Laura Kielbasa: Taking Calculated Risks Pays Off
Laura Kielbasa, conference and events planner at MRA — the management association, invites other planning professionals to find the right fit.
Laura Kielbasa, conference and events planner at MRA — the management association, invites other planning professionals to find the right fit.
Meeting planners have recently cited rising food costs as a key budget challenge for events in 2024, and navigating this requires creative planning techniques that range from grazing tables to choosing the right event time.
With younger professionals driving interest in experiential learning, Wisconsin’s agricultural venues offer open-air, hands-on adventures — from bee-keeping to aquaponics — that offer immersive farm outings.
Wisconsin has plenty of venues that add an extra wave of fun to meetings and events with on-site or nearby water attractions and activities.
This new upscale, all-suite hotel scores big with an ideal location, great views and a first-class menu for meetings of any size.
From Madison to Lake Geneva, pickleball is in serious demand — giving meeting planners new ways to score fun for event attendees.
Nearly doubling its size to become the state’s largest convention center, this new destination boasts flexible outdoor meeting space, a chef’s tasting room, and both eco-friendly and inclusionary elements, enticing meeting planners to pre-book years out.
Creative spaces, natural surroundings and walkability keep this locale a return favorite for many meeting planners.

Wisconsin offers a plethora of splendid spots complete with accoutrements that surprise and delight at every turn.
Wisconsin offers a plethora of splendid spots complete with accoutrements that surprise and delight at every turn.