GOVERNOR SIGNS ROOM TAX CLARIFICATION BILL
After many months of negotiation and discussion, Governor Jim Doyle signed Assembly Bill 298 into law earlier this spring.  WACVB worked in partnership with the Wisconsin Innkeepers Association to help get the Room Tax Law Clarification Bill passed.   AB 298 which is now Wisconsin Act 135 was authored by State Representative Mark Pettis (R-Hertel) and amends the 1994 room tax reform law by defining tourism promotion and development. The bill states that room tax expenditures designated for tourism promotion and development must be spent on projects and development that are reasonably likely to generate overnight stays. The bill was necessary in order to guide municipalities and commissions on how they spend tourism promotion and development funding.  Visit http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/acts/05Act135.pdf to view the act.

 

WACVB MEMBERS AWARDED SPORT GRANTS
Five WACVB members have received grants from the Department of Tourism’s new “Ready, Set, Go” grant program.  Waukesha & Pewaukee CVB, Kenosha CVB, Packer Country VCB, Fox Cities CVB, Stevens Point CVB and Chippewa Valley CVB received a total of $51,500 in grants for sporting tournaments and events to be held in their destinations throughout 2006 and 2007.   WACVB worked with the Department of Tourism and the Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation (WSDC) to develop the new grant program that assists destinations in securing competition-related events that require an up-front cash or financial commitments. The program recognizes the growth potential of the sports market as an economic driver in the state.

 

DID YOU KNOW...
In 2005, travelers spent $11.8 billion in Wisconsin, a $30 million increase over 2004.

 

WACVB MEMBERS RECEIVE OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION
Convention & Visitors Bureaus from Hayward Lakes, Brookfield, Packer Country, Oshkosh, Manitowoc, Madison, Wisconsin Dells, Chippewa Valley, Washington County, Racine County, Fox Cities, LaCrosse and Janesville have received WACVB's official Destination Marketing Organization certification.  WACVB awards the certification to destination marketing organizations that meet a set of stringent destination marketing, organization, financial and personnel standards.

 

WACVB represents Wisconsin's top destination marketing organizations and initiates cooperative ventures that enhance the state's tourism industry.