ILWAUKEE IS WHERE amazing meet- ings happen. Why? Because the city’s one-stop-shop con- vention campus — the Frontier Air- lines Center, Milwau- kee Theatre, and U.S.
Cellular Arena — is just a skywalk away from two recently upgraded hotels, the Hilton Milwaukee and Hyatt Regency Milwaukee. There are 16,000 hotel rooms in the Greater Milwaukee area, 3,000 of which are within walking distance of James Beard– recognized restaurants, nightlife, and professional sporting events. And because the convention cen- ter was designed by meeting planners, no detail has been overlooked; planners can rest easy knowing their meetings, conventions, and special events will be their most successful yet. In addition to the convention campus, a number
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SHORESIDE SOIREES: The Pilot House event space on top of Milwau- kee’s Discovery World provides a spectacular 360-degree view of the
Lake Michigan shoreline. Discovery World is also the summer berth of the Great Lakes schooner S/V Denis Sullivan.
of attractions in Milwaukee offer space for memo- rable meetings and special events. Thrill attendees with the roar of motorcycles at the Harley-Davidson Museum, where indoor and out- door spaces can accommodate groups of up to 5,000. Ranked No. 1 on a “Top Ten Sexiest Buildings” list, the lakefront Milwaukee Art Museum’s spectacular, soaring atrium and kinetic “wings” make an impressive reception venue. The neighboring Discovery World, a 120,000-square-foot facility dedicated to the wonder of science with fresh and saltwater aquariums and interactive exhibits, offers the waterfront Pilot House — with a breathtaking 360-degree view of the city’s shoreline — for meetings and special events. Between the Milwaukee Art Museum and Discovery World, the sleek new Har- bor House overlooking Lake Michigan serves eight different species of oysters from an open kitchen and raw bar. Meeting professionals can also take advantage of Milwaukee’s spectacular views of Lake Michigan at the 75-acre lakefront Maier Festival Park, which has recently invested more than $30 million in upgrading its stages and restaurants. A guaranteed hit with summer convention delegates, the festival park is home to the annual 11-day music extravaganza Summerfest, along with numerous ethnic festi- vals during the summer. When it’s time for attendees to relax, the charming RiverWalk is perfect for visitors to stroll and explore Milwaukee’s diverse down-
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town. Each neighborhood captures a distinct personality, from the trendy Historic Third Ward — a converted warehouse district — to Old World Third Street, where the city’s German heritage is still alive and thriving. Getting to Milwaukee has never been easier. One of the fastest-
growing airports in the country, serving 56 cities with nonstop service, Mitchell International is only eight miles from downtown. The cost of flying in and out of General Mitchell International Airport is also among the lowest of any major city in the country. n
AT A GLANCE
Convention facilities: Frontier Airlines Center, with 189,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space; the 4,100-seat Milwaukee Theatre; and U.S. Cellular Arena, with a 24,000-square-foot floor for exhibitions and trade shows Hotel rooms: 1,200 connected by skywalk to the Frontier Airlines Center, 5,000 citywide, and 16,176 in the Greater Milwaukee area
For more information: Mia Nardi, Director of Sales, VISIT Milwau- kee; (800) 231-0903; www.visitmilwaukee.org