Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1546515
28 tality story, hosting events for up to 70,000 in one of sports' most iconic venues. Together these two cities give planners a full meeting experience across culture, access, and substance. C Green Bay B Green Bay runs on legend - and the infrastruc- ture keeps pace. KI Convention Center commands 80,000 square feet of meeting space, a 25,000- square-foot grand ballroom, and 35 meeting rooms. Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport connects to five nonstop destinations. The Hyatt Regency Green Bay holds 117 guest rooms, 124 suites - attached directly to the KI Convention Center. The Hampton Inn Green Bay Downtown runs 114 guest rooms and 1,114 square feet of meet- ing space, positioned on the Fox River alongside the CityDeck boardwalk. High Kaliber Craft Kitchen and Many Sided Marie's lead the dining trail. Peak season runs June through August - Packers home weekends lock up the market. Green Bay brings legendary energy, serious space, and real value. C Milwaukee B Milwaukee sits along Lake Michigan with some- thing to prove – and the Baird Center makes the case. The newly expanded Baird Center set a Wisconsin record with its $456 million expansion - 2,359 workers and 1.4 million labor hours, built for Milwaukee by Milwaukee, with community- owned firms leading the work. The center delivers 1.3 million square feet of total convention space, a 300,000-square-foot main exhibition floor, a rooftop ballroom, and 52 meeting rooms. The Baird Ballroom and Sky View Terrace spreads across 31,928 square feet, dividing into seven soundproof spaces overlooking the downtown sky- line. The Hilton Milwaukee City Center holds 554 guest rooms and 30,000 square feet of meeting space, connected via skywalk. The Marriott Milwaukee Downtown runs 205 guest rooms and 9,000 square feet of event space. Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel offers 219 guest rooms and 11,500 square feet of multi-use event space, with a 4,950- square-foot Simone Ballroom and 95-seat black box theater steps from Baird Center. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport serves 36 nonstop destinations. Peak season runs June through August. The Greater Milwaukee Urban League connects planners to Black-owned catering, pro- duction, and event professionals. America's Black Holocaust Museum opens evening events and her- itage tours to visiting groups. Turning Tables Tavern, Sam's Place Jazz Café, and Daddy's Soul Food and Grille lead the dining trail. From the museum to the menu, Milwaukee puts the her- itage, the space, and the value all in one room. Choosing the Midwest for your next meeting, incentive trip, or family reunion is a powerful deci- sion. This region carries a genuine, unmistakable soul that transforms any gathering from a standard assembly into a meaningful experience. When your organization roots itself in the African American heritage embedded across these eight states, every attendee leaves with something they never antici- pated - a connection to a history that shaped this nation. Your convention dollars become an inten- tional act of community investment, flowing direct- ly to Black owned businesses and the cultural insti- tutions that keep this history alive and thriving. The Midwest stands ready to welcome your group with professional precision, world-class facilities, and an ancestral hospitality that makes every attendee feel genuinely at home. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Illinois Office of Tourism (312) 814-4732 enjoyillinois.com Indiana Office of Tourism (800) 677-9800 visitindiana.com Iowa Office of Tourism (800) 345-4692 traveliowa.com Michigan Office of Tourism (888) 784-7328 www.michigan.org Minnesota Office of Tourism (888) 847-4866 exploreminnesota.com Missouri Office of Tourism (573) 751-4133 visitmo.com Ohio Office of Tourism (800) 282-5393 www.ohio.org Wisconsin Office of Tourism (800) 432-8747 travelwisconsin.com Baird Center,Milwaukee B M & T ••• September/October 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com