BILL TO REPEAL SEPT. 1 SCHOOL START DATE TOPS WACVB LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
WACVB is busy at the State Capitol these days, monitoring the state budget and other legislation as they weave their way through the Capitol.

WACVB is lobbying against AB125/SB109 which would repeal the September 1 start date for K-12 schools in 2011.  WACVB joins other members of the Wisconsin Tourism Federation in opposing the legislation.  The September 1 school start date is beneficial to Wisconsin’s economy and families and does not negatively affect the education of our youth.  School districts already have flexibility in setting their calendars with some districts managing to finish in early June while others finish in mid-June.  There is not a justifiable reason for change and it would lead to less revenue for Wisconsin businesses and less income for employees already reeling from the economic recession. 

WACVB is also lobbying to maintain Governor Doyle’s recommended budget for the Department of Tourism.  The agency has already cut a significant $1.7 million from its budget, eliminating the Wisconsin Welcome Centers.   WACVB opposes Gov. Doyle’s budget proposal to eliminate the state’s Film Tax Incentive Program.  Many WACVB members have already seen first-hand the benefits that Public Enemies and other film productions have brought to their community and to their partner tourism businesses.   Eliminating the incentives will shut down the industry and jobs will be lost.  The Governor’s proposed new film grant program will not attract new business and jobs to Wisconsin because there will no longer be an industry to support them.

WACVB is also monitoring the smoking ban provision in the state budget.  The association supports a statewide smoking ban in hopes that it can level the playing field on smoking ordinances across the state. Finally, WACVB opposes SB 1 which would raise the minimum wage to $7.60/hour plus index it to the consumer price index. The Association supports the upcoming federal minimum wage increase to $7.25/hour.  

WACVB members will be lobbying legislators on many of these issues at the first WACVB legislative day on April 22 in Madison. 

WACVB JOINS ROOM TAX COALITION
WACVB has joined the Wisconsin Innkeepers Association (WIA) and others in forming the Coalition for the Integrity of Room Tax. The coalition, just in its infancy, is an effort to raise awareness of effective room tax use. Efforts will initially focus on educating municipalities and the tourism industry about the state’s room tax law and effective use of room tax for WIA has also created on online room tax tool kit in the members area of its web site, www.wisconsinlodging.info.

WACVB represents Wisconsin's top destination marketing organizations that collaboratively drive tourism economic growth in Wisconsin.

RHETORIC HURTING MEETINGS INDUSTRY
Amidst mass-media reports portraying meetings as lavish, superfluous expenditures, meetings and conventions across America are being canceled.

Even here in Wisconsin there are reports of meeting cancellations due at least in part, to potential public backlash. The impact of the backlash, which began as a response to the irresponsible meeting practices of a few corporations receiving federal financial assistance, is the loss of income and jobs for the tourism and hospitality industry.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's Traveler Expenditure Study, meetings and convention travelers spent an estimated $1.36 billion in Wisconsin during 2007, generating an estimated $227 million in local and state government taxes and fees.

“Meetings and conventions are important part of Wisconsin’s economy,” WACVB Executive Director Julia Hertel said. “We hope businesses planning to hold responsible and productive meetings in Wisconsin will not reverse their decision due to the current climate of fear."