Mayor's Community Update - 08/10/19

Greetings!  With the 30th Annual Waupun Truck N Show and the American Legion Great Plains Region National Tournament arriving in town later this week, it seems like a great time to discuss tourism in our community.  Presently, we collaborate with Destination Lake Winnebago Region (DLWR) as our tourism entity.  WI Statute 66.0615 requires a municipality to either form a tourism commission or name a tourism entity such as DLWR.  The Statute dictates that at least 70% of room tax dollars collected must be spent on tourism promotion and tourism development.  The decision to partner with DLWR is part of regional tourism strategy that recognizes that visitors to an area are seldom concerned about geographic boundaries but rather are interested in enjoying all things about a region that draw their interest, which then result in an extended stay in the area.   DLWR was formerly known as the Fond du Lac Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.  Rebranding of the organization happened in 2018 to reflect the organization’s regional focus, which includes Waupun and other countywide tourism assets. 

So, what are we working on to promote tourism in our community and the broader region?  Our latest effort is focused on the television show Discover Wisconsin.  Over the next several weeks, producers from the show will be in Waupun filming for an episode focused on the Horicon Marsh that will include a featured segment on our community.  During taping, producers will capture footage at Marsh Haven and visit our community to tape segments on our sculptures.  They also plan to capture some footage from various festivals and events before making a stop at Guth’s Candy Shop.  The episode will air in 2020.  Watch for a preview party to occur prior to the release.

Through our partnership with DLWR, we have been working on branding which is informing some of our downtown streetscaping work such as the addition of the new mural downtown.  Yet to come (after construction) are new trash receptacles, seating, banners and more.   We have also developed a series of new advertisements and we’re presently putting the finishing touches on a new tourism website.  Over the past year, DLWR has introduced the trolley sculpture tours, which have been popular during Art All Around and Celebrate Waupun festivals.   Finally, the organization has provided support to market our community via numerous social media channels, print media, and an expanded presence in the DLWR area guide that is distributed at major events like EAA and other regional outlets that draw visitors to the region.  Next we’ll be working on developing travel itineraries and integrating Waupun more closely into the sales channels at DLWR as they outreach to travel tour resellers, meeting planners and more to attract groups to our area.

Around town, on Friday, August 16, Trinity Church will host the final movies in the park night at Wilcox Park, beginning at 7:30 p.m.  And, on August 17, Waupun Boy’s Hockey will host a cornhole tournament fundraiser.  For more information on those events, visit the Waupun Festivals website.  I hope to see you around town!