 |
Tourism Week Dinner May 8
Please join us in celebrating the power of tourism in Kenosha County! The KACVB will be hosting a Tourism Week Celebration Dinner on Monday, May 8 at the Wyndham Garden - Kenosha Harborside, 5125 Sixth Avenue. Cocktails and networking will start at 5 p.m., followed by the dinner and program from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The featured keynote speaker will be Stephanie Klett, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. With her signature style and infectious energy, Stephanie will share her insights on our state's tourism economy and how Kenosha County is a player in Wisconsin's brand of fun. Plus, Secretary Klett will honor several Kenosha Area businesses and organizations with Department of Tourism grant awards. Please RSVP by May 1.
|
|
 |
|
Smile For The Camera
This year's National Travel & Tourism Week theme is "The Faces of Travel". In line with that theme, we are preparing a special photo presentation to show at our Tourism Week Celebration Dinner. We will be honoring employees at our tourism partner businesses that are on the front lines and behind the scenes. Photos will also be used on our social media channels during Tourism Week. Laura or Brittney DeMik (our Photography Intern from Carthage) will be out taking photos at tourism partner businesses on Tuesday, April 11 from 9 a.m. to Noon and Thursday, April 13 from 9 a.m. to Noon. If you and your staff would like to be in the photos, please contact Laura at [email protected] or 262-654-7307 ext. 12 to get on our schedule. If you need a different time frame, please let Laura know that too.
|
|
|
|
Spreading The Word
The KACVB's Laura and Meridith will be attending the 2017 Women in Travel Summit, April 21-23, in Milwaukee. This is marketed as the premier event for women travel influencers and industry members. In addition, we will be hosting a pre-conference tour for up to 20 attendees in Kenosha on April 21, and additional writers will be touring Kenosha earlier in the week. Separate from this, another travel writer will be in town April 29-30. Cheryl Eugenio will be doing research for a Chicago Parent Magazine article.
Meanwhile, once again, the KACVB will have a booth at the Recreation & Leisure Travel Expo. Hosted by the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Department at Naval Station Great Lakes, this year's event takes place on May 4. Attendees include active duty military and their families, reservists, Department of Defense civilian employees, and military retirees.
|
|
|
|
2017 USA Paratriathlon National Championships Here
The 2017 USA Paratriathlon National Championships has moved to Pleasant Prairie, and will take place June 25 in conjunction with the Pleasant Prairie Triathlon. National titles will be up for grabs in six sport classes (revised for 2017), and athletes will compete in a 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike, 5-kilometer run course at Prairie Springs Park and Lake Andrea. In addition to chasing national titles, athletes may also qualify for the USA Paratriathlon Development Team Program, designed to identify and develop athletic potential leading toward the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. A Wisconsin Department of Tourism Ready, Set, Go! grant in the amount of $2,500 was awarded to help bring the event here. More>
|
|
|
|
NEW DKI Executive Director
The Downtown Kenosha, Inc. Board of Directors is pleased to announce that it has hired Nicole Thomsen as its new Executive Director. Nicole is a local resident of Pleasant Prairie and brings to the organization a strong background in community engagement, fundraising and non-profit project work. She attended UW-Parkside (BS-Business Management) and was recently awarded first and third place honors in the William Patterson University National Sales Competition. Nicole has an extraordinary commitment to the community, evident by her involvement in YLink, Kenosha Creative Space and other local causes. Nicole will officially begin her role as Executive Director on May 1, but will attend select meetings and WI Main Street training in the interim.
|
|
|
|
The KACVB is seeking a few good writers to serve on its Community Blog Team. If you know of anyone that would be a good fit, please encourage them to fill out a short application, found here. We're looking for writers who love the Kenosha Area and want to share their favorite ways to enjoy the Kenosha Area with potential travelers to our area and local residents via the Visit Kenosha Blog at VisitKenosha.com. Applications must be received by April 21, 2017.
|
|
|
|
Mini Maker Faire Seeks Volunteers
Organizers of the Pleasant Prairie Mini Maker Faire could use extra help to bring the second annual event to the community on November 25, 2017. A Maker Faire is a community based learning event that brings tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students and entrepreneurs together to "show their projects and talk about what they've learned." It's an exhibition with hands on and do-it-yourself interactions. Members of the planning committee include instructors and staff from KUSD and Gateway Technical College, hobbyists, artists, local business people, and municipal employees. Team members offer whatever time and talents they have available. More>
|
|
|
|
Featured Business: Against the Grain Creative Concepts
You only need to spend a few minutes with Scott Buell, owner of Against the Grain Creative Concepts, to see he is passionate about what he does. It's as if you're watching the "American Pickers" television series, or touring a museum. He is part picker, part historian. His shop at 5521 18th Avenue - just west of Downtown Kenosha - features reclaimed materials, vintage, antiques and one-of-a-kind custom pieces. If something still has a life, he's going to save it. He says it's unfortunate more can't be saved. "There's no point in throwing things away if we can still use it," Scott says. More>
|
|
|
Dates 2 Know
4/7: First Fridays @ the I-94 Visitor Information Center
5/1: RSVP Deadline for Tourism Week Celebration Dinner (Laura)
5/5: First Fridays @ the I-94 Visitor Information Center
5/7-5/13: National Travel and Tourism Week
5/8: Tourism Week Celebration Dinner
|
|
KACVB Activity Report
|
March 2017 |
YTD |
| Visitors Guide Requests |
|
|
| Phone |
20 |
59 |
E-mail
|
238 |
989 |
Reader Reply
|
250 |
556 |
|
|
|
| I-94 Walk Ins |
1,311 |
3,323 |
| I-94 Phone Inquiries |
47 |
137 |
|
|
|
| Downtown Walk Ins |
40 |
106 |
| Downtown Phone Inquiries |
38 |
115 |
|
|
|
| Website Activity |
|
|
Visitor Sessions
|
27,712 |
81,209 |
Page Views
|
73,493 |
211,354 |
Online Guide Page Views
|
2,256 |
4,333 |
|
Celebrate Earth Day on April 22! Did you know that Earth Day was founded by Wisconsin U.S. Senator, Gaylord Nelson in 1970 following a massive oil spill in California? Follow in Wisconsin's footsteps of honoring and protecting our planet. Learn more about the Travel Green Wisconsin program by contacting Laura.
|
|
Kenosha Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Visitor Information Centers:
Downtown Kenosha | 262-654-7307 | 800-654-7309
812 - 56th Street, Kenosha, WI 53140 | Mon.-Fri. 8am-4:30pm
I-94 & Hwy. 165 Rest Area | 262-857-7164
10519 - 120th Avenue, Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158
April - October, 7 days a week 8am-4pm | November - March, Tues.-Sat. 8am-4pm
|
|
|
|
|
