Brush up on recent industry news and updates from Midwest Meetings magazine.

CHARTING THE FUTURE OF MINNEAPOLIS

Meet Minneapolis recently announced its long-range tourism vision, titled “Destination Minneapolis: Charting the Future of Minneapolis Tourism.” This is a road map to ensure the city continues to be a dynamic, competitive and welcoming place for meetings, conventions and events.

The heart of the master plan includes five goals:

  • Create a nationally competitive convention center district.
  • Develop new, and enhance existing, events year-round.
  • Establish Minneapolis as a national leader in equity and reconciliation.
  • Increase the vibrancy of downtown and expand the mixed-use riverfront development.
  • Expand and diversify different lifestyle experiences.

In other news, Minneapolis hospitality leaders, Meet Minneapolis and the city of Minneapolis officially formed the Minneapolis Tourism Improvement District, the first in the state! This initiative is expected to generate an estimated $7 million annually through a 2% assessment on lodging properties, providing sustainable funding for tourism promotion.

According to Katie Cashman, a city council member, “With strong backing from our local hotels, this initiative will allow Minneapolis to compete more effectively for conventions, major events and visitors, bringing jobs, revenue and vibrancy to our city.”

VISIT MILWAUKEE UNVEILS MAJOR INITIATIVES

Visit Milwaukee celebrated a record-breaking year at its 2025 Annual Meeting, held at American Family Field and presented by Majic Productions. While guests were treated to insightful remarks on the current state of the travel and tourism industry from the U.S. Travel Association’s president and CEO Geoff Freeman, the event also showcased the power of tourism to elevate the city.

Highlights include:

  • Visit Milwaukee announced it has joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program, becoming the first destination marketing organization in the Midwest to do so. The initiative raises awareness of non-visible disabilities and helps individuals request additional support in public spaces through a discreet sunflower symbol.
  • Visit Milwaukee offered a tribute to outgoing Board Chair Sarah Pancheri, with incoming Chair Kristine Hillmer of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association stepping into the role later this summer.
  • It also toasted the one-year anniversary of the Baird Center expansion, for which the Visit Milwaukee sales team has already booked events estimated to generate over $174 million in economic impact.
  • The trailer for “Milwaukee Made,” a television series hosted by event expert David Caruso, debuted.

LINCOLN DOWNTOWN CONVENTION CENTER SITE SELECTED

Assemble Lincoln, the standing committee overseeing the development of Lincoln, Nebraska’s Downtown Convention Center, recently announced that it has tabbed the Garfield public/private site near South 13th and M streets as the selected location for the convention center.

The Lincoln Downtown Convention Center project has brought together a team that includes state government, Lancaster County, Assemble Lincoln and other community partners to develop an economic catalyst for the community with a meeting place that helps increase its vibrance.

According to Jason Ball, the president and CEO of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, “The announcement marks important progress towards a central element of the Vitality Lincoln Strategic Plan. A downtown convention center will greatly enhance our ability to attract meetings and groups.”

VISIT KC CELEBRATES ACHIEVEMENTS

Visit KC shared Kansas City’s 2024 tourism successes during its 2025 Annual Tourism Outlook, reporting record-breaking business travel with the organization welcoming 523 events in 2024, accounting for roughly 527,917 room nights and an economic impact of $370 million.

Visit KC also presented a Kansas City Tourism Icon Award to the National WWI Museum and Memorial for its commitment to outstanding visitor experiences and dedication to providing a community gathering place by hosting large-scale events.