Help Yourself — Why a Wisconsin CVB Should Be Your First Call

Freebies! Who doesn’t love them? But if you’re not taking advantage of all the complimentary services and advantages of working with Convention and Visitor Bureaus (CVBs) you are literally passing up on hundreds (maybe even thousands) of dollars’ worth of freebies! When one of your biggest challenges is working within the confines of a “streamlined” budget, you need to help yourself to all that these Wisconsin CVBs have to offer.

River Falls Chamber + Tourism

Profile:  Take a scenic thirty-minute drive east of the Twin Cities to historic River Falls, a unique and charming river city nestled on the banks of the Kinnickinnic River. Visitors enjoy picturesque surroundings, the University of Wisconsin-River Falls campus, plus year-round activities, and historic main street. From quaint B&Bs to historic hotels and roomy motels, there is an abundance of comfy lodging sites to accommodate any budget.

Services:  The River Falls Chamber + Tourism team is happy to assist with your planning needs. They provide info on activities, dining, and local events, and will help customize your meeting or event experience. 

Visit Eau Claire

Profile:  Eau Claire is located at the intersection of Interstate 94, US Highway 53, and State Highway 29, so it’s easy to get to. Amazing scenery, abundant lodging including everything from boutique hotels and retreat centers, to B+Bs and campgrounds, many casual and fine dining options, music, nightlife, outdoor adventures and more make Eau Claire ideal for your meeting or event.

Services:  The team at Visit Eau Claire is there to help you through every step of planning including housing arrangements, site inspections, venue coordination and selection assistance, referrals for local services, registration assistance, welcome letters, name badges, VIP welcome bags, and much more all available to you at no charge.

Explore La Crosse

Profile:  La Crosse, Wisconsin’s largest city on the western border, is a picturesque town on the Mississippi River. Known for its world-class medical facilities, three highly-regarded post-secondary institutions, rich cultural offerings, and “Grandad Bluff” towering 1200 feet high over the town with stunning views of the surrounding area. With year-round festivals, boutiques and shops, museums, wineries, vineyards, breweries, boating, fishing, golfing and hiking, your guests will never lack for something to do.

Services:  Explore La Crosse offers a plethora of complimentary services, such as visitor information, name badges, registration assistance, referrals to keynote and breakout speakers, promotional materials, catering and entertainment, coordination of transportation, tours, and programs, website promotions, media releases, and radio shows. 

Wisconsin Dells VCB

Profile:  Known as “The Waterpark Capital of the World®,” Wisconsin Dells is one of the most popular destinations in Wisconsin. In addition to all those waterparks, the Dells offers visitors a choice of over 8000 hotel rooms, 90 restaurants, year-round indoor and outdoor activities, shopping, and more.

Services:  Wisconsin Dells VCB offers a long list of valuable cost-free services for your event such as assistance with grant applications, bid processes and site visits, acquiring lodging and room blocks, customizing pre-event mailings, venue search, and recommendations on attractions, local businesses, and transportation.

Greater Madison CVB

Profile:  The vibrant capital city offers visitors perennial favorites like the Dane County Farmers’ Market with more than 300 vendors, alfresco dining, 200 miles of biking and hiking trails, and popular events like the World’s Largest Brat Fest.  Ranked as one of the Top Ten Happiest Cities in the World by National Geographic, Madison is a planner’s dream come true with event space for up to 10,000, 9000 lodging rooms, scenic views, iconic restaurants, arts, culture, sports and more. Clearly, there’s something for everyone.

Services:  The expert staff at Greater Madison CVB are available to assist you with site visits, find group lodging, vendor referrals, registration and information assistance, off-site event planning, itinerary ideas, letters of welcome, visuals and videos, guides and maps, plus online tool kit, calendar and itineraries.

Manitowoc Area VCB

Profile:  Each year, thousands of visitors travel to pastoral Manitowoc, located along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Stunning parks, beaches and marinas pepper the coast while historic downtown welcomes everyone. Hotels range from upscale to budget-friendly and extended stay, while dining goes from casual to elegant.

Services:  The team at the Manitowoc Area VCB are happy to recommend event facilities, venues, lodging and vendors such as caterers, entertainers, or photographers. They’ll also help with suggestions on itinerary planning and assist you with welcome packets, goodie bags, entertainment suggestions, housing and shuttle coordination, maps, banners, and more.

Fox Cities CVB

Profile:  Enjoy the big city amenities of the twenty charming communities that line the shore of Lake Winnebago and the Fox River that comprise the Fox Cities. Perfect for gatherings of up to 2000, the area offers 2800 guestrooms, 40,000 square feet of event space, great restaurants, nightlife, pubs, clubs, shopping and cultural activities. Easily accessible from major roadways and the airport, Fox Cities is a destination worth consideration.

Services:  The experienced staff at Fox Cities CVB are ready to roll up their sleeves and pitch in with planner guides and timelines, site tours, pre-convention brochures, referrals to local vendors, create a customized microsite for your event, provide visitor information bags, assist in companion tour planning, and deliver materials to the host hotel.

Visit Milwaukee CVB

Profile:  Known for its breweries and its role in the beer industry, Milwaukee has much more to offer than a few good pints. Located on Lake Michigan’s western shore, Milwaukee boasts iconic attractions such as the Harley-Davidson Museum, the Milwaukee Riverwalk, and the Historic Third Ward, the city’s arts and fashion district. Milwaukee’s budget-friendly convention campus features three unique venues, the Wisconsin Center, the Milwaukee Theatre, and the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, while downtown, your guests can check into one of 5,000 hotel rooms.

Services:  Visit Milwaukee’s capable and accommodating tourism team can help with site inspection and trip planning, meeting scheduling and planning, promotional methods, materials and publications, access to VISIT Milwaukee’s 600 member businesses for services needed, electronic signage, street pole banners, evening programs/events and spouse events, assistance in locating event resources, services, or products, and so much more.

Visit Lake Geneva

Profile:  Lake Geneva resides on the glorious Geneva Lake in southeastern Wisconsin. Between the amazing scenery, the available adventures on water, a golf course or a zip line, relaxation at a spa or taking a stroll along the shore path, visitors quickly fall in love with Lake Geneva. Accommodations range from B+Bs to luxury spas and resorts, while dining options are served up casual or fine.

Services:  Visit Lake Geneva offers a host of complimentary services, including recommendations for lodging and venues, RFP submission and comprehensive packaged proposals, site visit coordination, assistance in setting up pre-convention and post-convention activities, as well as anything off-site you need.

Greater Green Bay + the Lakeshore CVB

Profile:  Known as a football town with the Packers at Lambeau Field, Green Bay has quite a few other things going for it as well. Vineyards and wineries that produce vintage from locally grown grapes, botanical gardens, museums, and galleries, too. Year-round activities include boating, fishing, hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing.

Services:  From transportation and registration to tours and off-site event planning assistance, online housing reservations, registration, welcome and greeting service, publicity, entertainment and speaker referrals, activity planning, and site visits, the knowledgeable staff can help find the right solutions to your group’s needs.

For a complete list of Wisconsin Convention + Visitors Bureaus, view our directory, here.