TRAVEL NEWS BRIEFS

Public Hearing Scheduled for Attraction Highway Signs 

If you are interested in the program that posts tourism attractions on blue highway signs, the Dept. of Transportation has scheduled a public hearing to discuss the draft form of the program's administrative rules. The hearing will be held on Nov. 14 at 10:30 am at the Hill Farms DOT Office Building in Madison. If you cannot attend, you are encouraged to provide written comments to John Noll, Dept. of Transportation, PO Box 7986, Room 501, Madison, WI 53707-7986.

To view the rule draft and submit written comments via email, use this link. Comments must be submitted by the close of business on Nov. 14. View directions to the Hill Farms DOT Office Building.

Crisis Communications Workshops Scheduled 

The Communications Team has contracted with the Institute For Crisis Management in Louisville, KY to develop a crisis communications management plan and complimentary workshops for Wisconsin's tourism industry. A vulnerability study was completed last month and we thank the industry partners who participated in those interviews. Results of the assessment will be the basis for mini-workshops scheduled this fall. Dates are Oct. 31 in Madison, Nov. 1 in Appleton, and Nov. 2 in Wausau at the WACVB Fall Tourism Convention. To register for the workshop, please email Jerry Huffman at jhuffman@travelwisconsin.com.

Two Statewide Tourism Conventions Just Weeks Away 

Wisconsin's travel and hospitality industry has their pick of conferences and trade shows this fall.  

Wisconsin Lodging Conference & Trade Show 

The Wisconsin Innkeepers Association (WIA) invites you to their annual conference on Oct. 30-31 at Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva. Highlights of the event include a trade show and a variety of educational sessions that cover current industry trends. Register here.

WACVB Fall Tourism Convention

After the lodging conference, head straight to Wausau for the WACVB Fall Tourism Convention Nov. 2-3 at The Plaza Hotel & Suites. Thursday's keynote, Roger Brooks, will speak on top tourism trends. Sessions during the two-day event feature crisis communication planning, finding grant resources and effective grant writing, online marketing, and a session on highway signage presented by the Dept. of Transportation. Other events include a marketplace Thursday night and the Trailblazer Awards Ceremony at Friday's morning breakfast. Register here.

Partner with the Department at Consumer Shows in 2007 

Our 2007 consumer show itinerary is now available and tourism industry partners can once again sign up to exhibit at the Department's booth at sixteen shows in a variety of cities. These shows provide the hospitality industry with a low-cost opportunity to place travel materials in front of thousands of customers in key markets without having to make the financial and logistical investment of attending the entire show on their own. Partnering organizations pay $100 per day*, provide staffing for the booth and pay for shipping of their materials. The Department pays for the exhibit space, supporting show costs, and provides staff at all shows to oversee booth operation. Limited opportunities will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, so inquire soon to ensure your choice of shows and dates. See the show listing. Contact David Spiegelberg at 262-279-6856 for more details and specific partnering rules. 

*Note: Summer events (EAA Air Venture, Ducks Unlimited, and State Fair) are open to the industry for participation at no cost.

Co-op Email Program: New Enhancements, Same Great Price 

The Department has introduced a series of advancements in the co-op e-mail program, and a higher price is not one of them. The new enhancements allow users to manage their account more effectively, develop and save their ads for future deployment, and track the status of an email once it is sent. In addition, reports are available immediately, providing advertisers with feedback sooner.

The co-op e-mail program allows advertisers to create ads for their event or package and submit them online for inclusion in monthly email newsletters distributed by the Department of Tourism. The cost of running those ads is $250. Program information is available online.  

New Advertising Opportunity to Reach Milwaukee Market 

WTMJ-TV (TODAY'S TMJ4), the NBC affiliate in Milwaukee, recently launched a daily magazine-style talk show that invites advertisers to sponsor entire segments in the show. It's called The Morning Blend and it's a great way to showcase your business, service or organization. Advertiser segments will be mixed in between entertainers, chefs, health care providers, community leaders and information on important community events. Your sponsored segment from The Morning Blend also appears online for one month and on Time Warner Digital Cable's "Wisconsin On Demand." The Wisconsin Department of Tourism may be able to provide related video footage from its video library to enhance your segment. Please contact Keith Donavan in the TODAY'S TMJ4 Sales Department for more information at 414-967-5329.

Your Getaway Package Nets You Free Radio Time 

The New Magic 104-WBJZ (Oshkosh/Appleton/Fond du Lac) and AM1600-WRPN (Ripon/Oshkosh/ Fond du Lac) would like to give away Wisconsin Weekend Getaway Packages this fall and winter. The partnership is an inexpensive opportunity to get your destination or property airtime in this market. If you have a package to offer, contact Bill Denkert, Sales Manager at Radio One Communications, at 920-748-5111 or sales@wrpnam.com to discuss.

2006 JEM Grant Wrap-Up 

More than $1.35 million dollars was awarded to 52 non-profit organizations around the state in fiscal 2006 to promote everything from the grand opening of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art to motorcycle touring on tribal lands. Wisconsin's local economies are expected to benefit from more than $30 million in traveler spending. Read the full news release.  View a map that shows all of the grants awarded.

Upcoming Meetings 

Meetings & Conventions Committee: Friday, Sept. 29 at Noon. Tourism Offices.

Governor's Council on Tourism: Thursday, Nov. 16 at 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Madison offices.

Statewide Travel Green Wisconsin Certification Meetings: 

• Thursday, October 5 at Lakewoods Resort (21540 County Road M, Cable) at 2:00p.m.

• Friday, October 6 at Nicolet College - Rhinelander Campus (County Hwy G south of Rhinelander). Continental breakfast at 8:30a.m. Meeting with start at 9:00a.m. 

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