May 2012 Partner E-News
Issue 117 (5.17.12)
GMCVB News
The GMCVB is Now Hiring
The GMCVB is currently looking for qualified candidates to fill two full time positions: Director of Partnership and Development and Sales Manager. The GMCVB is also hiring a Lead Visitor Information Specialist to work part time at Dane County Regional Airport. If you or someone you know may be interested, please visit our website for position descriptions and application information.
Maggie Smith Takes on Communications Assistant Role
The GMCVB is pleased to announce that Maggie Smith has accepted the position of Communications Assistant. She will be fulfilling this role in addition to her current role as Operations & Visitor Services Coordinator starting May 21. You may contact Maggie at smith@visitmadison.com or by phone at 608.255.2537 ext. 2626.
Sign up for Discussions with Deb
If you missed the last round of Discussions with Deb on May 8, there's no need to worry! Not taking place monthly, the next session will be held June 12, 2012 at the GMCVB office. This exciting event welcomes new as well as longtime partners to personally connect with Deb Archer, President and CEO of the GMCVB, in an informal small group setting. Please contact Ben Young at Young@visitmadison.com or 608.441.2635 for information on upcoming Discussions with Deb sessions. Space is limited to 8 people, so sign up early!
Publicity Updates
Madison Wins WIAA Boys Basketball
The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) voted unanimously on April 23 in favor of executive Dave Anderson's recommendation to keep the state boys basketball tournament in Madison through. University of Wisconsin - Madison, the city of Madison, Dane County, the local business community and the Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau worked collaboratively to keep the boys tournament in Madison. The full story can be found online.
Madison's Music Scene Hits a High Note
Outlets around the country are starting to recognize Madison's phenomenal music scene. Wisconsin Trails praised Madison's wide array of music venues from the Kohl Center to pedestrian malls. On a more national level, livability.com ranked Madison as having the 8th Best Music Scene outside of Nashville, New York City and Los Angeles. According the article, Madison received the honor due to its noteworthy local artists, cool record stores and top venues. It seems outsiders are starting to notice what locals have enjoyed for years.
Praise for the Arts
An April article on examiner.com had nothing but good things to say about Madison's art scene. The article claimed that "experiencing the arts in Madison, WI is an eye opening visual adventure". Special recognition was given to the Chazen Museum of Art, Monona Terrace, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art and the Livingston Inn Bed & Breakfast for their superb efforts for keeping the arts alive. The full article can be found online.
April GMCVB Sales Activity: Future Confirmed Events
Mark T. Skinner Fine Arts and Technology School Trip
May 31-June 1, 2012
Estimated Attendance: 68
Direct Spending Impact: $68,272
Wisconsin Association of FFA Annual State Convention
June 11-14, 2012
Estimated Attendance: 3,000
Direct Spending Impact $1,152,060
Northwoods League All Star Game
July 23-24, 2012
Estimated Attendance: 6,000
Direct Spending Impact: $461,015
Daybreak Foods Corporate Meeting
October 24-25, 2012
Estimated Attendance: 20
Direct Spending Impact: $20,080
Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Regional Conference
November 2-6, 2012
Estimated Attendance: 300
Direct Spending Impact: $230,920
International Lilac Society Annual Meeting
May 22-25, 2013
Estimated Attendance: 60
Direct Spending Impact: $50,200
Community Bankers of Wisconsin Annual Convention
September 11-13, 2013
Estimated Attendance: 225
Direct Spending Impact: $136,500
Psychometric Society Meeting
July 23-28, 2014
Estimated Attendance: 300
Direct Spending Impact: $236,600
Industry News
Wisconsin Looking to Iowa for Tourists
The Wisconsin Department of Tourism will run paid television advertisements in the state of Iowa for the first time this summer. By marketing towards Iowa residents, the state hopes to draw visitors for the key summer travel season. The television advertisements will run in Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Iowa City and Dubuque. Radio spots will also air in the Quad Cities region of the state. For more information, check out the full article online.
Travel Industry Accounts for 4.9% of Q1 Job Growth
The travel industry made up 4.9% of all nonfarm jobs added to the U.S. economy in the first quarter of 2012, according to the U.S. Travel Association. This equals 30,800 additional jobs for Americans. David Huether, senior vice president of economics and research at U.S. travel, said the major increases in travel were in the restaurant, lodging and airline sectors. The full article on employment growth can be found online.
Commerce Dept. Predicts Continuing Growth in U.S. Tourism
According to U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson, the United States can expect a 4-5% average annual growth in tourism over the next five years and 65.4 million foreign travelers in 2012 alone. This data comes from the Spring 2012 Travel and Tourism Forecast which is released semi-annually by the U.S. Commerce Department's International Trade Administration (ITA). Bryson unveiled the new forecast at the U.S. Travel Association's International Pow Wow annual event in Los Angeles, held April 21-25, 2012. More about the Spring 2012 Travel and Tourism Forecast can be found online.
