By Michelle Eigenberger
The digital issue of the 2010 Wisconsin Lodging Directory is now ready to view online! Flip through the pages like a regular magazine! Click the ads to be taken directly to advertisers’ Web sites! We’re very excited about this digital upgrade to this year’s publication.

Visit the wisconsinlodging.info homepage and click the image of the Lodging Directory cover to be taken right to the digital edition. Click around and let us know what you like! Feel free to report any bugs or broken links as well. Have you used the Wisconsin Lodging Directory to plan a trip, weekend getaway or stay-cation? Let us know, we’d love to hear about it!

The pdf version of the directory can still be downloaded, just click the link below the image of the cover.

WIA’s cooperative advertising program offers properties a way to stretch their advertising dollars by taking advantage of our discounted fees. Participants receive increased exposure through a WIA group ad at affordable rates.  Looking for new advertising opportunities, but don’t want to invest a fortune to try it out? Then the CoOp program is for you! Contact Bill in the WIA office for more information on these and others throughout 2010:

Deadlines coming up soon:
Wisconsin Meetings, Spring Issue -
Still room available! Distributed to 15,000 + meetings professionals. Final Deadline: February 5th

WSAE (Wisconsin Society of Association Executives), Spring Newsletter -
First of four print opportunities this year. Don’t delay, this one consistently sells out! Deadline: February 8th

Madison-area Digital Billboard -
New digital billboard opportunity on westbound facing billboard located on I-94 east of Madison. Five week run with 21,000 + impressions in the full run. Up to 15 spots available. Deadline: February 12th

On the horizon:
NTA (National Tour Association), Annual Directory -
Annual membership directory for tour operators, suppliers and DMOs. Great exposure to 4,000+ tour professionals. Ad focus – Packaged Tour Travel. Deadline: February 22nd

Six WI metro-markets, Online Banner Ads -
Four week online banner ad campaign on TV station web sites in Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton, Green Bay, La Crosse, Eau Claire and Wausau/Rhinelander. Over 1 million guaranteed impressions in run. Limited to 15 participants. Deadline: February 22nd

Wisconsin Trails, May/ June Issue -
New, lower price, same great publication! Readership in Wisconsin & Northern Illinois. Deadline: March 3rd

Becoming a lodging member has great benefits!

Publications
Through both print and electronic communications, members are kept informed of the latest industry news. The quarterly Inn Touch magazine, monthly Innsider e-newsletter and timely e-alerts and legislative briefs put the most current and relevant lodging industry updates and information at your fingertips.

From the latest on revenue management to marketing tips, energy cost-saving strategies to comparative wage data, WIA publications keep members “in the know.”

Information & Resources
Whether you’re looking for money-saving ideas, industry benchmarking data or have regulatory or room tax questions, WIA will provide the answers. Each month the Innsider e-newsletter features the most recent regional Occupancy and ADR data available from Smith Travel Research.

The Innkeepers’ Resource Guide provides answers to members’ most commonly asked questions and can be found online 24/7 at the WIA members’ Web site. Room tax resource pieces are also available to members online. Finally, the Lending Library contains a wide selection of training materials available for complementary member use.

Marketing
Through both print and electronic media, WIA members receive year round exposure.

With more than 220,000 copies of the Wisconsin Lodging Directory currently in circulation, travelers from Wisconsin, Minnesota and northern Illinois find WIA member properties in this popular, easy-to-use, take-along guide.

Also, the traveler-friendly, searchable WisconsinLodging.info Web site draws more than 17,000 searches monthly.

For properties interested in affordable options to stretch marketing dollars, WIA offers electronic venues like the Featured Properties section and the new WisconsINN Getaways e-mail program, as well as an array of niche marketing opportunities (electronic and print) in the popular Cooperative Advertising Program.

Federal Representation
As a partner state of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), WIA participates in national issues affecting Wisconsin’s lodging industry. Each spring, WIA representatives meet with Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation in Washington, D.C. to address issues of concern face-to-face, ensuring your voice is heard.

State Representation
Through both a contract lobbyist and WIA’s President/CEO, WIA ensures the interests of the lodging industry are represented in Madison, providing you a voice in the legislative process so your issues are clearly heard. In 2008, the association’s efforts resulted in an increase in the state lodging per diem rates as well as defending room tax expenditures for marketing and tourism purposes.

Members are kept abreast of relevant legislative issues with timely Legislative Briefs and through the online Legislative Center, located on the members’ Web site.

Legal Information
WIA members have access to free preliminary legal advice from our noted hospitality legal counsel. In 2009, members also received a complementary electronic employment compliance manual, helping to avoid potentially costly employment mistakes.

Click here to see membership rates and Join Today!

To learn more or order the CDs, click on the image itself. Need help with your AH&LA ID Number or not sure if you’re an AH&LA Member? Contact Denise in the WIA office for assistance.

Joan Stewart, aka the Publicity Hound, is sharing her The Best of “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week” of 2009 available for free download here.
Tips include:

• 10 dead or dying PR tactics. (Which ones are you still using?)
• How to find out if a journalist blogs and how to navigate the blog to find all the juicy tidbits you need to customize your pitch.
• A big, bright flashy–and free–publicity tool, right in your own community.
• How to boost the Google page rank of your blog or website with an investment of only 15 minutes a week.
• How to promote your local events on Twitter and draw crowds.
• 5 great social media marketing ideas when the idea well is dry.
• The Number 1 press release writing mistake that will doom you every time.

