www.wisconsinmeetings.com | 1

WINTER 2017

2017 TECHNOLOGY TRENDS

EXTREME

SITE TRANSFORMATIONS

DESTINATION: MADISON

10 | wisconsin meetings | winter 2017

IN THE NEWS

MADISON MAKES LIST OF

TOP MEETINGS DESTINATIONSMadison has been named the 20th top meetings

destination by SmartAsset.com in its annual list of

the Best Cities for Conferences. “This is a wonderful

nod about an important element of our work and key

contributor to the visitor economy. This confirms and

validates what so many of our satisfied customers have

expressed to us — that Madison is a great place to meet

and host events,” says Deb Archer, president and CEO

of the Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Criteria used for the survey include: number and size of

hotels in the city, average room rate, distance between

downtown and the airport, average cost of a three

course meal at a mid-range restaurant, and the number

of violent crimes per 100,000 people.

CHARMANT ANNOUNCES

NEW SALES DIRECTORStacy Erickson is the new Director of Sales at the

Charmant Hotel in La Crosse. In addition to managing

finances for the Aparium Hotel Group property, Erickson

will oversee guest relations and focus The Charmant’s

communications to cultivate a warm environment that

honors the hotel’s historic setting.

THE RIDGE IS HONORED FOR

RECENT RENOVATIONSThe Ridge in Lake Geneva has been awarded two honors:

the Business Innovation Award from the Walworth County

Economic Development Alliance and the Hospitality

Impact Award from VISIT Lake Geneva. “Representing

a multi-million-dollar transformation, The Ridge guest

experience now benefits from the latest technology

and a contemporary, upscale design that previously was

not available in our market,” said VISIT Lake Geneva

President and CEO Darien Schaefer at the organization’s

annual dinner. “Rebranding the property has expanded

the guest demographics to include millennials and

young professionals, which benefits the entire area and

helps establish Lake Geneva as a business and vacation

destination for yet another generation.”

CONNELLY JOINS

LAKE LAWN RESORTBecke Connelly is the new director of marketing for

Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan, Wis. Connelly joins

the resort from Gage Marine in Williams Bay, Wis.,

where she developed and implemented a variety

of revenue-building strategies, including print and

digital advertising campaigns, media relations, website

development, special event coordination, video and

photo shoot direction, and more.

WHITE LODGING NAMES

NEW CEOChief Financial Officer Ken Barrett has been named

CEO of White Lodging, a developer of more than

125 upscale hotels across the country. Chairman and

founder Bruce White said the changes were made

because of an upcoming phase of rapid expansion.

White Lodging plans to open new hotels in Wisconsin,

Texas, Tennessee, Colorado and Indiana next year.

The company owns two, soon to be three properties

in downtown Milwaukee — Springhill Suites Milwaukee

Downtown, Marriott Milwaukee Downtown and the

Westin Milwaukee downtown (opening in 2017).

VISIT MILWAUKEE RECEIVES

MARCOM AWARDSVISIT Milwaukee has been awarded four 2016 MarCom

Awards for its marketing and communications efforts.

The MarCom Awards are an international creative

competition that recognizes outstanding achievement

by marketing and communications professionals. Entries

come from non-profit and corporate marketing and

communication departments, advertising agencies,

PR firms, design shops, production companies and

freelancers. The awards are administered by the

Association of Marketing & Communications (AMCP).

TRU BY HILTON COMING

TO MADISONNorth Central Group has announced plans to build

a 106-room Tru by Hilton hotel on the west side of

Madison. Construction will begin in early 2017 with a

scheduled completion date of early 2018. North Central

Group is a Middleton, Wis.-based hotel development

company that is opening a 165-room AC Hotel by

Marriott in downtown Madison this spring.

FOX CITIES EXHIBITION CENTER

DETAILS RELEASEDDesigns of the new Fox Cities Exhibition Center

(FCEC) were recently unveiled, showing the facility's

signature 82-foot-tall LED-lit tower and the seamless

integration into Appleton's Jones Park. In addition to

Transformations

By Nancy A. Herrick

Tour some of Wisconsin's most recently updated venues

THE RIDGE HOTEL

www.wisconsinmeetings.com | 47

“Our previous image was becoming somewhat tired,” says Erin

McDonald, general manager of the Delafield Hotel. “Our new

owners had a vision of a more contemporary vibe to bring a new

energy to the property. The response has been outstanding.”

