Why here?
Several Wisconsin destinations have news that will be of interest to meeting planners, including the opening of the $150 million Potawatami Hotel & Casino in Milwaukee and a $100 million revitalization of the 202-room Edgewater Hotel (above) in Madison.
Lake Geneva• The
Abbey Resort and Avani Spa has finished a renovation of its 240 West restaurant. Reclaimed wood beams, a stone fireplace and panoramic views of Lake Geneva set the scene for seasonal American fare.
• Originally opened in 1856, the
Maxwell Mansion is fresh from a recent renovation. The historic venue, which features an 1880s apothecary bar and a basement speakeasy, is available for events of up to 150 guests.
Good Taste
Ristorante Brissago at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa serves Italian fare made from fresh ingredients flown in from Italy weekly. The space has views of the Wisconsin countryside; private dining areas are available.
Here's the Beef
The
Milwaukee Chophouse at the busy Hilton Milwaukee City Center is a traditional steak house, specializing in fine cuts of meat and fresh seafood, along with with an extensive wine list. A private dining space hosts parties of up to 30 people. (414) 298-3147
MILWAUKEE
Local Update
• The Pfister Hotel recently completed guest-room renovations and added two new club floors where guests receive a personalized welcome note, milk and cookies, slippers and more. Club guests also have access to the new 23rd-floor club lounge. The 307-room property has more than 25,000 square feet of meeting space for groups, a spa and several dining options.
• This past fall, the Potawatami Hotel & Casino opened with 381 guest rooms and added more than 13,000 square feet of function space to the casino's existing 48,000-square-foot Event Center, which now can accommodate up to 2,750 people for a reception. The property includes a new restaurant, Locavore, which uses local, organic ingredients and serves handcrafted cocktails and small-batch craft beers. The casino features some 3,000 slot machines, 100 table games and more.
Meeting Hotels: Properties include the 729-room Hilton Milwaukee City Center, 481-room Hyatt Regency Milwaukee, 307-room The Pfister Hotel, 243-room DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Milwaukee Downtown and 221-room Intercontinental Milwaukee.
To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, go to mcvenues.com.
Convention Center: Wisconsin Center; exhibit space, approximately 188,695 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 28; (414) 908-6072
Airport Transit: General Mitchell International Airport, about eight miles from downtown Milwaukee. Transfer cost to the city center by taxi, about $28
Taxes: Room tax, 9.5%; sales tax, 5%; total tax on hotel rooms, 14.5%
Group Venue: Set on the scenic shores of Lake Michigan, Discovery World is a 120,000-square-foot science center and aquarium that can accommodate groups of up to 2,000 people (not to mention myriad denizens of the deep). The Pilot House, which can host 500 for cocktails, offers dramatic 360-degree views of the shoreline through floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor wraparound terrace. (414) 765-9966
Contact: Visit Milwaukee, (414) 273-3950 or (800) 554-1448
On Ice
Heidel House Resort & Spa in Green Lake offers an ice-fishing experience for groups, complete with a hot breakfast, transportation, boxed lunch and gear. The activity is led by Mike Norton, whose family has fished on Big Green Lake for four generations across nearly 100 years.
MADISON
Local Update
• The Edgewater Hotel completed a $100 million renovation last October and now features new interiors, contemporary d•cor and upgraded technology. The project created four new dining destinations, a new hotel tower and a spa facility. The property's 45,000 square feet of meeting space was revamped as well.
• About 290,000 square feet of new function space is now available at the Alliant Energy Center Campus. The $24.9 million New Holland Pavilions have replaced nine former agricultural barns and comprise two venues spanning 200,000 and 90,000 square feet, respectively.
Meeting Hotels: Properties include the 373-room Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor's Club, 240-room Hilton Madison Monona Terrace, 239-room Sheraton Madison, 226-room Crowne Plaza Hotel Madison, 202-room Edgewater Hotel, 163-room DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Madison, 153-room Radisson Hotel Madison and 151-room Hyatt Place Madison.
For find and compare hotels, and to send RFPs, go to mcvenues.com.
Convention Centers: Alliant Energy Center; exhibit space, 100,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 14. (608) 267-3976, ext. 2
Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center; exhibit space, 37,200 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 21. (608) 261-4000
Airport Transit: Dane County Regional Airport, six miles from downtown Madison. Transfer cost by taxi, $21-$25
Taxes: Room tax, 9%; sales tax, 5.5%; total tax on hotel rooms, 14.5%
Contact: Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau, (800) 373-6376