Black Meetings and Tourism

November/December 2014

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B M & T ••• November/December 2014 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 40 AREA GUIDES M I LWA U K E E MEETING IN THE MILTOWN Milwaukeeans know that when brilliant fall colors light up the city's streets and parks, it's "lights up" on the city's stages for the exciting theater season. Nightly standing ovations are greeting the ster- ling cast of "The Color Purple" at the leg- endary Milwaukee Repertory Theater, thanks in part to VISIT Milwaukee, a proud sponsor of this top-selling show featuring professional actors from all over the country. Milwaukee's exceptional arts and entertainment scene, along with its stun- ning natural beauty, meeting facilities and Midwest charm, make it an exciting meet- ings destination with an unexpected "wow" factor, and all this at a substantial cost savings. Meeting planners looking to reduce the carbon footprint of their events will also find an environmentally conscious partner in the Wisconsin Center. Greening initiatives over the last few years include a new single streaming recycling system, energy and water con- servation and waste reduction. Milwaukee's budget-friendly conven- tion campus features three unique ven- ues, the compact, three-story Wisconsin Center with its 189,000-sq. ft. exhibit hall, along with the historic Milwaukee Theatre and the 12,700-seat UW- Milwaukee Panther Arena which provide additional dining, trade show or concert space. New this fall, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino has expanded to include a new 381-room hotel, adding meeting space to the casino's Expo Center and ball- room. Unforgettable off-site venues also include the Harley-Davidson Museum, the lakefront Milwaukee Art Museum with its moving "wings," and neighbor- ing Discovery World, renowned for its 360-degree view of the Lake Michigan shoreline. Known for accessibility, Milwaukee also features a two-mile long RiverWalk that connects colorful walk-around neighborhoods like Milwaukee's "SoHo" area, the Historic Third Ward with its Milwaukee Public Market, and Old World Third Street, both districts known for their range of vibrant nightlife. Milwaukee's African American com- munity is constantly growing with gal- leries, coffee shops, clothing stores, lounges, and new businesses every day, many of them located in the Historic King Drive Business District. This vibrant community has much to offer any visitor. Milwaukee has one African- American owned radio station, WMCS, and three weekly newspapers, the Milwaukee Community Journal, the Milwaukee Courier and the Milwaukee Times. Milwaukee, along with Atlanta, has celebrated the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. longer than any other city in the United States. The city also has cele- brated Juneteenth Day (the day the slaves learned of their emancipation, June 19, 1865) for more than 40 years. African World Festival is one of the pre- mier festivals in the country celebrating world, national and local African (American) culture. VISIT Milwaukee is offering a $5,000- $10,000 cash incentive to groups book- ing meetings in the Wisconsin Center from now until December 31, 2016 (cer- tain restrictions apply). Along with cash incentives, planners will discover that • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Hilton Milwaukee City Center 729 Hyatt Regency Milwaukee 481 Potawatomi Hotel & Casino 381 Milwaukee Marriott Downtown 205 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Wisconsin Center Total Exhibit Space 188,695 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 28 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Gus Martinez, Convention Sales Manager gmartinez@milwaukee.org (414) 287-4242 (800) 576-6466 www.visitmilwaukee.org/ meeting-planners African American Chamber of Commerce (414) 462-9450 View over looking Milwaukee Riverwalk and Skyline Photo Credit: Visit Milwaukee CVB

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