Now You KnowAugust 11, 2004 Do Do ‘N Do Do Fall's here, and so is the Department's autumn marketing campaign. Travelwisconsin.com has been converted to the fall "look and feel", and television commercials are "on the air" trying to compete with all those political ads for the public's attention. Since much of Wisconsin's tourism marketing efforts are aimed at the Chicago and Twin Cities metro areas, Badger State residents don't always get to see the message. Therefore, we've added a nice sample of the fall media campaign to our "Agency" website. Go right to http://agency.travelwisconsin.com and take a look! ******************************************************************* Towns Get Tourism TIFs Tourism is among the four purposes for which Wisconsin towns can now create Tax Incremental Financing districts. 2003 Wisconsin Act 231 says that, starting October 1, towns can create TIFs for projects related to agriculture, forestry, manufacturing or tourism. TIF rules for towns are tougher than for cities and villages, but at least now the opportunity is there. TIF districts use cash raised by the sale of government bonds to build infrastructure like roads, sewers, water mains, electrical service, etc. needed to support redevelopment or new development in the community. Property taxes on the new or rehabbed buildings in the TIF district are used to pay off the bonds, making possible projects that may not have been affordable without the special district. ******************************************************************* Our Service Is The Difference Don’t miss two outstanding professional development opportunities this month. On Friday, September 17 the very first class for Wisconsin Welcome trainers will be held in Madison. 15 individuals will learn how to present the Wisconsin Welcome program to “front line” tourism workers. Trainers will learn how to coach tourism employees on how to deliver exceptional customer service, solve problems for business owners, use diplomacy and tact with the public, and generally conduct themselves as ambassadors for their employers as well as for their community and state. If your Chamber, CVB, DMO or other organization would like to have a staff member trained to present the Wisconsin Welcome curriculum, call 608-266-2345 now to register. Only 3 or 4 seats are still available…so call now. Introductory tuition for this first class is just $50. On Thursday, September 30, the Disney “Keys To Excellence” program is coming to Madison. This program is a management level seminar comprised of four, 1 ½ hour sessions. You can attend one, two or all of the sessions on topics including leadership, management, service and loyalty. The cost is $100 per session or $350 for the full day. Register by visiting www.wigcot.org/Disney.htm. ******************************************************************* Wisconsin Arts Congress Arts and cultural events and attractions are a fast-growing component of this state’s travel economy. Recognizing this, and understanding the many other ways artistic endeavors impact our Wisconsin economy and lifestyle, an organization called the Wisconsin Assembly For Local Arts, along with the Wisconsin Arts Board, has scheduled the first ever Arts Congress for October 12 in Madison. This full day event will give arts advocates, along with businesspeople, educators, elected officials and planners, an opportunity to develop a cohesive and comprehensive approach to maximizing arts involvement in all aspects of Wisconsin life including business, education, government and leisure. If all this sounds interesting and worthwhile, register online at www.wisconsinarts.org. ******************************************************************* Hey Big Spender Last month we wrote about the relative level of travel promotion spending among the states. Wisconsin was 12 th (with 46 states reporting) at $12.8 million. Now the Travel Industry Association has issued their annual study of travel economic impact state by state and, surprise, most of the states that invested heavily in tourism promotion can be found in the top 10. Here are the top ten states by total traveler spending in 2002. Wisconsin measured $11.7 billion in travel spending in 2002, so you can see we fall just outside the top 10. Total Traveler Spending (in billions) 1. California $68.2 ******************************************************************* Have You Heard? Geri Simandl, formerly with the Grand Geneva, is now Tourism Marketing Director for the City of Whitewater. Richard Smith is the new Sports Marketing Manager for the Fond du Lac CVB. Robert O’Donnell has left his post as Executive Director of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc. Kathleen Galas, President of the Manitowoc County CVB, was recently elected President of the Wisconsin Harbortowns Association. Russ Stevens from Trempleau County is the new chair of the Great River Road Promotions Committee. Kevin Eccles has left the Wiscoinsin Sports Development Commission and is now an events planner for Metavante Corporation in Milwaukee. ******************************************************************* Department Meetings: September 16. Joint Effort Marketing Committee. 10a.m. – 2 p.m. Tourism Office. Madison. September 24. Meetings and Conventions Committee. Noon – 2 p.m. Tourism Office. Madison. October 28. Marketing Committee. 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Tourism Office. Madison. |