For immediate release:
February 17, 2006.
2006 Fox Cities Tourism Award Winners Named
Presentations made at the Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Annual Tourism Breakfast
(Fox Cities, WI) – The Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau named recipients of the Fox Cities Tourism Awards this morning during its annual Tourism Breakfast at Liberty Hall in Kimberly. Bureau Board members Al Schaefer and Char Berg presented the awards.
“Our award winners this year demonstrate the power of local advocacy,” said Lynn Peters, Bureau executive director. “Each of these projects represents a huge effort by local individuals to make the Fox Cities a better place. Without the efforts of our local citizens, the Fox Cities would not be such a wonderful tourism destination.”
Julie Clemins of Super Bowl in Appleton and Gene Schmitt from the Fox Valley Youth Bowling Association were key to the success of the 2005 Young American Bowling Alliance State Tournament at the Super Bowl in Appleton. The tournament ran each weekend from February 5 to May 8, 2005, generating an economic impact of $522,100. The Fox Valley Youth Bowling Association and the Super Bowl each received a Sports Award for this outstanding event.
The Convention Award was presented to Goodwill Industries for the 2005 Goodwill National Delegate Assembly. More than 400 people attended the 5-day event, generating an estimated economic impact of more than $180,000.
Bob Pederson, CEO of Goodwill Industries and staff members spent many hours planning the Delegate Assembly and showing the attendees why our community is a fantastic destination for a convention. Goodwill went as far as producing a video tour of the area led by Pederson’s dog “Max” to showcase the area.
“This is a perfect example of a local group doing what it takes to bring a convention to the area,” commented Schaefer. “This event is usually held in a major metropolitan area, so the Fox Cities probably wasn’t on their radar screen, until the local Goodwill showed them why they should come.”
The Heritage Award was presented to the Paper Discover Center.
“The paper industry is at the center of our community’s heritage, economy and culture, but there’s never been a good way for visitors to learn about the industry until now,” said Peters.
The Paper Discovery Center grew out of the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame. A large group of dedicated volunteers imagined this center and raised the funds to create it. Val Wylie, executive director of the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame, and Dave Lee from the Hall of Fame Board, accepted the award.
The Bureau named two projects that create public access to local waterways “Destination Builders”: the Fox Cities Trestle Bridge and the Neenah Riverwalk.
“Water is everywhere in the Fox Cities, but there aren’t a lot of places where residents and visitors have access to it,” commented Schaefer. “The new trestle bridge across Little Lake Butte des Morts makes it easy for people to get right down to the water.”
The bridge will also ultimately connect two ends of the Friendship Trail, a trail that will run all the way from Stevens Point to Manitowoc, and which will attract visitors from around the state. The bridge runs from the Town of Menasha to the City of Menasha, and the project was a joint venture between the two communities. Town of Menasha Chairman Arden Tews and Menasha Park & Recreation Director Brian Tungate and each accepted awards for the project.
The Neenah Riverwalk project in Shattuck Park and downtown Neenah provides a barrier-free riverwalk, an interactive fountain, a concert lawn and a walk-out pier. It has become a key selling point for meeting planners considering whether to hold a convention in downtown Neenah.
“This project is an excellent example of public/private partnership,” commented Peters. “Three key partners helped make this project a reality, the City of Neenah, Future Neenah and the Friends of the Neenah Riverwalk.”
Karen Harkness, executive director of Future Neenah, Bob Buckingham, planning director, City of Neenah and Eileen McCoy, parks and recreation director, City of Neenah accepted the award.
The Wisconsin Departments of Tourism and Commerce were presented with the Partnership Award.
“Two years ago the Departments of Commerce and Tourism announced that it would be awarding ‘Tourism Diversification Grants,’ said Peters. “The Bureau applied and was lucky enough to receive a grant and we used the funds to do a tourism assessment.”
A number of big changes to Fox Cities tourism resulted. The Bureau adopted the “Wisconsin’s Shopping Place” brand, dramatically changed our website, began installing visitors information kiosks and started work toward improved wayfinding signage. Others in the community, like the Fox Cities Children’s Museum, have made changes in how they do business as well.
“Through this entire process, the Department of Commerce and the Department of Tourism have been there to help us and we’re pleased to recognize both departments with this Partnership Award,” said Schaefer in presenting the award to the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism Jim Holperin.
Dick Fredricks, a long-time sports official, was recognized with the 2006 Jim Jensen Volunteer Award. Fredericks has been a key player in the Bureau’s Sports Committee for many years, and currently chairs the Fox Cities Sports & Events Commission. He helped the Bureau build a relationship with the Red Smith Committee and assisted with the planning of several Sports Commission events. In addition, he’s been a great supporter of the NCAA Division III World Series and attended many tournament games.
Tracey Carson, vice president of integrated marketing for Boelter and Lincoln in Milwaukee, spoke to the group on the importance of branding in an integrated marketing campaign. Carson commented that the Fox Cities new brand of Wisconsin’s Shopping Place is strong because the area is the first to own it, and that nurturing the brand will be very important in the next several years.
Tourism had an estimated $325 million impact on the Fox Cities in 2003, the most recent year for which figures are available, and tourist dollars directly and indirectly created nearly 9,000 full-time job equivalents and $182.69 million in resident income.
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The Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau is a private, not-for-profit corporation working to develop an economically viable convention and visitor business in the Fox Cities. This is accomplished by attracting meetings, conventions and tournaments to the community and promoting area attractions and special events to tourists and other visitors.
Tourism had an estimated $325 million impact on the Fox Cities in 2003, the latest year data is available, and tourist dollars directly and indirectly created nearly 9,000 full-time job equivalents and $182.69 million in resident income.
For More Information Contact:
Pam Seidl, Director of Marketing Communications
(920) 734-3358
pseidl@foxcities.org
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