Corporate Social Responsibility VISIT MILWAUKEE Going for the Gold in Green Due to the efforts of the city’s dynamicWater
Council, in 2009 the United Nations designated Milwaukee a U.N. Global Compact City, as an international hub of water research and tech- nology.A collaboration among business leaders and scientists from the Great LakesWater Insti- tute, theWater Council has put Milwaukee on the map as an epicenter for water science and water-industry conferences. Environmental awareness goes hand in hand
R
ESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE ARE inspiredandrenewedby theabundance of natural resources in Milwaukee. No other
major Midwestern city can claima location that features a splendid Lake Michigan shoreline and a confluence of three rivers,wherelakefront park- lands and pristine beaches provide a glorious set- ting for two world-class attractions and a 75-acre permanent festival ground. Milwaukee’s natural assets inspire an ongoing resolve to preserve the environment through sustainable practices throughout the city. Meeting planners will find an environmentally
conscious partner in the Wisconsin Center Dis- trict convention campus.The past few years have seen multiple upgrades to the heating and cool- ing system of the Frontier Airlines Center, result- ing in significant energy savings. Motion-sensor lighting controls and high-efficiency light sources, along with upgrades in water conservation and ongoing assessment of recycling and waste reduction, reflect the ongoing commitment to green meetings. Levy Restaurants supports the convention center’s green mission by using biodegradable and compostable, disposable products where appropriate, and by banning all frying with trans-fat oils. With this comprehen- sive strategy in place, meeting planners’ green requirements are sure to be met in Milwaukee.
with social responsibility, and VISIT Milwaukee is at the forefront through its partnership in the Social Responsibility Organization (The SRO*),co- founded by the Milwaukee-based American Soci- ety forQuality.VISITMilwaukee has workedwith fellow CVBs in Pittsburgh and Portland on“Build- a-Bike” projects for disadvantaged youth, which has given back to theWashington,D.C., and Los Angeles communities after major conventions. At the state level, naturalist Aldo Leopold
CLAIM TO FAME:
No major Midwestern cityother than
Milwaukee features a
splendid Lake Michigan shoreline (top) and a confluence of three rivers.
ON THEWATER:
Lakefront parklands (above) and pristine beaches provide a glorious setting for two world-class attractions.
himself would have been proud of Travel Green Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s eco-travel initiative, with guidelines for sustainability and best practices.HotelMetro and the InterContinental Milwaukee led the way as the first city recipients of the sought-after cer- tification, followed by the Pfister Hotel, Hyatt Regency Milwaukee, Hilton Milwaukee City Cen- ter, and Doubletree Hotel Milwaukee. Milwaukee not only has answered the call to
green initiatives, but is forging ahead with an aggressive green meetings and travel agenda. This, along with a heart for social responsibility, places the city at the vanguard of an eco-friendly and socially responsible hospitality industry.
At a Glance
CONVENTION FACILITIES: Frontier Airlines Center offers 189,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space. HOTEL ROOMS: 1,200 connected by skywalk to Frontier Airlines Center; 5,000 citywide; 16,176 in Greater Milwaukee area FOR MORE INFORMATION: VISIT Milwaukee, Mia Nardi, Director of Sales; (800) 231-0903; mnardi@visitmilwaukee.org; www.visitmilwaukee.org