New Travel Wisconsin Welcome Centers Open For Business
As we continue the transition of Wisconsin’s Welcome Center operations, members of the Gateway Visitor Information Centers consortium have adopted a new business model in partnership with the Department of Tourism and the Department of Transportation to operate as Travel Wisconsin Welcome Centers.
The Travel Wisconsin Welcome Centers (TWWC) listed below will now distribute approved travel and hospitality brochures at no charge to the industry.
Wisconsin destinations, tourism associations, attractions and events are eligible to apply.
To have a brochure or guide considered for approval at the TWWCs please first download and review the PDF of the TWWC Literature Distribution Guidelines and Procedures on the right.
We ask that you hold off on shipping brochures to centers until they are approved and the center staff contacts you. Display and storage space are limited in some locations and will impact their decisions about ordering. Not all centers will distribute all approved brochures.
Designated Travel Wisconsin Welcome Centers
Interstate Locations
Beloit Travel Wisconsin Welcome Center on I-39/90
Operated by Visit Beloit
Kenosha Area Visitor Information Center on I-94
Operated by Kenosha Area CVB
La Crosse Area Travel Wisconsin Welcome Center on I-90
Operated by La Crosse Area CVB
Non-Interstate Locations
Marinette Travel Wisconsin Welcome Center on US Hwy 41
Operated by City of Marinette
Platteville Visitor Information Center near US Hwy 151
Operated by Platteville Area Chamber of Commerce
Prairie du Chien Regional Tourism Center US Hwy 18
Operated by the Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce
Superior - Douglas County Welcome Center on US Hwy 53
Operated by Superior/Douglas County CVB
Update on Gateway Visitor Information Centers (GVIC)
We continue to work with the other GVIC centers as they evaluate their participation in the new TWWC business model. For questions about the GVICs please contact one of the co-chairs:
Kathy Kopp
Executive Director
Platteville Area Chamber of Commerce
608-348-8888
director@platteville.com
Dave Minor
President/CEO
Superior Chamber of Commerce
715-394-7716
dm@superiorchamber.org
Update on WisDOT Literature Distribution at Rest Areas
Please note the following changes: The three Rest Areas in Beloit, Kenosha and La Crosse that are now designated Travel Wisconsin Welcome Centers and operate under the guidelines for the Department of Tourism’s Literature Distribution program described above, will provide literature distribution at no charge to the industry. Otherwise, WisDOT continues with its Rest Area literature distribution program as outlined below.
Wisconsin Department of Transporation (WisDOT) Literature Distribution at Rest Areas
The Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has awarded a contract to stock literature at select Wisconsin rest areas effective January 1, 2011. We encourage you to contact the vendor directly for information on their guidelines and fees if you are interested in distributing your tourism brochures and guides at the rest areas.
Ad-Lit Inc. was awarded Rest Areas 11 and 12 in Columbia County and Rest Areas 9 and 10 in Juneau County, all located on I-39/90/94. This is a continuation of sites they have serviced for many years.
Ad-Lit Inc Contact:
Dennis Healy
608-254-8770
dennis@ad-lit.com or Ad-Lit@ad-lit.com
Distribution of literature at 23 other rest areas will be limited to State Highway Maps. The contract with HMA will not be renewed.
The contract with WisDOT states that these vendors and organizations have "the exclusive authority to distribute tourism literature within the rest area building." If Ad-Lit, Inc. is not able to answer your question you should contact Tom VanBeek at WisDOT at 608-261-8183 or Thomas.VanBeek@dot.wi.gov. This is a change from the past when Rehabilitation for Wisconsin (RFW) had this responsibility.