08.03.15

SmartMeetings.com

Land of Lakes

By: Kathy Chin Leong

Wisconsin and Minnesota overflow with meetings and adventure.

Twenty-seven thousand. That’s approximately how many lakes decorate Minnesota and Wisconsin. That’s a lot of H2O—and a lot of opportunity to explore and enjoy the land of lakes.

Most of Minnesota’s eastern border is shared with Wisconsin, including Lake Superior in the northeast. Lake Superior and Lake Michigan are the celebrity waterways. However, thousands of lesser-known bodies weave through the states and are integral to daily life and, thus, meetings and events.

Besides being neighboring states, Wisconsin and Minnesota share other similarities, such as size, population (5.7 million and 5.4 million, respectively), demographics and climate. Affordability and hospitality also factor in when choosing to meet in both states.

“What really sets Wisconsin apart is the hospitality, customer service and sense of fun that attendees will have when they attend a meeting here,” says Stephanie Klett, secretary for Wisconsin Department of Tourism. “When you bring a meeting to any destination in Wisconsin, our tourism industry works hard so you and your group have the best possible experience.”

According to Joan Rausch, director of special events for Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, her state is meeting friendly all year-round, not just in the summer months.

“Summer is unquestionably the best with the lakes and fishing and festivals, but I was able to convince a national group to meet in Minnesota in December and they were blown away by the endless indoor possibilities and the skyways,” Rausch says.

From Duluth, Minnesota, north of Minneapolis on Lake Superior, to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Lake Michigan, these northern Midwest states are meeting jewels that overflow with stellar venues and offsite adventures.

See more here.