Just An Observation

The current issue of Wisconsin Great Lakes Chronicle features a couple of articles describing how several great lakes cities in Wisconsin have converted former manufacturing space (usually along the shore) into tourism-oriented attractions or facilities.

Cited are larger communities like Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha; medium sized cities like Manitowoc and Sheboygan; and smaller places like Marinette, Port Washington and even little Haven (home to Whistling Straits).

This is a positive thing, right?

Well, for some communities the tourism developments are described as part of a "transition" or "conversion" from a local economy based on manufacturing to one more dependent on tourism. In these places, tourism properties displaced factories, which have closed or moved away, and the community becomes more reliant on travel spending to support the local economy.

In other places, new tourism developments do not displace but instead complement a manufacturing economy that continues to thrive. The new tourism facilities and attractions do not represent a shift in the economic base so much as they add to the economy and reflect smart land use decisions which allow tourism properties to occupy and capitalize upon a community's most scenic locations. Factories are relocated to other places in the community.

Obviously, from an economic standpoint, the second scenario is more desirable.

Wisconsin's tourism economy will continue to grow only so long as people have the financial means to travel. There are good paying jobs in every sector of the economy, but a higher proportion of workers earn better wages in manufacturing and technology occupations than in other sectors and so communities need to continue to focus on the economic benefits that manufacturing jobs provide. This is the essence of Governor Doyle's "Grow Wisconsin" plan for economic development.

Tourism businesses play a complementary, but key role by augmenting the manufacturing and technology sectors locally, and by providing essential "quality of life" advantages to communities.

Balance and diversity are the keys. Communities which work to cultivate a high wage manufacturing or technology job base, complemented by tourism, service, retail and agricultural jobs will do better than communities which develop a dependency on one or the other.

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Would You Help Us With This?

When the always well attended Governor's Conference on Tourism opens in Wisconsin Dells on March 12 – 14 there will be fewer persons of color in the crowd than should be the case for an industry that employs so many minorities.

In order to provide this professional development opportunity to more ethnic minorities, we are asking facility owners and organization managers to help us identify and recruit prospective attendees. With your help, we can meet our goal of stronger minority attendance.

Contact us with your recommendations, and we will follow up with recruiting efforts. Thanks.

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And This?

Over the next couple of weeks most of you will receive a brief survey from the Department in the mail. We are interested in learning how relevant and useful you find the services that the Department provides to the travel and hospitality industry.

As we assess our current menu of programs and decide which services to maintain, add, modify or eliminate, we will need your input. Thanks for responding and for being straightforward with us regarding the usefulness of… and your use of…services provided by the Department.

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Want A Smithsonian Exhibition For Your Town?

In 2007, six small (under 10,000) Wisconsin communities will have a chance to host Between Fences, a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit which interprets a cultural history of fences and land use. It examines how neighbors and nations divide and protect, offend and defend through the boundaries they build.

Similar to the Barn Again! exhibition, which was so well received when it toured the state in 2003, Between Fences will be available to six communities for six weeks each between September, 2007 and July, 2008. Museums, libraries, cultural centers, historical societies and other venues in small towns are encouraged to apply for the opportunity to host this ready-made travel attraction.

Apply online at www.wisconsinhumanities.org or call Jessica Becker at the Wisconsin Humanities Council (608-262-0706) for more information. Applications are due by March 15, 2006.

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Congrats to Tourism Trailblazers

Tom Poberezny, President and CEO of the Oshkosh-based Experimental Aircraft Association, was honored with the 2005 Tourism Trailblazer award at the Wisconsin Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (WACVB) Fall Conference in Sturgeon Bay.

The WACVB chose Poberezny for the role he has played over the last 30 years in managing and promoting the EAA AirVenture Fly-In, which has become the world's largest annual aviation event. WACVB Chair Karen Raymore cited Poberezny's efforts in growing the Fly-In, as well as leading efforts to build the EAA Aviation Center headquarters and the EAA museum, which generates millions of dollars in economic impact for eastern Wisconsin and brings tremendous international attention to Wisconsin.

Three other organizations were recognized with a Trailblazer award for their marketing efforts:

*The Beloit CVB for best marketing campaign under $25,000 with their "Let's
Play in Beloit" promotion.

*The Door County Chamber and CVB for best marketing plan over $25,000
with their "Kingdom So Delicious" campaign.

*The Greater Madison CVB for best sponsorship/partnership with their hosting of the 2005 Outdoor Writers of America annual conference.

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Laura Lang is the new Executive Director at the Antigo Area Chamber of Commerce. Laura previously worked in Florida as Client Relations Manager for the National Institute Against Nicotine Addiction. She succeeds Denise Wendt who is now managing the Northwoods Birch Inn in Antigo.

David Dickinson is the new Online Marketing Coordinator at the Department of Tourism. He was previously with Planet Propaganda, a Madison-area advertising agency.

Keasha Botosh is the new Coordinator of Events and Membership at the Iron River Area Chamber of Commerce.

Wendy Haase has left Visit Milwaukee for northern California where she will be the Director of Public Relations at the Sonoma County Tourism Bureau. Terianne Petzold has left her post as Executive Director of the Golf Course Owners of Wisconsin.

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