Major travel writer convention to be held in Milwaukee next year

Milwaukee has added another event to an already full 2020 calendar for tourism throughout the region.

The Society of American Travel Writers has selected the city to host its annual convention, taking place Oct. 11 to 15, 2020, VISIT Milwaukee announced Thursday.

The event follows the 2020 Democratic National Convention in July, USA Triathlon’s Age Group National Championships in August, and the 2020 Ryder Cup in September at Whistling Straits in Sheboygan County.

SATW’s convention is expected to bring 300 journalists, who will visit some of the area’s most iconic attractions including Lakefront Brewery, the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Harley-Davidson Museum, Milwaukee Public Market, North Point Lighthouse and Potawatomi Hotel & Casino.

“By choosing our destination to host their largest annual event, SATW members will experience not only Milwaukee but also the state of Wisconsin, which will yield earned media stories for years to come,” said Kristin Settle, director of communications for VISIT Milwaukee.

Settle said the convention will help boost tourism revenue for the region by continuing to promote Milwaukee as a travel destination. Airbnb recently ranked the city as no. 1 on its list of top 20 trending travel destinations for the upcoming year.

The journalists will spend time in other areas of the state before and after the convention.  Travel Wisconsin plans to organize trips to various destinations in an effort to give attendees “a deep and memorable experience of Wisconsin,” said Sara Meaney, Secretary-designee for the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. 

“This is truly a significant opportunity for the Wisconsin destination story to be told far and wide, furthering our opportunity to increase the economic impact of tourism throughout the state,” she said. 

SATW has previously held its annual convention in Portland, Barbados, China, Las Vegas, Iceland, and El Paso/Juarez. Milwaukee hosted SATW’s Central States Chapter conference in 2005. 

“Milwaukee was a perfect choice to host our event,” said Jane Wooldridge, president of SATW. “The rich culture, diverse neighborhoods, incredible food, stunning architecture, and natural beauty will deliver stories and inspiration for our members for years to come.”