Milwaukee: Fastest-growing airport paving the way for meeting market
When a region's airport is tracking record levels of passengers even in winter months in a cold place, you know something is going right for the destination, according to Brent Foerster, vice president of sales and marketing for Visit Milwaukee.
With upcoming summer festivals, the city expects to rack up more impressive passenger numbers for the second half of 2011, reports Meetings Focus.
"Our airport is the big story because it's the fastest-growing in the US with regard to the number of flights in and out," Foerster says. "We are up to 56 markets [with nonstop access] in and out of General Mitchell International Airport."
The first quarter of 2011 saw 2.2 million passengers at the Mitchell airport, up nearly 3 percent from the same period last year, reports the Milwaukee Business Journal.
One reason: lower airfares than most places in the US or US$77 lower than last year’s national average.
Other reasons for the airport's numbers:
- Milwaukee’s "brand promise" of an urban and suburban destination that's "real."
- A location on a Great Lake.
- Excellent meeting facilities.
- A variety of entertainment options.
"We are easy to get around, people are friendly and genuine, and we are safer than most other cities our size," Foerster said. "Our Midwest, central location, with a fast-growing airport and lots of converging highways, definitely gives us an edge and great value."
Milwaukee's nickname is "City of Festivals." And it should live up to it this summer with expected heavy traffic that will pump up its visitors numbers.
Many Milwaukee business meetings occur at the Frontier Airlines Center, the city's premier meeting facility.
With 189,000 square feet of exhibit space, 37,000 square feet of ballroom space and 26 breakout spaces, the center shares a campus with the US Cellular Arena and the Milwaukee Theatre, which add to the facility's space options.
Via skywalk, there are over 1,200 guest rooms connecting to the center from the Hilton Milwaukee Center and Hyatt Regency Milwaukee.
By David Wilkening
David
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