Destinations Wisconsin Applauds State Destination Marketing Grant Awards
Destinations Wisconsin applauds Governor Evers for awarding $15 million in Amercia Rescue Plan Act dollars to Wisconsin destination marketing organizations.
Thirty-five members of Destinations Wisconsin received $11.6 million of the awarded grants. The additional stimulus dollars will allow these destination marketing organizations (DMOs) to continue recovering from the devastating impact that COVID-19 has had on many of them. These additional funds will allow them to bring back staff, promote tourism in their destinations, and operate their visitor centers. It will particularly help DMOs that work to attract meetings and conventions to their destinations. This market that has been slower return to pre-pandemic levels than leisure travel.
“We are grateful that Governor Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Tourism recognizes the enormous value Wisconsin destination marketing organizations bring to their communities and tourism partners," Executive Director Julia Hertel said. "These funds will help Wisconsin's tourism economy rebound more quickly."
Destinations Wisconsin is comprised of 40 destination marketing organizations (convention and visitor bureaus, chambers of commerce and other tourism entities) that work together to drive destination economic impact, job creation and enhanced quality of life through tourism. The organization was formed in 1993 and partners with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism to promote the state as a meetings and convention destination and sporting events destination. The organization hosts the annual Wisconsin Fall Tourism Conference, serves as a member of the Tourism Federation of Wisconsin (the state tourism industry’s advocacy coalition), and is a member of Destinations International.