Quick, what Midwestern metropolis offers a spate of arts institutions, one of the nation’s largest networks of rejuvenating lakefront green spaces, stimulating ethnic diversity, an impressive portfolio of contemporary meeting facilities and hotels, unique heritage venues, and affordability? There can only be one answer: Milwaukee.
Though it’s the region that beer, brats and oompah bands made famous, the past decade or so has brought billions in meetings-friendly infrastructure that’s boosting the city’s popularity with business groups. All that is new and coming soon is putting some real teeth into Milwaukee’s favorite tagline: “A Great Place on a Great Lake.”
City managers and promoters say they continue to have challenges dispelling a “rust belt” image in the minds of many who might consider Milwaukee as a meetings site. But progress is being made as planners and their groups discover the area’s modern-day attributes. She’s not only a compact and enticing city with lakeside spaces indoors and out, but a convenient central U.S. location as well.
According to Paul Sienko, director of sales for the Milwaukee CVB, the city isn’t in denial about its heritage, just working hard to let planners know there are many other attributes to consider.
“Some in our industry have misperceptions about Milwaukee—that it’s a blue collar, smokestack kind of city,” Sienko says. “Or they may have no image of it at all. The reality is we are so much more than the cheesehead, homespun and folksy vision some people have of us. And one of the things we ask them to consider is the billions we’ve put into our new tourism product in the past few years.”
Among the infrastructure that has appeared in the past decade is the Midwest Airlines Center, with 189,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 37,500-square-foot ballroom and 40,000 square feet of additional meeting space. It was completed in 1998 and added another phase in 2000. The facility is also graced with nearly $1.5 million in commissioned artwork. More than 2,000 hotel rooms are located within a short distance of the center, including several prominent meetings properties within walking distance, such as the venerable Pfister Hotel, the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee, the Hilton Milwaukee City Center, the Hotel Metro, and the InterContinental Milwaukee.
The next big debut was Milwaukee Art Museum’s $100 million expansion in 2001. The stunning winged architecture of the lakeside museum has made it an icon of the city, a repository for art and a favorite venue for private business events. At about the same time, the Milwaukee Brewers opened their new home, Miller Park, a stadium with a retractable roof, a variety of venues for banquets and other events, and entertainment besides baseball.
One of Milwaukee’s newest attractions, Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin, opened last year. The 120,000-square-foot educational and entertainment facility is dedicated to interactive exhibits about science, technology and marine life. Of particular interest to groups are the site’s private event venues, including Pilot House, a circular room with a 360-degree view of Lake Michigan and the cityscape. Pilot House can accommodate up to 350 people for dinner and 500 guests for receptions.
International buzz is spreading about the 2008 opening of the Harley-Davidson Museum on 20 acres of land near the downtown district. The site will celebrate the rich history of the company, the passion of its riders, and the stories of its employees, dealers and suppliers. More than 400 vehicles will be on display, including Elvis Presley’s 1956 model KH Harley-Davidson and the “King Kong,” a 13-foot motorcycle that was customized over a 40-year period by its owner. The museum’s 130,000 square feet of space will extend to green space on the edge of the Menomonee River.
That new riverfront site for the museum is just one more place where visitors will be able to enjoy water views. Water defines Milwaukee’s profile on three sides, Sienko says, and the city has more parkland than just about any other metro in America, including plenty of undeveloped lakefront areas.
Among the waterfront sites that have been developed are downtown areas along the Milwaukee River. Buildings that used to be factories and warehouses now house condos, offices, shops, clubs, and restaurants where attendees can relish in after-hours fun.
Also in the downtown district is Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, home to the Florentine Opera Company, the First Stage Children’s Theater, the Milwaukee Ballet, and the Milwaukee Symphony. Two other theaters, the Pabst Theater, a National Historic Landmark built in 1895, and the Riverside, Wisconsin’s largest landmark theater, both host touring Broadway shows, symphony and popular music artists.
Milwaukee’s colorful ethnic heritage is on display at the city’s many festivals throughout the year, including Summerfest, the annual 11-day summer headliner. Known as one of the world’s largest music festivals, it offers jazz, blues, country and western, rock, bluegrass, and classical. Elsewhere on the calendar are celebrations of all things Greek, Irish, Italian, German, and Mexican. Holiday Folk Fair in November ties up the festival season with food, dancing and exhibits representing more than 50 ethnic groups.
Brookfield
With a location only 10 miles west of downtown Milwaukee and a welcoming blend of urban sophistication and small-town charm, Brookfield offers contemporary meeting and event platforms.
Groups that book Brookfield enjoy easy access to more than 2,000 guest rooms in a dozen national chain hotels, diverse dining options and many shopping stops, spas and golf courses. Major meetings properties include the Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield and the Brookfield Suites Hotel and Convention Center.
Brookfield guests avoid big-city bustle while residing close to the Milwaukee County Zoo, Miller Park and other attractions. They also enjoy the increasing array of dining and shopping attractions, including seven new eateries that opened in the past year, including Cucina Italiana, Bonefish Grill and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar.
Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts is one of Brookfield’s newest culture centers, with a 619-seat auditorium, a grand hall and several studios and classrooms that are ideal for special events, performances and art exhibitions. The center’s grand hall features exposed wood beams and a floor-to-ceiling, hand-carved limestone fireplace that can accommodate up to 200 guests.
Waukesha and Pewaukee
About 20 miles west of Milwaukee, business groups find additional contemporary meeting facilities and some unique attractions.
The Waukesha County Exposition Center has 45,000 square feet of function space, including an arena with 10,000 square feet of floor space. Additionally, the Country Springs Hotel, Water Park and Conference Center offers 30,000 square feet of meeting space, and the Milwaukee Marriott West has nearly 14,000 square feet of meeting space.
“Waukesha and Pewaukee are great locations in southeast Wisconsin for planners to use,” says Tammy Tritz, executive director of the Waukesha and Pewaukee CVB. “An easy location, very competitive facilities with excellent space options and high service standards from both the facilities and CVB provide a seamless and memorable experience for the planner and attendees.”
Tritz says the area also offers many interesting off-site options at places such as Old World Wisconsin, a 576-acre living history museum that depicts early settler farm life. The Prestige Yacht Dinner Cruise is a wonderful way to enjoy Pewaukee Lake with a dinner or cocktail cruise. Ten Chimneys, the former home of Broadway legends Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, offers a look into the 1940s, when the two celebrities were in residence. Both meeting space and catering service are available on the estate. Meanwhile, Waukesha County Museum is a circa-1893, castle-like courthouse with several venues that accommodate groups.
For More Info
Brookfield CVB 262.789.0220
www.visitbrookfield.com
Visit Milwaukee 414.273.3950
www.milwaukee.org
Waukesha and Pewaukee CVB 262.542.0330
www.visitwaukesha.org