The Park Hotel in Madison (formerly the Inn on the Park) recently

underwent a major interior and exterior rebuild that took almost a

year, and brought it up to the Best Western Premier standard.

“We are right on the Capitol Square and offer an important sense

of place,” says Stephanie Hammes, director of marketing for the

hotel. The renovation has been very well-received, she says, “and

now we can say we are Madison’s newest, yet most historic venue.”

When the former Brookfield Suites Hotel reopened in May 2016 as

the Embassy Suites by Hilton Milwaukee Brookfield, it marked a

return to its roots.

“The same partnership group has owned the hotel since it was built

in 1986 as an Embassy Suites,” says Colette Kukla, director of sales

and marketing. “We have a 30-year history here and people are

telling us what a great job we’ve done with all the improvements.

We’ve come full circle.”

Here are several Wisconsin meeting venues whose recent

renovations have updated both their physical space and their image.

DELAFIELD HOTEL, DELAFIELD

Located between Milwaukee and Madison off I-94, this full-service

boutique hotel has 38 guest suites ranging from 500 to 1,000 square

feet, with spa tubs and overhead rain fixtures. The renovation,

ust like a chic new haircut or the perfect pocket square,

an updated look for a hotel and conference venue can

give it new appeal. Such updates also seem to pay off.

THE RIDGE HOTEL

48 | wisconsin meetings | winter 2017

costing in the $5 million range, brought a

new sophistication to the property, which

was purchased in 2015 by Hendricks

Commercial Properties of Beloit.

“We have a new restaurant, new furnishings,

flooring and artwork, and a contemporary

color scheme of white, gray and black,” says

McDonald. “I think we’re more competitive

now. And while it has been a transitional

year, we’ve already had a spike in business.”

Meeting spaces include:

• The Cushing Room, which accommodates

35 to 50 people for meetings. It has large

windows and new décor.

• The Ballroom, holding up to 250 guests for

a seated event or 175 to 200 for a meeting

with tables.

• The Wine Room, which is part of the new

I.d. restaurant and holds as many as 12

people for board meetings. “It’s not your

typical business space,” says McDonald.

“It’s very warm and inviting.”

THE DELAFIELD HOTEL

THE GENEVA INN ©JAKE ROSTERMUNDTH PHOTOGRAPHY

www.wisconsinmeetings.com | 49

415 Genesee StreetDelafield, WI

(located in the Delafield Hotel)

262.646.1620iddelafield.com

COOL.

CONTEMPORARY.

SOPHISTICATED.

415 GENESEE STREET

DELAFIELD, WI

262.646.1600

THEDELAFIELDHOTEL.COM

EMBASSY SUITES BY HILTON

MILWAUKEE BROOKFIELD,

BROOKFIELD

(formerly the Brookfield Suites Hotel)

On its way to becoming the only Embassy

Suites Hotel in Wisconsin, the former

Brookfield Suites Hotel underwent a $10

million renovation that began in November

2015 and was completed in May 2016.

“All the guest rooms and bathrooms were

gutted, the atrium, restaurant and bar were

renovated, and the lobby, fitness center,

landscaping and HVAC were redone,”

says Colette Kukla, director of sales and

marketing for the hotel. There are 203 suites

and six specialty suites.

“The theme and design of the hotel was

inspired from the local area,” she says.

“The property at one time had been a

radish farm, and the area also is known

for manufacturing. Photography displayed

around the hotel reflects Wisconsin.”

Existing function areas were expanded,

updated and reconfigured, resulting in

a total of 6,100 square feet. All have new

lighting and sound systems and upgraded

internet.

Meeting spaces include:

• The Diplomat ballroom, with a wide range

of configurations for its 4,000 square feet.

• The U.S. Army junior ballroom, with about

1,000 square feet.

