An occasional e-newsletter from the Governor's Council on Tourism and the Wisconsin Department of Tourism 

Monday, December 15, 2003

Welcome to Now You Know!

On September 25 the Council on Tourism held a day long planning session to map out initiatives to improve the Tourism Department and advance the tourism industry over the next few years.

One need identified by Council members was for better communication between the Council, Department and "industry partners". A periodic newsletter was suggested. Here it is!

Now You Know will be distributed electronically, unless you ask for a hard copy to be mailed or faxed. Content will come from Tourism Department staff and from Council members, but if you've got news you'd like distributed to readers please let us know. We welcome contributed items.

Now You Know will join the Department's other electronic newsletter… Travel Wisconsin News. There are two main differences. Now You Know will be distributed about every two weeks. Travel Wisconsin News will come out every other month.

Now You Know will focus more on the "inside baseball" of Council work, Department initiatives and legislative politics, while Travel Wisconsin News will feature more general news of interest to the broader travel and hospitality marketplace.

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In this Issue:

• Deadline Soon for Diversity Planning Grant Aps
• Council/Committees Accounted For and Active
• Travel/Hospitality Wage Study in the Works
• Golf Wisconsin

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Deadline Soon For Diversity Planning Grant Aps

December 31st of this year is when applications are due at the Department of Commerce for the new Tourism Economic Diversification Planning Grant Program. The application is a simple, three page affair and local units of government can receive up to $20,000 (locals must offer a cash match of at least 25% of total project costs) to help develop plans for broadening the base of an area's economy.

All communities in the state… especially those strongly dependent on tourism… should be thinking about ways to be less dependent on variables beyond their control like weather, uncertain gas prices, security threats, fluctuations in the national economy and other phenomena. This grant program would certainly help.

E-mail your request for an application to Dawn Zanto or call 608-266-8525.

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Council/Committees Accounted For and Active

The Governor's Council on Tourism has been at full strength (21 members) since July, and now all five of the Council's standing committees are ready to roll. The Marketing; Meetings and Conventions; and Joint Effort Marketing Committees have been getting together regularly. The first meeting of the Professional Development Committee is set for December 22 and the first session of the Legislative Committee will convene on January 13. Regular reports will follow the meetings.

If you're interested in service on any of these panels, please let us know by e-mail or phone 608-266-2345.

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Travel/Hospitality Wage Study In The Works

As Governor Doyle's "Grow Wisconsin" campaign for an improved state economy continues to advance, it will be important to know with more specificity just how closely the perception of tourism as an industry of low average wage employment matches reality.

Therefore, the Department of Tourism is planning to join with the Wisconsin Tourism Federation in underwriting a comprehensive study by the University of Wisconsin on travel and hospitality sector wage rates.

UW Professor David Marcouiller will administer the study, with a target completion time of October, 2004.

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Golf Wisconsin

So this marginally accomplished golfer whacks a drive off tee #4 and the ball slices to the right, striking one of a foursome out on the fairway who happens to be an attorney. As the lawyer lies in agony on the grass with a huge bump on his head, the offending golfer approaches. "You incompetent idiot!" yells the barrister. "My head is killing me, and I'm suing you for $5,000"! "But, I yelled 'fore'" exclaims the slicer. "O.K.," replies the attorney, "you got a deal."

With the world golf spotlight focused on the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Haven, WI this August, and with the Greater Milwaukee Open preceding the PGA in July, the Department of Tourism will launch a comprehensive effort in 2004 to market Wisconsin as a premier golf travel destination.

Dubbed "Golf Wisconsin" the effort will feature a series of unique promotions designed to increase interest in the game. A "Golf Wisconsin" day featuring free or reduced rate golf and lessons for youth, a "Wisconsin Family Cup" tournament, golf merchandise and overnight package give-aways, and the development of special "golf Wisconsin" tours will highlight the campaign.

Do you have a good idea to make this year of golf campaign better and more successful? Or would you like to tie into it in some way? Call Jerry Huffman at 608-261-8195 or e-mail him.

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