The Wisconsin Tourism Federation (WTF) is a lobbying coalition of trade and promotional associations and organizations actively involved in Wisconsin's tourism industry. WTF serves as Wisconsin tourism industry's unified voice in government relations, cooperatively seeking to improve Wisconsin's $12.8 billion tourism industry through supportive legislation and policies.

Learn more about WTF's mission, members, issues and resources through this Web site.

TOURISM TIDBITS

Packers and other Pro Teams Generate Millions for Wisconsin - 2/08

Wisconsin residents still lamenting that the Green Bay Packers did not quite make the Super Bowl this year should take heart that our beloved green and gold generate big bucks for tourism in Green bay and throughout northeastern wisconsin. The Packer Country Visitor and Convention Bureau estimates that fan spending exceeds $36 million a season. Packer fans also spend money in Green Bay during the off-season, visiting Lambeau Field and other area attractions. Training camp alone generated an estimated $57 million in economic impact and attracted 115,000 fans last summer.

Other professional teams in Wisconsin also bring in tourism dollars. While economic impact estimates are not available, the Milwaukee Brewers estimate that 40 percent of their fans come from outside Southeastern Wisconsin. These fans are more likely to spend money on lodging, food, gas, entertainment, and shopping while traveling to and visiting Miller Park. Visit Milwaukee reports that this is especially true when the Brewers play the Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins and the St. Louis Cardinals where fans travel to cheer on their team in Milwaukee.

In addition to the economic benefits, professional sports teams also help put destinations on the map through national and, sometimes, international media exposure. The teams also add to the diversity of a destination's tourism product, giving visitors more reason to come and experience a destination whether for vacation or business.

Culinary Tourism Cooking Up Business in Wisconsin - 12/07

Culinary travel is one of the hottest travel trends and Wisconsin's tourism industry is taking full advantage. According to a 2007 Travel Industry of America study, 27 million travelers engaged in culinary or wine-related activities while traveling within the past three years. And, 60% more U.S. leisure travelers are interested in culinary travel in the near future than those currently engaged in the activity.

In Wisconsin, many destinations have zeroed in on the trend with strong returns. At least 20 restaurants, resorts and attractions across the state offering cooking classes and events. Wisconsin is also home to more than 30 wineries, most offering tours and tastings. More than 30 cheese factories offer tours or observation windows and about 20 breweries and brewpubs have tours or tastings.

All this cooking and tasting does more than satisfy palettes and appetites, it also rings cash registers. Destination Kohler's Food and Wine Experience, held in late October for the past 5 years, has filled the American Club Resort during a traditionally slow time and has led to 10-15% increase in sales at the Destination's Shops of WoodLake. Door county's "Kingdom so Delicious" promotion helped to bring an estimated $7.9 million in travel expenditures to the county in 2005. Lake Geneva sponsored it's first Wine Festival this past September and estimate that the event brought more than $600,000 in traveler spending to the region. The Pig in the Pines Rib Fest in St. Germain is only a three-year old event and is bringing an 10,000 participants and nearly $300,000 to the region. Overall travelers to Wisconsin spent an estimated $3.3 billion on food purchases and another $400 million on beer, wine and other spirits in 2006 (Source: WI Dept. of Tourism).

Wisconsin Tourism Going Green - 10/07

More than 100 Wisconsin businesses and organizations are taking part in the nation's first eco-tourism certification program called Travel Green Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Tourism and the Wisconsin Environmental Initiative kicked off Travel Green Wisconsin about a year ago and it is gaining more participants each week, as well as such media attention as USA Today and The New York Times. Certified organizations range from Convention Centers, lodging properties, restaurants, convention & visitors bureaus, attractions, parks and retail outlets. Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, the Pinehurst Inn in Bayfield, Horicon Marsh Boat Tours in Horicon, Stevens Point Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee are just some of the many businesses and organizations participating in the program and working to protect the environment.