• Three smaller meeting rooms of about

300 to 400 square feet, including a board

room.

• Large suites with about 575 square feet.

THE GENEVA INN, LAKE GENEVA

Located on the shores of Geneva Lake, the

Geneva Inn recently underwent extensive

remodeling of its restaurant and banquet

room and an update to its lobby and atrium.

The inn also increased its meeting space.

“It was time to refresh the property,” says

Krysta Holden, front desk supervisor.

The hotel, built in 1990, has 37 guest rooms,

including some suites. The changes were

designed to take advantage of the lovely

lake views.

Meeting spaces include:

• The Port Room, on the lower level of the

inn. This is the largest meeting venue and

holds 50 or so people for receptions, sit-

down functions or theater-style events. It

has a foyer for cocktails or light appetizers.

• The Starboard Room off the main-floor

atrium. It is designed for slightly smaller

meetings, luncheons, seminars or private

parties.

• The Clary Room, with large windows

overlooking the lake. This room off the

restaurant seats up to 15 for luncheons,

business breakfasts or board meetings.

THE RIDGE HOTEL, LAKE GENEVA

(formerly the Geneva Ridge Resort)

The Ridge Hotel is a 146-room lodge

overlooking Lake Como with a spa, pool,

restaurant and an affiliation with the

neighboring Geneva National Golf Club,

which also is owned by Paloma Resort

Properties. In June 2016, the second phase

of the hotel’s extensive remodeling was

completed at a cost of $4.5 million.

The renovation included a new dining

venue called Crafted Americana with a

cocktail room and panoramic views; a

lobby with a coffee and wine bar; a dramatic

staircase with glass railings and a sculptural

chandelier; and a facelift for hallways,

restrooms and the gift shop.

In September it won the Hospitality Impact

Award from Visit Lake Geneva, the city’s

Chamber of Commerce.

“Much of the remodeling was about

modernization and giving the hotel a very

contemporary look,” says Barbara Karabas,

marketing manager for The Ridge Hotel.

“Our focus also was very tech-oriented, and

we now have the fastest WiFi in Walworth

County.”

The hotel’s 10,000 square feet of flexible

meeting space was updated in phase one.

Next up will be the third and final phase of

renovations, including a refreshed exterior

and guest rooms, which were last done in

2012.

50 | wisconsin meetings | winter 2017

Nancy A. Herrick is the former

Travel Editor for the Milwaukee

Journal Sentinel who is now a

freelance writer and editor in

Milwaukee.

Meeting spaces include:

• The Aspen Ballroom with 4,100 square feet

of flexible space.

• The Alder Ballroom with 1,970 square feet

of flexible space.

• The Oak Board Room with 390 square feet.

• The Fireside Room, connected to the

Aspen Ballroom, with 2,000 square feet,

panoramic views and patio access.

PARK HOTEL BEST WESTERN

PREMIER, MADISON

(formerly the Inn on the Park)

“Dating to 1871, the Park Hotel is the

only hotel on the Capitol Square and the

renovation helps us project that historic

story much more prominently,” says

Stephanie Hammes, director of marketing

for the hotel.

As part of the $8 million project, every

guest room was updated, the ninth floor

was expanded to include lake view suites,

the Top of the Park sky view meeting room

was fully remodeled, the exterior façade

was redesigned and the technology was

upgraded.

Its renovated 14,000 square feet of

conference space includes meeting areas

for up to 450.

Meeting spaces include:

• The Hall of Wisconsin ballroom, with

5,200 square feet that can be divided

into two spaces. It is adjacent to two

conference rooms for break-out sessions

or reception space.

• The Top of the Park, on the hotel’s eighth

floor, offering 2,700 square feet along with

dramatic views of the Capitol Square and

Madison’s lakes.

• The Paperless Boardroom, seating up to

14 and including complimentary WiFi,

hardwired Internet, built-in mics, speakers

and camera, and a powered conference

table with outlets and USB ports. WM

PARK HOTEL BEST WESTERN PREMIER

THE GENEVA INN ©JAKE ROSTERMUNDTH PHOTOGRAPHY