Download the full book here – no registration or log-in necessary.

The WIA is not affiliated with Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound nor any of their programs, materials, or information, and will not be held accountable for any such representations. The information above is simply provided as a courtesy to our members.

January 20: Social Media Marketing: Real Analytics, Real Results!
When: Wednesday, January 20
Time: 11:00 a.m. (CT)

In this webinar, Clay McDaniel and Xavier Jimenez of the Spring Creek Group, argue that social media marketing has moved beyond measuring buzz – to actually engaging consumers to buy. While social media marketing in 2009 centered on experimental campaigns to build brand engagement, amass fans and followers, and increase brand recognition, Clay and Xavier will explain why 2010 will be the year of analytics and conversion measurement in social media marketing. Instead of just throwing money at social marketing next year, brands will demand tools to measure with precision which social marketing methods are working to actually drive bottom-line sales.

Certainly, consumers are ready for promotions delivered through social channels – they’ve had enough of being “friends” with your brand, now they want deals! New research from Razorfish release a few weeks ago (http://bit.ly/RazorfishReport) found that promotions and discounts were primary drivers of “friending” a brand for over a third of social networking users and 44% of Twitter users.

Learn more or click here to register.

The WIA does not endorse the Word of Mouth Marketing Association nor any of their seminars, materials, or information, and will not be held accountable for any such representations. The information above is simply provided as a courtesy to our members.

Webinar date & time: Thursday, January 14, 2010 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM

*Fact:*  There are more than 350 million users on Facebook.
*Fact:*  Businesses are using Facebook to talk to their customers and potential customers 24/7 on everything from their next conference to the latest piece of industry news to market research.
*Fact:*   All organizations can realize tangible benefits from effectively using Facebook to engage their market.
*Fact:*  Our 30 minute, free webinar – Facebook Marketing for your Organization– shows you how Facebook fits in to your overall marketing plan.

Walk away from this convenient, 30-minute online program with:

• Insight into how organizations are using Facebook to grow their revenue and raise awareness about their industries.
• Steps to avoid the common mistakes organizations make when using Facebook.
• A clear understanding of appropriate actions to leverage your existing budgets, time, and resources.
• Strategies to enhance your customer experience and track your ROI.

Additional upcoming free webinars from eRocketFuel include:
January 21st – Twitter for your Organization
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm (Central)

January 28th – Linkedin for your Organization
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm (Central)

The WIA does not endorse eRocketFuel nor any of their seminars, materials, or information, and will not be held accountable for any such representations. The information above is simply provided as a courtesy to our members.

Sponsored by A&A Fire and Security, Inc

The Wisconsin Innkeepers Association Board of Directors would like to invite lodging property owners and managers in the Green Bay/ DePere area to attend a special Briefing Luncheon on Wednesday, September 27th from 12:30 – 1:45 pm at the F.K. Bemis Conference Center located on the St. Norbert College Campus in De Pere.

A representative of the Greater Green Bay Area Lodging Association will give a brief overview of the current issues facing local operators, and the WIA will provide a brief overview of a few key legislative and other issues of concern to Wisconsin’s lodging industry. Included among these issues are updates on the Statewide Smoking Ban, the upcoming Carbon Monoxide Detector requirements and State Tourism funding cuts. This is also our opportunity for WIA Board members from around the state to hear about local or state issues you find critical to your property.

In addition to the the Briefing Luncheon, we will have a number of committee meetings which WIA members are invited to sit in on. No preparation time is required for the committee meetings; we only ask that you bring your opinions, objectivity, and decision-making skills to the table.  The meeting schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, 1/27 –

• 9:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.   Legislative/ Tourism Committee
• 12:30 pm   Luncheon & Presentation
• 2:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.    Communications/ Marketing Committee immediately followed by Membership/ Services Committee
• 4:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.     Education/ Conference Committee
• 6:15 p.m.   Reception & Dinner at Titletown Brewing Co.

All WIA members are welcome to attend any of the committee meetings and events.  The registration form for the Luncheon Briefing (and other meetings/events) is available here or you may register online. The only fee is for the cost of your meals, with options provided both online and on the form.

A special thanks goes to our meetings sponsor: A&A Fire and Security, Inc.

Questions?  Please contact Andrew Bronson at 262-782-2851 or registration@wisconsinlodging.info.

The WIA office will have adjusted hours this week and next due to the Holiday season:

>  Thursday, December 24th: 8:00 – 12:15
>  Friday, December 25th: Closed
>  Friday, January 1st: Closed

We will be open for regular business hours on Thursday, December 31st: 8:15 am – 5:00 pm.

From all of us here at the WIA, we wish you a Safe & Happy Holiday Season and a prosperous New Year!

WIA Staff:
.      Trisha Pugal, CAE – President & CEO
.      Bill Elliott – Vice President of Member & Revenue Development
.      Michelle Eigenberger – Manager of Publications and Web Site Strategies
.      Shelley Kobza – Finance Manager
.      Joe Russ – Database and Design Specialist
.      Andrew Bronson – Administrative Services Coordinator
.      Pamela Haase – Office Administrative Assistant
.      & yours truly, Denise Barnett, IOM – VP Marketing & Operations