Survey Reveals Travelers Growing Greener
According to an April survey from TripAdvisor, the green travel trend is gaining momentum. Among more than 700 TripAdvisor members, 71 percent said they plan to make more eco-friendly choices in the next 12 months compared to 65 percent that did so in the past 12 months. Furthermore, half of the travelers surveyed would spend more money to stay at an eco-friendly accommodation. More information on respondents' moves to travel green can be found online.
Partner News
Locals Shine on Wisconsin's Summer Event Forecast
Madison area events were highly regarded in a recent press release by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. Congratulations to all of our partners who made the list of summer must-dos. Highlighted events included: Stoughton's Syttende Mai, World's Largest Brat Fest, National Women's Music Festival, Art Fair on the Square, National Mustard Day and Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival. The full list of sizzling summer events can be found online.
Tory Miller Named Best Chef in Midwest
Congratulations to Tory Miller of L'Etoile for his recognition as the Best Chef in the Midwest by the James Beard Foundation. This is the second time Tory has taken home this coveted award. According to the James Beard Foundation Tory is, "steadfast in his devotion to local produce and Wisconsin farmers." It is this dedication to farm-to-table that continues to stand out in the culinary world. You can find more about Chef Tory Miller's Best Chef award online.
Best Burgers in the Midwest
Everyone claims their burger is the best, but two Madison locations have winning titles to prove it. Dotty Dumpling's Dowry and Brasserie V earned top spots in Midwest Living Magazine's recent list of the 25 best burgers. Based on look, taste, toppings, price and four additional criteria, Dotty Dumpling's Melting Pot and Basil Mozzarella burger along with Brasserie V's V Burger all earned scores above 9.5. Stop by these two great Madison restaurants and try for yourself! The full list of top burgers can be found online.
Art, History and Frank Lloyd Wright
USA Today's "Travel" section praised Madison for its educational travel options. A recent story recognized the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, the Chazen Museum of Art, Madison Children's Museum, UW Geology Museum, the Wisconsin State Capitol building, the Wisconsin Historical Museum, Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center and Taliesin as great destinations to satisfy curious visitors' minds. The full story can be found online.
The Grills Fire Up for Brat Fest
The World's Largest Brat Fest will fill the air with the delicious smells of summer May 25-28, 2012 at the Alliant Energy Center's Willow Island. Taking place over Memorial Day Weekend, Brat Fest will feature four days of live music, carnival games, Oscar Mayer Wienermobile tours and mouth-watering brats! Be sure to stop by the festival to celebrate one of Madison's longest running traditions and help set a new brat record! More information can be found at http://www.bratfest.com/.
Wonder Bar, Nau-Ti-Gal and Bavaria Sausage Crowned as Originals
The May-July issue of Madison Originals Magazine featured Wonder Bar Steakhouse, Nau-Ti-Gal and Bavaria sausage as three uniquely Madison establishments. The flattering feature on Wonder Bar said that the restaurant served up some of the "best steaks in town". The Nau-Ti-Gal piece was equally complimentary, claiming that Nau-Ti-Gal is all about "food, fun, and relaxation". With 50 years of business, Bavaria Sausage also received much praise. Read more about these three great food suppliers and other Madison Originals online at http://www.madisonoriginals.com/.
Wollersheim's Mini Wines Create Big Splash
Good things really do come in small packages. That's why Wollersheim Winery is now serving three of their award-winning wines in convenient mini packaging. The "Platinum-winning" White Riesling, Wisconsin-grown Prairie Sunburst Red and Prairie Fumé are now available in 187 milliliter plastic bottle four-packs. The mini bottles are perfect for picnics, tailgates and other on-the-go activities. Find out more about Wollersheim's mini wines online.
Get Back on the Water with Wingra Boats
May is here and Wingra Boats is back in action! During May, Wingra Boats' Lake Wingra location will be open weekends from 9am-8pm. After Memorial Day, Wingra Boats will be open seven days a week at both their Wingra and Vilas locations. Shop opens at 9am at Wingra and 10am at Vilas. For both locations, the last boat will be let out at 7pm, and all boats have to be in by 8pm.
Kudos to Inn on the Park
The Best Western Plus Inn on the Park appeared as this month's Wisconsin State Journal "Longevity in Business" feature. The article traced the hotel's 140 history in Downtown Madison from its original construction as the Park Hotel in 1871 to its current ownership by the Mullins family. Despite renaming, shifted ownership, demolishing and rebuilding, one thing is clear: the iconic Inn on the Park is here to stay. The full article can be found online.
