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2017 Tourism Partner Resource Guide
Thank you for placing an advertisement in the official 2017 Kenosha Area Visitors Guide! As an Advertiser/Tourism Partner, the benefits you receive reach well beyond that of your ad in the printed publication. This Partner Resource Guide is designed to introduce you to the many additional benefits, services and opportunities that are available to you by the KACVB. Some examples include Kenosha Area To Go hospitality training, social media training, participating at First Fridays, offering online coupons, hosting the I (heart) Kenosha frame, offering a travel package, and more.
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Save the Date: May 8
The KACVB's annual National Travel and Tourism Week event with our tourism partners will be held the evening of Monday, May 8 at Wyndham Garden - Kenosha Harborside. At this event, we will be celebrating the power of tourism in Kenosha County. The Wisconsin Secretary of Tourism, Stephanie Klett, will be our keynote speaker. National Travel and Tourism Week will be celebrated nationwide May 7-13. Watch for your official invite next month.
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Tourism Talks Schedule
We thank everyone who attended the Feb 7 Tourism Talks Breakfast. Partners shared updates with the group, and hotel package collaborations were discussed. Thank you also to Mike's Donuts & Chicken / Mike's SportsBook for hosting the event. A reminder that we're changing up the format and times of Tourism Talks this year. We hope this flexibility will allow more partners to attend. The meetings will take on more of a networking format. After the special National Travel & Tourism Week event on the evening of May 8, the next regularly scheduled Tourism Talks will be held in the evening of June 5 at DoubleTree by Hilton™. The last two meetings will be Sept 12 (breakfast), and Nov 6 (evening). We hope to see you at one or all of the meetings! Invites will be emailed to you closer to each event.
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Department of Tourism Grants
The KACVB has been informed that the Border War Beer Fest has received Joint Effort Marketing grant funding from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. The grant is for up to $13,000 in paid advertising expenses. The second year event will take place Aug 5 at HarborPark. It's a celebration of the best craft brews hailing from Wisconsin and Illinois. Meanwhile, the Kenosha YMCA has received a $10,000 JEM grant for the return of Food Folks & Spokes; Tour of America's Dairyland is kicking off its tour here on Thursday, June 15.
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Fox 6 heavily promoted Downtown Kenosha Restaurant Week - during the evening news on Feb 20 and the Real Milwaukee show on Feb 21. The KACVB worked with the reporters to coordinate both spots. The Buzz Café, Mike's Chicken & Donut Bar, The Coffee Pot, Mangia Wine Bar, and tg's Restaurant & Pub were featured. Also due to the KACVB's PR efforts, the Kenosha Area was featured in this article: "25 Under-the-Radar Midwestern Towns for Girlfriend Getaways" on CountryLiving.com.
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This spring, the KACVB will be giving presentations to third graders at local elementary schools about the fun and educational things to do in the Kenosha Area. Typically, we reach 700 to 1,000 students each year. There is an essay contest held in conjunction with the presentation. In 100 words, or less, students are asked to write (and draw) about a favorite place they like to spend time at in Kenosha County. Five students overall are awarded prize packages. If you are interesting in donating one to five prizes for the Essay Contest (gift certificate or merchandise), please contact Meridith by March 10. While the prizes won't be awarded until early June (and any expiration dates should keep that in mind), the prizes will be promoted at all the presentations, which will take place March through May.
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Promotional Items for HarborMarket Booth
The KACVB partners with several agencies to staff an Information booth at Kenosha HarborMarket during its outdoor season to promote things to see and do in our area. The Kenosha Area Visitors Guide is distributed here, along with the FUN 101 brochure, weekly EventSource flyer and other KACVB materials. Tourism Partners are welcome to provide us with promotional giveaway items such as pens, key chains, magnets, or other products or samples from your business. Sorry, no coupons or other literature can be accepted. To participate, drop off your items at the KACVB's Downtown office (812 56th Street) any time during the outdoor HarborMarket season (May 13 - Oct 14).
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Robin's Nest Cakery has a new expanded location (621 56
th Street) and menu. K9 Kibble has expanded with new food product lines, new accessories for dogs and cats, gifts, and more. The Radisson Hotel & Conference Center is now a DoubleTree by Hilton™. On March 14, Kelly Deem, the owner of Elsie Mae's Bakery & Cannery, will open Myrtle Mae's in the adjacent storefront. The new shop will feature specialty chocolates and candies, ice cream, and more. The two shops are named after Kelly's grandmothers. Scoops Ice Cream will be re-opening this month at its new location: 5711 Eighth Avenue. Last, Andrea's is transitioning to Jack Andrea for the store's name.
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Featured Business: Mason's Eatery & Pub
Mason's Eatery & Pub is a locally owned restaurant in Kenosha with Cotton Candy on its menu and a full bar with a buy one drink, get one free Happy Hour (Monday-Friday 2-5pm). Mason's opened in January 2016, and is conveniently located off Highway 50 between Interstate 94 and Green Bay Road (at 7000 74th Place). Co-owner Chris Gochis describes the business as a "Celtic themed sports pub". They make as much of their food by scratch as they can. The menu offers Irish fare and a wide variety of other choices. Shepherds Pie, Mac 'n Cheese, Crab Cakes, and Crab Cake Sliders are among the most popular items. Along with the regular menu, limited time specials are offered to keep things fresh and show customers the restaurant's originality. More>
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Dates 2 Know
4/1: Summer Hours - 7 days a week - begin at I-94 location
4/7: First Fridays @ the I-94 Visitor Information Center (Participate!)
5/5: First Fridays @ the I-94 Visitor Information Center (Participate!)
5/7-5/13: National Travel and Tourism Week
5/8: National Travel and Tourism Week evening event
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KACVB Activity Report
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February 2017 |
YTD |
| Visitors Guide Requests |
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| Phone |
13 |
39 |
E-mail
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252 |
749 |
Reader Reply
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306 |
306 |
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| I-94 Walk Ins |
997 |
2,012 |
| I-94 Phone Inquiries |
44 |
90 |
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| Downtown Walk Ins |
30 |
66 |
| Downtown Phone Inquiries |
35 |
77 |
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| Website Activity |
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Visitor Sessions
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28,607 |
53,497 |
Page Views
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71,901 |
137,861 |
Online Guide Page Views
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1,014 |
2,077 |
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Elsie Mae's Bakery & Cannery is now Travel Green Wisconsin Certified (and a member of Something Special From Wisconsin™). Congrats! Becoming Travel Green Certified offers a number of marketing benefits, including special recognition on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's website - TravelWisconsin.com! Learn more about the Travel Green Wisconsin program by contacting Laura.
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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
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