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Welcome Centers Celebrate "See America Week" 

This month travelers will find "Life's So Good" at Wisconsin's 10 Welcome Centers, which are celebrating national "See America Week" (May 13-21) with a host of activities, promotions, events, giveaways and delicious treats. Johnson Creek Outlet Mall, Comfort Suites and Vetro Winery have partnered with the Welcome Centers to offer a "Shop, Sip & Play Getaway" package to one lucky winner who enters the drawing at any of the Centers. Jim and Sheree will also be recognizing See America Week by attending a number of tourism events and media stops around the state including Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Sheboygan, Fox Cities, Manitowoc, La Crosse, Waupaca, Shawano, and Washington and Dodge counties.

Economic Impact Research to Arrive Next Week 

The Department's annual economic impact research will make its way to your email in-box and mailboxes next week. By mid-week, tourism partners can expect to receive an email with links to the 55-page 2005 Economic Impact of Expenditures by Travelers On Wisconsin, a highlight summary, plus county and regional spreadsheets and economic profiles. A little later in the week, quantities of the Tourism's Economic Impact booklets will arrive by postal mail. All of the research will be available on the "Research & Travel Trends" page on our industry website. 

The Department will send the highlight summary accompanied by a news release to 350 media outlets around the state. The packet will go out Friday, May 12 with anticipation that stories will begin to run Sunday, May 14 and throughout all of See America Week. We encourage you to contact media outlets in your area to offer a local perspective on the research.

If you have any questions about the research itself, see David Scheler at 608-261-8187. For media questions, give Jerry Huffman a call at 608-261-8195.

New Spanish Language TV Spot Targets Hispanic Travelers 

The Department will begin airing a Spanish-language TV spot this month, the latest strategy in an extensive multi-cultural marketing plan. The 30-second spots will air at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Univision, the #1 television station regardless of language in the Chicago metro area. The spot features nine-year old Milwaukee talent, Mariana Sarmiento, who "jumps" into a photo album to relive her family's action-packed vacation to Wisconsin attractions including a Brewer's game, the Milwaukee Art Museum, Wisconsin Dells, and "muy bonita" (very pretty) Lake Geneva. By the end of the campaign, Ms. Sarmiento will have made over three million impressions on Spanish-speaking viewers on behalf of the Wisconsin hospitality industry.

Use this link to view the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's Hispanic television spot online.

A Taste of Hollywood, Green County Style 

When the newest George Clooney film, "Michael Clayton," opens this fall there will be just a touch of Green County among the Hollywood glitter.

Communications Director Jerry Huffman worked closely with Clooney's producers to find a classic Wisconsin dairy farm. One of the film's characters comes from Wisconsin and the director wanted scenes of the farm in Wisconsin. "It was indicative of their level of commitment to the project," Huffman said. "Instead of just finding a farm anywhere they really wanted to come to Wisconsin."

With the assistance of Green County Tourism coordinator Noreen Rueckert, dozens of photos were sent to the producers who ultimately chose a farm near Monroe. In mid-March, despite a snowstorm, the crew packed up 22 cases of gear and headed to Monroe. When the film is finished, the scenes may only last a few seconds but it will still shine a brief spotlight on Wisconsin.

"For us the win was getting them here to shoot even just a few scenes," Huffman added. "Our team exists to "open doors" to companies like Mr. Clooney's and now one of the biggest stars in Hollywood knows folks in Wisconsin will go out of their way to help them. Efforts like this make it easier for them to come back again."

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