Lake Vista Café is Now Open
The Lake Vista Café on the Monona Terrace rooftop opened for the season on May 14. Weather permitting, the Café will be open from 11am-3pm on Mondays and 11am-7pm Tuesday through Sunday. June, July and August hours will be extended to 8pm, Tuesday through Sunday. The outdoor eatery offers a casual gourmet menu alongside beautiful views of Lake Monona and the Madison skyline.
Featured Partner: Fisher King Winery
GMCVB Partner since 2011
102 West Main Street, Mount Horeb, WI | 608.437.6020 | Web Listing
Alwyn Fitzgerald, Owner and Winemaker, Fisher King Winery: "I invest in partnership with the GMCVB because it's an investment in tourism. Being a Partner of the Bureau is absolutely invaluable to small businesses, because Madison is becoming a known world class location. That fact that you're aware that I'm here, a 20 minute drive from Madison, is a necessity. As the tourism leaders of Dane County, your aim is to enhance the visitor experience, and to market this destination. And Fisher King Winery is a destination business. We want to be sure our presence here will enhance the community."
Partner E-Newsletter Giveaway: Food Fight Restaurant Group
Thank you for reading the E-Newsletter! Click HERE for a chance to win a $25 Food Fight gift card! Food Fight Gift Cards can be redeemed at Aldo's Café, Bluephies, The Coopers Tavern, Craftsman Table & Tap, Eldorado Grill, Fresco, Hubbard Avenue Diner, Johnny Delmonico's, Market Street Diner, Monty's Blue Plate Diner, Ocean Grill, Tex Tubb's Taco Palace and Steenbock's on Orchard
Partner to Partner Special Offers
Login to view a comprehensive list of our partner special offers!
Attractions - Area/Local
Vitense Golfland
5501 Schroeder Rd., Madison, WI 53711 | 608.271.1411 | Web Listing
Call us for 15% off a corporate group outing!
Accommodations
Hyatt Place Madison/Downtown (in cooperation with Food Fight Restaurant Group)
333 W. Washington Avenue, Madison, WI 53703 | 608.257.2700 | Web Listing
*Madison Foodie Package*
The package includes an overnight stay at Hyatt Place Madison/Downtown, a bottle of Hyatt's exclusive Canvas Wine upon arrival (developed for Hyatt by the Michael Mondavi family in Napa Valley - choose from a Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Zinfandel, or Pinot Grigio), a $50 voucher to be redeemed at your choice of any local Food Fight Inc.-owned restaurant, and complimentary pre-arranged transportation to any of the restaurants within 2 miles! Advanced dining reservations are highly recommended at the restaurant of your choice. All guests of Hyatt Place also receive free hot breakfast and free Wi-Fi internet access. This exclusive package can be booked at the Hyatt Place Madison/Downtown website under Special Offers (which includes a link to Food Fight Inc's website for a full list of Madison restaurants and menus, plus full terms and conditions).
Comfort Suites
1253 John Q. Hammons Drive Madison, WI | Amy Miniya 608.836.3033 | Web Listing
*** This offer will be valid through July 2012***
University of Wisconsin Madison SOAR Program
Are you planning to attend the University of Wisconsin Madison? Check out the SOAR Program to gain a closer look at what life is like as a UW-Madison student. The Comfort Suites Madison is only minutes from the University of Wisconsin Madison campus nearby shopping & restaurants. Stay with us and receive 15% off regular rate. Call the hotel direct at 608.836.3033 to book your reservation today!
Super 8 - Madison/South
1602 W. Beltline Hwy., Madison, WI 53713 | 608.258.8882 | Web Listing
Special GMCVB rate of $59.99/night, plus tax* Valid 7 nights a week (based upon availability).
Dining
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
750 N Midvale Blvd, Madison, WI 53705 | 608-233-9550 | Web Listing
Private Dining Promotion
Receive a $50 Fleming's Dining Certificate for every $500 you spend on any private dining event either lunch or dinner, booked between April 25th and June 15th. *A signed private dining agreement with food and beverage minimum is required. These events can take place any time before November 30, 2012.
Visit www.flemingssteakhouse.com/locations/wi/madison for reservations, hours and menu.
Beyond Visit
Olbrich Botanical Gardens is an award-winning destination in Madison and the GMCVB does a wonderful job getting the word out about the Gardens. We have a great relationship with their staff; they're so supportive of everything we offer to both visitors and the local community. The benefit we appreciate most is the exposure the GMCVB offers through their website, publications, tour groups, connections with travel writers and national media, and countless other promotions.
- Roberta Sladky, Director, Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Please send your company's news and updates to: media@visitmadison.com.
