Destination Guides
Wisconsin 2010
by Kaylee HultgrenJanuary 1, 2010
Playtime
In Wisconsin Dells, about 50 miles north of Madison, the 742-room Kalahari Resort offers a new 110,000-square-foot Indoor Theme Park. The property also features eight restaurants and an indoor waterpark, along with a 100,000-square-foot convention center. kalahariresorts.com/wi
Madison Makeover
Built in 1871, the 219-room Best Western Inn on the Park Capitol Square in Madison recently wrapped up a renovation. Guest rooms now feature re-created 1870s-style furniture, and bathrooms sport new granite vanities. The property also debuted Jerome's Restaurant. (608) 285-8000;
innonthepark.netMadison
Local Update:
Last May, the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center opened the rooftop Grand View Café, a 60-seat venue. Groups can rent the café or the entire rooftop for events.
The 226-room Crowne Plaza Madison completed a $5.5 million renovation last year. Added features include the Growlers Bar & Grille and 10,300 square feet of new meeting space.
The 151-room Hyatt Place Madison/Downtown is under construction and set to open this April. Features include 2,500 square feet of meeting space.
Meeting Hotels: Major properties include the 356-room Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor's Club, 240-room Hilton Madison Monona Terrace and 239-room Sheraton Madison. To search for more meeting hotels, visit mcmag.com/meeting-facilities.
Convention Center: Alliant Energy Center; exhibit space, 100,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 14. (608) 267-3976, ext. 2; alliantenergycenter.com
Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center; exhibit space, 37,200 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 21. (608) 261-4000; mononaterrace.com
Airport Transit: Dane County Regional Airport, six miles from downtown. Transfer cost by taxi, $12-$18
Taxes: Room tax, 9%; sales tax, 5.5%; total tax on hotel rooms, 14.5%
Group Venues: Popular local chef and restaurateur Shinji Muramoto has relocated his Restaurant Muramoto a few blocks from its original downtown site. Small plates of Asian fusion-style fare are served here, and fish is flown in from around the world daily. The venue seats up to 25 for dinner and 75 for a reception. (608) 259-1040; muramoto.biz
CVB Services: Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau, (608) 255-2537 or (800) 373-6376; visitmadison.com