Milwaukee will play host to the largest travel writer convention in the world, the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), on October 11-15, 2020. The event will bring 300 prestigious travel journalists to the state as part of its annual convention.
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On the heels of the Democratic National Convention and Ryder Cup, Milwaukee will play host to the largest travel writer convention in the world, the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW). The event, October 11 to 15, 2020, will bring 300 prestigious travel journalists to the state as part of its annual convention.
“We are excited and proud to host SATW in what I think will be ‘The Year of Milwaukee’,” said Kristin Settle, director of communications for VISIT Milwaukee. “By choosing our destination to host their largest annual event, SATW members will experience not only Milwaukee, but also the state of Wisconsin, which will yield earned media stories for years to come.”
The impact of the event goes beyond direct spending and earned media.
“This is our opportunity to showcase the best of our destination. We will visit some of Milwaukee’s most authentic and interesting places, and hear from business owners and locals alike about what makes Milwaukee an amazing city,” said Settle. “That ultimately translates to more tourism dollars being brought into the region as the word gets out about Milwaukee.”
Among the places the group will visit include Lakefront Brewery, the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Harley-Davidson Museum, Milwaukee Public Market, Northpoint Lighthouse and Potawatomi Hotel & Casino.
“Milwaukee was a perfect choice to host our event,” said Jane Wooldridge, president of SATW. “The rich culture, diverse neighborhoods, incredible food, stunning architecture, and natural beauty will deliver stories and inspiration for our members for years to come.”
There will be opportunities for the journalists to visit other destinations in Wisconsin both before and after the conference. Travel Wisconsin is coordinating those expeditions with various destinations.
“We are thrilled to partner with VISIT Milwaukee to leverage the event’s pre- and post-convention trips all over the state to ensure attendees have a deep and memorable experience of Wisconsin,” said Sara Meaney, secretary-designee for the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. “This is truly a significant opportunity for the Wisconsin destination story to be told far and wide, furthering our opportunity to increase the economic impact of tourism throughout the state.”
Previous host destinations for this event include Portland, Barbados, China, Las Vegas, Iceland and El Paso/Juarez.