Tourism Spending Jumps Five Percent in Packer Country

A recently released survey shows Packer Country tourism expenditures increased by five percent in 2004, with travelers to the area spending more than $646 million.

Travelers to the three-county region of Brown, Kewaunee, and Manitowoc spent $646 million annually on shopping, lodging, recreation, food, and transportation, making tourism among the top three industries in the area.

“Certainly the $295 million renovation to Lambeau Field has had a very positive impact on tourism,” said Kari Sliva, President and CEO of the Packer Country Visitor and Convention Bureau. “In addition the Green Bay area is a regional hub for headline entertainment at the Veterans Memorial Complex, Weidner Center and Oneida Bingo and Casino. Thirdly, we’ve seen an increase in convention and meeting business at the KI Convention Center and other conference locations, and that heavily impacts our shoulder seasons in Spring and Fall,” Sliva said.

The tourism industry employs 15,395 full time workers in the region, with those hospitality employees earning $322 million.

View the full story here.

2nd Annual “Be A Tourist In Your Hometown” Event A Success

Despite rainy weather, the 2nd annual “Be A Tourist In Your Hometown” community event drew thousands of visitors to attractions throughout Packer Country the weekend of May 14th – 15th.

Anyone with a “Be A Tourist In Your Hometown” passport booklet was granted free admission to 14 area attractions, representing a savings of $400 for an average family of four. Dozens of positive comments from the community and participants have been received about the program and the Packer Country Visitor & Convention Bureau has plans to host the event again in 2006.

Here’s what a couple of participants had to say:

“Everyone really liked it! I wouldn’t change a thing! We have a family of six and we had plenty to do. We have four children and each likes something different, so there was something for each of them. We went to four places and enjoyed the whole thing, although the (Country Critters) Petting Zoo was a favorite.”
Matt Bone
Seymour, Wisconsin

“This is the second time we’ve done this and we really enjoyed it! We got a real kick out of it! (The event) let us try our normal places and add something new, like the Karsten Inn, which was fun. The point is to get out there and try something different. We also enjoyed visiting Heritage Hill because we had never been there during the (Fort Howard) Encampment. We usually go later in the year, so this was a fun new experience!”
Tony Kellner
Green Bay, Wisconsin

Watch for information on packercountry.com about Be A Tourist In Your Hometown 2006!

Local Hotel & Rental Car Chain Place First In Hospitality Rankings

Market Metrix LLC, the leading provider of market research services for the hospitality industry, announced Wingate Inns and Enterprise Rent-A-Cars ranked number one in customer satisfaction. Enterprise continues to dominate the rental car category, however this is the first time a mid-scale (without food and beverage) hotel company has placed first, beating out luxury properties such as Walt Disney World Resorts. According to guests, Wingate Inns provide “amenities comparable to a 5-star hotel” with employees that “smile, call you by name, and ask if there is anything you need”. Click here to see the full report.

Find out more about Packer Country’s Airport Wingate Inn and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Thomas the Tank Engine™ Pulls Into Packer Country
June 15th –19th

All aboard for Thomas the Tank Engine™, as the classic storybook friend rolls into Green Bay for a Day Out With Thomas™ June 15-19, 2005. Find out more about experiencing this national tour online.

Win Tickets!
How much do YOU know about Thomas the Tank Engine™?
Test your Thomas & Friends™ trivia here!

Veggie Tales to Visit Packer Country

Coming soon to Green Bay! VeggieTales Rockin' Tour LIVE! Don't miss this opportunity to see Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber and friends live in person at the Time Warner Cable Theatre at the Resch Center on Wednesday, July 6th at 2 pm & 6 pm. This tour is designed for people of all ages, combining favorite VeggieTales songs and friends into a true concert tour. If you think they’re funny on TV, wait 'till you see them up close and personal!
For more information visit www.pmiwi.com.

For tickets call Ticket Star at 800.895.0071 or visit www.ticketstaronline.com. Group Ticket Sales are available by calling 800.428.8411.

Downtown Green Bay Theatre Launches New Season

Lots of music and plenty of comedy, worthy of 75 years of entertainment history. That’s what you’ll find in the Meyer Theatre’s new program lineup for 2005-2006. The beautiful Meyer Theatre is an extraordinary blend of the past and the present. With 1,000 seats, it offers an intimate theatre-going experience like no other, located in the heart of downtown Green Bay.

For a full event listing, event description, and season package ordering information visit www.meyertheatre.org

Other Upcoming Events in Packer Country
For a full calendar of upcoming events, visit packercountry.com.

Celebrate De Pere
May 28-30, 2005
Large Memorial Day celebration including The Gin Blossoms, food and Kiwanis Parade on Monday.
www.celebratedepere.com

Green Bay Billy's Baseball
Joannes Stadium
Semi-professional baseball throughout the summer
www.gbbillys.org

Summer in the Park Concert Series
Jackson Square Park
Free lunch time concerts. Bring your own lunch or concessions are available. Various dates. www.downtowngreenbay.com

National Family Day at the Zoo
Northeastern Wisconsin Zoo
June 4
www.co.brown.wi.us/zoo

21st Annual Garden Fair
Green Bay Botanical Garden
June 4th – 5th
Over 85 vendors of plants, accessories, demonstration, music, food and more.
www.gbbg.org

If Tombstones Could Talk
Fort Howard Memorial Park
June 5, 2005 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Meet several of Green Bay's well-known former residents as they tell their stories of life in earlier times.
www.browncohistoricalsoc.org

Music on the Green Concert
Heritage Hill State Park
June 6
www.heritagehillgb.org

Bayfest
UW-Green Bay Campus
June 9-12
Large music and food fest featuring 4 stages of music, 25 international and domestic food vendors, carnival, sand sculpture, marketplace and fireworks extravaganza.
www.uwgb.edu/bayfest/index.html

2nd Annual Bluegrass Festival
Heritage Farm-Kewaunee
June 11-12
www.wisconsinruralheritage.org

Victorian Teas
Hazelwood Historic House
June 13-14
Formal tea, music and history-based program.
www.browncohistoricalsoc.org

Cruise of Cars
Central Memorial Park-Two Rivers
June 24, 6:00 PM
Parade of collectable cars cruising from Manitowoc ending at Central Memorial Park in Two Rivers.
www.woodtype.org

Poetry Night
Neville Public Museum
May 26, 6:00 PM
www.nevillepublicmuseum.org

Miss a newsletter? Past issues can be viewed and printed online at:
http://www.packercountry.com/newsletter/index.htm

Packer Country Visitor & Convention Bureau, 1901 South Oneida St., Green Bay, WI 54307-0596
920-494-9507 or toll-free 888-867-3342

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