Travel Green Wisconsin is a voluntary program that reviews, certifies,and recognizes tourism businesses that have made a commitment to continuously improve their operations in order to reduce their environmental impact. It is designed to support the Wisconsin tourism brand, give the state and hospitality business participants a marketing edge, promote smart business practices, reduce costs, educate travelers, and protect the Wisconsin's landscape. A recent Travel Industry of America (TIA) survey substantiates that the Travel Green program may benefit Wisconsin's tourism economy as more travelers become environmentally concious. The survey reported that more than half of all U.S. adults say they would be more likely to select a hotel, airline or rental car that uses more environmentally friendly products and processes and eight out of ten respondents consider themselves "environmentally conscious". For more information about Travel Green Wisconsin, visit www.travelgreenwisconsin.com

Putting the “Tour” in Wisconsin Tourism - 8/07

Wisconsin tourism is more than beautiful scenery, engaging history,community events, and a full spectrum of arts offerings. Tourists also are fascinated with the industries that are home in Wisconsin.

The Jelly Belly distribution center in Pleasant Prairie offers visitors samples ofmore than 100 different flavors of jelly beans, it is no surprise that 200,000 candy-enthusiasts visit each year. Free samples draw visitors to another type of Wisconsin industry tour:breweries. The Miller Brewing Plant tour in Milwaukee draws in 300 to 1,000 beer aficionados daily, making it the most visited brewery in Wisconsin. Football fans often make the trip to Green Bay to tour one of the most renowned sporting-arenas in the nation: Lambeau Field. Summer training camp alone draws more than 100,000 attendees and an estimated $66 million to the area, according to th Packer Country Visitor and Convention Bureau estimates that summer practices alone bring in $66 million to the area. Another sporting-industry stop is the Trek Bicycle factory in Waterloo. Visitors can see the entire bicycle construction process, as well as models of world-famous bikes. More than 22,000 Harley Davidson motorcycle devotees from all over the world come to the Harley Davidson motorcyclefactory each year and watch the action on the Harley assembly line. And, , 14,000 guests per year tour the the General Motors factory in Janesville. The GM Factory tour highlights more than 600 robots involved in the assembly of sport utility vehicles.

From candy to cars, touring the State’s industries is a significant contributor to Wisconsin’s tourism economy.

A Hole in One for Wisconsin Tourism 07/07

Warm weather in the Midwest means prime golfing season for Wisconsin's more than 500 golf courses, including 400 public courses and dozens of PGA-caliber courses. According to the National Golf Foundation, golfers spent a total of $70 billion nationwide in 2002 on golf equipment, travel and course fees. In addition, the NGF reports that Midwestern markets have the highest percentage of golfing households in the country.

Golf is a favorite vacation activity. According to the Travel Industry of America, 55 percent of travelers said they played golf on vacation and 16% said it was the most important reason for traveling. Wisconsin is in the perfect position to tap into the golfing tourism market, and many courses already have. Whistling Straits, which was named No. 2 in the list of the “Top 100 Golf Resorts” by Traveler Magazine, has hosted two major professional golf tournaments in the last few years. Earlier this month, the U.S. Senior Open Championship drew about 118,000 fans and generated an estimated $20 million for Wisconsin’s economy. In 2004, the PGA Championship brought in more than 300,000 fans and $76 million for Wisconsin’s economy. Other courses attract visitors even when if they do not host a national tournament. For example, Apostle Highlands in Bayfield is known for its scenic vistas of Lake Superior and The Bull at Pinehurst, the state’s only Jack Nicklaus Signature Course was named the No. 2 best new upscale public course in the country by Golf Digest.

Angling for Tourism Dollars - 6/07
Tourists and anglers are drawn to Wisconsin lakes like a fish to water. It’s no wonder, with more than 15,000 lakes, 40,000 miles of rivers and two Great Lakes, fishing in Wisconsin is unlike anywhere else in the country.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources typically sells 1.4 million fishing licenses during the regular fishing season, ranking as the sixth state nationally in total number of licenses sold. Each year, more than 61 million fish are caught, making for many a tasty fish fry. In comparison with other states, Wisconsin ranks second in the number of non-residents who visit the state for fishing. Trips include meals, overnight stays and supplies. According to the Department of Tourism, 13 to 14 percent of visitors come to the state to fish or motorboat on Wisconsin’s lakes. This generates $1.2 billion in retail sales and $90 million in tax revenue. And, fishing is a $2.3 billion dollar industry that supports at least 26,000 jobs in Wisconsin.

