04.04.17

Wisconsin Meetings – Spring Edition

In The News

New Milwaukee Hotel in the Works: Milwaukee’s Historic Preservation Committee has given its approval for plans to convert the Humphrey Scottish Rite Masonic Center into a hotel. The project will include a 14-story addition to the historic building located in downtown Milwaukee. The current structure will be converted into the hotel’s lobby, restaurant, and meeting rooms according to the developer, Madison-based Ascendant Holdings Real Estate. The hotel will have 220 rooms.

AAA Four Diamond Awards Announced: Three Marcus Hotels & Resorts properties in Wisconsin have received the AAA Four Diamond Award in 2017. They include: The Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee; Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, Lake Geneva; and the Hilton Milwaukee, Milwaukee. The Pfister Hotel is one of only 12 hotels in North American that has maintained AAA Four Diamond status since the ratings were introduced in 1976.

Green Venues Offer Higher ROI: According to the LEED in Motion: Venues report released by the US Green Building Council, venues such as convention centers that incorporate LEED into their buildings enjoy increased cost-savings, decreased annual operating costs and a higher return on investment overall. The report highlights the green strategies and savings of more than 30 LEED-certificed venues across the globe, including the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Ore., which is certified LEED Silver, and the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minn., which is certified LEED O + M.

Top Trends for 2017

Benchmark Resorts & Hotels, a US based hospitality management company operating 70 hotels, resorts, and conference centers, has announced its “Top Meeting Trends for 2017”

#1. The outlook is promising: early indications are encouraging for a favorable business environment for 2017. The remainder of the year looks bright with renewed energy and prosperity in the meetings and marketplace, growing confidence in job creation and resulting training demand, and a reinvigorated economy expected to provide a strong boost to corporate meetings.

#2. Authenticity matters: more than ever, groups want authentic, interactive travel experiences to enrich their meetings. This is particularly so with millennials. Planners seek to immerse their attendees within the local milieu or engage with social causes. Properties that provide opportunities to discover genuinely authentic destination experiences set themselves far apart from their competitors and leave their guests transformed.

To read the full list of trends, please go to the news tab on wiscosinmeetings.com

Set a course for success:

Step outside the box – be it cubicle or office – and take your next meeting out to the course for an inspiring change that breaks down walls and builds productivity.

At Geneva National Resort, each meeting space offers panoramic views of lush fairways, rolling countryside and pristine shorelines – landscapes that can sharpen thinking and creativity and provide for walking breaks and a round – or three – of golf.

With 54 legendary holes designed by Arnold Palmer, Gary Plater and Lee Trevino, this revered golf club accommodates groups of all sizes, and its professional on site team orchestrates tournaments, teaching clinics, dining, lodging and activities in the popular resort town of Lake Geneva.

“We try to personalize each outing and make it memorable for every player,” notes Brian Kaminksi of Geneva National’s Golf Department. “This high level of service combined with quality of play is why groups return year after year.”

Holiday Inn Express Racks up Awards: The Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Madison Central received the IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) 2016 Torchbearer Award, IHG’s most prestigious award. This award is given to IHG hotels that achieve the highest levels of excellence in all aspects of operation. In addition, the Holiday Inn Express and Suites- Madison Central received the 2016 Great Lakes Management Group Outstanding Customer Service Award and the 2016 General Manager of the Year Award.

AEC Recommendations are in: A plan looking at the future uses and needs of Madison’s Allianz Energy Center campus calls for adding a hotel, exhibition and commercial space, in addition to skywalks between buildings. It also recommends keeping the Coliseum, but renovating and expanding it. Chicago-Based Hunden Strategic Partners created the plan. Public discussion will be invited before a final proposal is submitted to Dane County, which owns and operates the facility.

Road America Promotions: Michael Kertscher, director of business services, and Greg Wieser, director of operations, have both been promoted to Vice President at road America. “Both of these individuals have demonstrated success in driving key areas of Road America’s business and now become part of an overall leadership team that has us well positioned for the future,” said George Bruggenthies, Road America’s president and general manager.