RNC Will Build on Milwaukee’s Growing Visibility, Tourism Leader Says
Visit Milwaukee’s CEO Peggy Williams-Smith salutes city's 'swagger,' rising tourism.
Fiserv Forum. Photo taken April 23, 2024 by Dave Reid.
All eyes have been on Milwaukee less than three weeks before the Republican National Convention kicks off there. Between contestants performing well on national cooking competition shows to celebrity sightings at Summer Fest, some feel like people are reevaluating their perceptions of the city.
Visit Milwaukee’s president and CEO Peggy Williams-Smith addressed Milwaukee’s reputation during an event at the Milwaukee Press Club Monday. She said she takes pride in Milwaukee’s “current swagger.”
But not all comments have been complimentary. Earlier in June, former President Donald Trump reportedly called Milwaukee, the host city for the RNC, a “horrible city” during a closed-door meeting, initially reported by Punchbowl News.
Williams-Smith said reports of the remark generated amazing amounts of press for the city.
“When someone comes at us, we’re going to come right back at you with the facts. And the facts are that we are amazing. And we are working hard every day to be better,” she said.
When Trump campaigned in Racine last week, he began his speech by addressing his alleged comment.
“I love Milwaukee,” Trump said.
Williams-Smith said Milwaukee chef Dan Jacobs’ rise to the finals on “Top Chef,” which was filmed in the city last summer, and the Milwaukee Bucks winning the 2021 NBA Championship have helped change the narrative around Milwaukee.
“I think examples like that have helped us as a community get beyond a level of humility that was honestly hurting us,” she said.
Fans fill Deer District before the game Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Milwaukee, Wis. Angela Major/WPR
RNC could bring in nearly $200M in economic impact
The Republican National Convention is also boosting Milwaukee’s visibility. The convention, which runs July 15-18, is expected to draw 50,000 visitors to the city.
In 2023, the total economic impact of tourism in Milwaukee County exceeded $4.1 billion. Direct and indirect spending from the RNC will contribute to the reported economic impact for 2024.
“The bigger story is what happens afterwards, and capitalizing on all the things that people talk about, so that we can make sure that we don’t lose this momentum,” Williams-Smith said.
In August, Visit Milwaukee plants to make an announcement about an upcoming event whose organizers “would have never considered Milwaukee” without the expansion of the Baird Center and the RNC. Williams-Smith declined to share more details about the event.
Republican National Convention to build on Milwaukee’s growing visibility, tourism leader says was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.
If you think stories like this are important, become a member of Urban Milwaukee and help support real, independent journalism. Plus you get some cool added benefits.
More about the 2024 RNC
- Officials Admit RNC Issues, But Say Event Was Success - Jeramey Jannene - Oct 1st, 2024
- Council members seeking information on fatal shooting during RNC, details on convention-related arrests, economic impact - Milwaukee Common Council - Jul 23rd, 2024
- Photo Gallery: Scenes from the RNC - Urban Milwaukee - Jul 19th, 2024
- Hulk Hogan, Kid Rock and Donald Trump, Final Day of RNC Veered All Over - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 19th, 2024
- Trump to Wisconsin – ‘I Am Trying To Buy Your Vote’ - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 18th, 2024
- ‘Everyday American’ Diane Hendricks Touts Trump, Her Life Story in RNC Speech - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 18th, 2024
- Bars and Restaurants See Dramatically Mixed Results For RNC Traffic - Sophie Bolich - Jul 18th, 2024
- Young Republicans Say They’re Ready To Lead Wisconsin GOP - Rich Kremer - Jul 18th, 2024
- RNC Preview – Day 4, Thursday July 18 - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 18th, 2024
- JD Vance Plays Up Working Class Roots, Populist Politics in RNC Speech - Graham Kilmer - Jul 17th, 2024
Read more about 2024 RNC here
I look forward to see the results of this economic impact, with total transparency on how it was documented and measured. (Don’t forget to include the lost opportunity costs!)
I doubt this net economic impact will be seen, even over the long, long term. Shutting down the Hoan, closing businesses in the security zones, downtown employees working from home. Some negative impacts are becoming apparent before the convention ever begins.
My hope is that the hoped for economic impact happens, but there is nothing put forward to provide any expectation for it. “Things people talk about” is not a plan and it is not data and it does not provide a roadmap on any measurement.
Top Chef WI is doing more for tourism, economic impact, and shining a light on Milwaukee than the RNC will.
My biggest fear is that the terrorist right wingers really will arrive by busloads – as they apparently are encouraging their followers to do.
THe RNC has banned guns at the convention – ensuring their safety, but the rest of us are stuck with the idiotic concealed carry law that the legislature passed. I am sure many of them are gleeful at the thought of Milwaukee having some gun battles.
I have never understood what those guys have against Milwaukee. All of the attendees will use any upset as “proof” tha democratic cities are hellholes.
Cannot wait until this horror show is over.
While it’s true that the RNC (and Top Chef, and the Bucks’s Championship, etc) impact visibility, I firmly believe that it’s what people know—or THINK they know—about a city that matters most. Mention Chicago, NYC, Seattle, Boston, Nashville, the Twin Cities…even Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, towns with pretty solid brands, and positive images come to mind—despite annoying “doom loop” YouTubes.
I love Milwaukee, but my suspicion is that many people hold an old, beer and cheese, Laverne and Shirley image, and the City has almost gleefully fed that image. Most leisure visitors to Milwaukee come from Chicago or other towns in Wisconsin. And many probably grew up in Milwaukee or have relatives there.
Visibility is important but, beyond that, there is understanding and even a felt sense. Evoke in others’s psyches and hearts a commonly understood, positive image (or constellation of images) and you’re golden. No image is probably as valuable as a bad image.