The state even boasts the Musky Capital of the World in Boulder Junction, and a four-and-a-half story tall fiberglass musky located at the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum in Hayward, Wisconsin. Wisconsin also plays host to many popular sport-fishing tournaments, such as the Big Fish Bash on Lake Michigan. Known as the world’s largest freshwater fishing tournament, the event draws nearly 2,500 fishermen from 26 states each year.

Wherever you travel in Wisconsin this summer, you will find both residents and non-residents enjoying one of the oldest and most popular outdoor activities: fishing.

Tourism blossoms in Spring - 5/07
Spring-time in Wisconsin brings tourism into full bloom as visitors stop to smell the roses – and other local flowers. According to the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, nature or wildlife watching is one of the top 10 most popular activities to do on a Wisconsin vacation. In addition, nationally, one-fifth of U.S. residents went on a garden tour or participated in another garden-related activity on vacations in the past five years.

One of the popular garden sites in the state is the University of Wisconsin Arboretum, where visitors can take tours from UW professors and naturalists to learn about their favorite flowers. Not long after in June, the city of Kenosha hosts its Bloomin’ Days festival, celebrating the arrival of summer. Visitors can buy flowers, take a streetcar ride, or visit local food tents. Even up north, Wisconsinites and visitors celebrate the glory of spring at the Bayfield in Bloom festival. This month-long celebration boasts 14,000 daffodils blooming each May, complete with garden walks and a variety of “ask the experts” sessions for new gardeners. Another gardener’s paradise is Boerner Botanical Gardens, known as Milwaukee’s “Living Museum.” Featured in Martha Stewart Living Magazine, Boerner features a variety of gardens and each year host approximately 200,000 visitors for events. One place where the seasons never change is the Mitchell Park Conservatory, or “the domes.” Each dome-shaped greenhouse features a different garden setting: a desert dome, a tropical dome, and a floral dome highlighting unique plants in each one. The conservatory draws 175,000 to 190,000 people annually and hosts events such as the New Years’ Celebration during the winter and the Desert Nights show in the summer.

No matter where you go in Wisconsin, fresh spring garden colors bring a smile to every visitor’s face.

Off-Road Adventures: Bicycle Touring in Wisconsin - 4/07
With a network of over 3,000 miles of trails suitable for all kinds of cycling, Wisconsin has plenty to offer both the amateur cyclist as well as the expert rider.The past few decades have seen an upsurge in cycling trips, especially because abandoned railroad tracks have been converted into biking and running trails. According to the Travel Industry of America, biking trips are very popular outdoor vacations, ranking third only to camping and hiking. According to the Department of Tourism, most bikers are non-locals and 77 percent stay overnight at their cycling destinations. They spend an average of $26 per day as they visit area attractions, restaurants, and shops.

Hailed as the nation’s largest one-day bike fest, the Miller Lite Ride for the Arts held in Milwaukee each June has seen more than 230,000 participants over the years since it began in 1981. As one of the oldest paths in Wisconsin, the Elroy-Sparta State Trail was the first trail in the country to switch from railroad tracks to bike trail. The trail connects with the Hillsboro and Omaha routes to make up the 400 State Trail, popular for perfect Wisconsin vistas. Another area for bikers to see the scenery is along Lake Superior. on the “Around the Horn Tour” through cities such as Washburn, Bayfield and Cornucopia. For an even more challenging route, visitors head to Mount Horeb in June for the Horribly Hilly Hundred, a race of 100 to 200 kilometers through valleys and hills.

Even though riders of all shapes and sizes bike through Wisconsin, they all get the chance to tour winding trails, lush forests, and beautiful scenery that only this state has to offer.

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