's GDP.

Press Release: Gov. Evers, Tourism Announce Wisconsin's $8.7 Billion Outdoor Recreation Industry Sees Record Year State of Wisconsin sent this bulletin at 12/15/2022 08:30 AM CST FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: [email protected] Gov. Evers, Tourism Announce Wisconsin's $8.7 Billion Outdoor Recreation In...

11/01/2023

Stretch your promotional dollars with high-impact, low-cost tactics by joining the Travel Wisconsin co-op program. If you have ever wanted to...

• Host a content creator, but didn't know where to start
• Try broadcast television, but didn't have the in-house expertise
• Advertise an event via billboard, but winced at the fee

The Travel Wisconsin co-op is here to help with these and many other tactics by allowing you to pool your funds with ours, so we can continue to drive big-time tourism economic impact for Wisconsin! Sign up today.

The primary objective for the co-op program is to provide strategic and affordable advertising and public relations opportunities to help you engage and attract key audiences to your destination.

10/01/2023

The Wisconsin Governor's Conference on Tourism (WIGCOT) is going BIG in 2023 and registration is now OPEN! Will we see you there?

March 12-14
KI Convention Center
Green Bay, WI

WIGCOT 2023 will not only sharpen the tools in your toolbox but reset your entire approach to tourism promotion. Whether you want to advance your work in welcoming all or promoting outdoor recreation, up your marketing or public relations game, motivate your team, secure more grants or leverage the value of Travel Wisconsin, this conference will be a game changer. Register today!

09/01/2023

For the third year in a row, a Wisconsin Department of Tourism team member is on the list of Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales, Marketing, Revenue Optimization from the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI). Secretary-designee Anne Sayers received the award in 2020, Office of Outdoor Recreation Director Mary Monroe Brown received the distinction in 2021 and Travel Wisconsin Chief Marketing Officer Shane Brossard was recently named a 2022 awardee.

Shane's approach to marketing is a convergence of science, data and creativity to maximize results. This, combined with Shane's competitive nature, gives Travel Wisconsin the edge that continues to set Wisconsin apart. We're so grateful for his countless contributions to our team and thrilled to see his dedication to Wisconsin's tourism industry being recognized. Congratulations, Shane!

https://bit.ly/3vRFTcA

03/12/2022

VISIT Lake Geneva is home to one of the most charming Main Streets in the U.S., according to the experts at Fodor's Travel

Topsy Turvy Brewery Hill Valley Dairy LLC Maxwell Mansion - Lake Geneva Avant Cycle Cafe The Farm Stand

These eight cities have the quaintest, cutest, most walkable streets in the country.

02/12/2022

The Wisconsin Restaurant Association together with Adesso Capital is excited to help put money back in restaurant budgets. Restaurants may be eligible to apply for the ERC tax credit for retaining employees during the pandemic, up to $26,000 per W2 employee, even if you received PPP funding.

Wisconsin Restaurant Association is excited partner with Adesso Capital to help put money back into your pocket. Adesso Capital’s CPA team are tax experts. Together, we help businesses like yours receive tax credits dating back to 2020. Adesso files all the necessary paperwork and handles all foll...

01/12/2022

Milwaukee is getting a new pro soccer team and we're so excited that they'll join robust lineup of iconic Wisconsin sports teams. Deputy Secretary Maria Van Hoorn joined officials in Milwaukee to welcome a new ULS soccer team to the Iron District. The un-named team is set to take the pitch in 2025. We look forward to welcoming soccer fans from near and far that will fill our hotels and restaurants and stay for long weekends to explore Milwaukee and beyond. We're huge fans already!

Milwaukee Pro Soccer VISIT Milwaukee

30/11/2022

What a fabulous time we had reconnecting as an industry at Destinations Wisconsin Fall Tourism Conference! With a theme of "Make a Splash," our team is still riding the wave of inspiration and new ideas. Secretary-designee Sayers provided an update on the work of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism alongside Chief Marketing Officer Shane Brossard and Communications Director Craig Trost. In a word, we've done big things this year and we have even bigger plans for the future. More on that soon!

In the meantime, save the date for next year's conference in Milwaukee November 9-10, 2023 – reminder, you don't need to be a Destinations Wisconsin member to attend.

VISIT Milwaukee Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau

29/11/2022

Small Business Saturday took Deputy Secretary Maria Van Hoorn to downtown Eau Claire where she got a start on her holiday shopping.

Raggedy Man
Hello Adorn
Visit Eau Claire, WI

28/11/2022

Check out The Cheese Professor's deep dive look into how Feltz Family Farm in Stevens Point is surviving and thriving thanks to Wisconsin cheese.

Feltz Family Farms and Dairy Store
Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Wisconsin Cheese

A closer look at a dairy transitioning to making cheese

26/11/2022

Ski season is here — and the recommends Wausau's Granite Peak Ski Resort and Upson's Whitecap Mountains as great destinations for a snowy getaway.

Visit Wausau: Wausau/Central Wisconsin CVB
Granite Peak Ski Resort

Ski resorts in Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula have remodeled lodges, updated lifts and piled on the snow for 2022-23 skiing in the Midwest.

25/11/2022

Let's hear it for Wisconsin cider! CIDERCRAFT Magazine gets the details on Upstream Cider in Stevens Point from Co-Owner Polly Dalton.
Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Upstream Cider, a Stevens Point, Wis., cidery, is focused on crafting wild fermented ciders from organically grown local apples.

23/11/2022

In a new feature for Citylifestyle, Diana Lambdin Meyer highlights the fact that Wisconsin isn't just cheese country — it's also cranberry country.

Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Assn
Warrens Cranberry Festival
Wisconsin Cranberry Discovery Center
Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association
Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce
Rooted In Red
Lake Nokomis Cranberries
Manitowish Waters Chamber of Commerce
Wetherby Cranberry Company

The Wisconsin Cranberry Harvest Wisconsin is more than just cheese country

23/11/2022

Northwest Regional Tourism Specialist Julie Fox kicked off the annual St. Croix Valley Fall Tourism Conference with updates from Travel Wisconsin and the Office of Outdoor Recreation. Over 45 attendees gathered in Amery to network, share expertise and learn from tourism professionals including Dr. Brian Kumm-Shaley and Dr. Katherine Evans from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Tourism Research Institute. These conversations amplify the work DMOs are doing across the state, driving visitors to make unforgettable memories here in Wisconsin.

Saint Croix Valley Tourism Polk County Information Center