Creating Tourism Ambassadors

The following article ran in the Milwaukee Business Journal today.  The concept of creating “Tourism Ambassadors” to enhance a tourist’s experience while visiting a city is fantastic in our opinion.  Just imagine the impact a program like this could have on Historic Hub City, Centralia!   As a historic hotel property we are accumulating data on how we can provide the best guest experience possible. 

Our objective is to exceed the expectations of every guest who stays with us.  We will be considering how we can modify this program to improve our hospitality services.  

 Visit Milwaukee is training frontline hospitality workers on all that Milwaukee has to offer to enhance visitors’ experiences.  The program will create so-called “certified tourism ambassadors,” who are trained to give information and background to visitors interested in Milwaukee tourism opportunities.

Centralia Downtown Association News Update

For the last several weeks there has been visible change and progress in downtown Centralia.  The “Late ‘Til Eight” shopping events have continued to grow the numbers of shoppers that have been downtown each Friday to take advantage of the excellent shopping and dining opportunities.  Last week was the first full week of advertising support for the participating businesses, and, coincidentally, the largest turnout of shoppers.  Though only about 25 of the shops stuck in there until 8pm, the foot traffic on the streets was noticeably improved!  Good job to the participating businesses!  Thanks for sticking in there!   The merchants have demonstrated a great deal of cooperation and teamwork to bring this shopping opportunity to everyone!  Benefiting from a promotional change in hours of operation takes some time and a bunch of advertising to accomplish.  But, the folks that have come down to shop have had nothing but good things to say about it.  Particularly, how enjoyable the downtown is becoming in the evenings.

 After the shops closed at 8pm, about 20 of the downtown merchants and families took advantage of the Panaderia Purepecha Bakery’s extended hours for the after closing get together that is becoming a regular thing.  This coming Friday, we will all be gathering at the Jersey Diner for eats and desserts.  I’m told that they will be offering a special that night.  Everyone is welcome!

 All 80 of the CDA – Late Til Eight radio ad sponsorships have been sold!  Special thanks to Don Blair, Attorney, located at 121 ½ North Tower for purchasing 10!  These spots will continue to run weekly until the 21^st of December.  The “out of region” advertising started last week as well.  As a result, we had shoppers from the Seattle area come down as a direct result of those radio spots!  As we get closer to Christmas and the ads continue to work, every business in the downtown area has an opportunity to take advantage of the expanded ad coverage.  It really works. 

International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show

Greetings from New York City Blog Friends!

 I am in New York City for the IHMRS convention at the Javits Convention Center through Tuesday sourcing goods and materials for the hotel.  This is THE show for hoteliers hands down!  I have met fellow hoteliers from all over the world - - it has been amazing!  My lap top is on the blink, so I had to leave it behind to go to the PC doctor - -  I am posting from the kiosk here at the show.  The line behind me is LONG - so thanks for checking in today and I will post again on Wednesday after I return home.  I have so much to share!

Cascadiagbc.org Announces Living Future Conference 2008

Living Future 08- April 16-18- Vancouver, BC

 From Living Buildings to Living Communities
This year, Cascadia’s signature event will be held April 16, 17 and 18 at the Westin Bayshore, Vancouver situated downtown in Vancouver’s picturesque Coal Harbour, where one can enjoy views of the coastline, distant mountains, and Stanley Park. This year’s conference will feature two and half days of exciting dialogue that will attract leading minds in North America to address climate change and the path to a future of Living Buildings and Living Communities. Living Future, Cascadia’s regional green building conference, will explore how to reduce or mitigate climate change. This “unconference” features examples of the best sustainable regional projects, building tours, a bookstore, a fellowship awards program, a design competition and much more. Mark your calendars and look for more information soon!

Centralia Downtown Association Late ‘Til 8 Campaign - Get Involved!

LATE TIL EIGHT SHOPPING DOWNTOWN THROUGH CHRISTMAS (LT

RADIO ADVERTISING and CDA SUPPORT OPPORTUNITY

The Centralia Downtown Association has been actively organizing and securing advertising in support of the Shop Late Til Eight program that rolled out last week.  Many merchants have committed to participate in the extended hours (nearly 40).  The shopping program will be advertised jointly with the City of Centralia, which has committed approximately $4000 toward promoting the CDA and this program.  The advertising will be mixed; some local radio spots (KELA/KMNT), print ads (Chronicle) and broader region radio spots (Mixx96).  This demonstrates the City’s continued support of the downtown and the CDA as we grow and become more effective.  It also presents an opportunity for the downtown merchants to take advantage of the initial momentum that the City’s ad campaign will create and show the City and our community that we are passionate about promoting our downtown.

USGBC Launches Improved Web Site

USGBC.org is now cleaner, smarter and easier to use. Whether you are new to green building or have been building green for years, you’ll find everything you need with fewer clicks and less clutter.

Highlights include:

• a resource section to make it easier for projects to access credit templates;
• easier access to online reference guides and LEED reference documents;
• resources for members and chapters; and
• educational offerings and workshop listings. 

To visit online http://www.usgbc.org for more information about green building technology.

What a HOOT!

For those of you who have been following our blog for a bit, you know that we have been battling the bird – poopy pigeons – for some time.  Roosting and pooping on the ledges of our building and the public sidewalk below.  It has been a disgusting mess to say the least.  We started with 3 or 4 and the brood grew to about 25 birds over the past 4 months.  We went to the trouble of making some make shift roosting deterrents and recently ordered up some bird deterrent spike strips that you install on all the ledges of the building to keep the birds from being able to land and roost – they have yet to arrive and to say the least, they were expensive.  Our make shift bird gadgets failed miserably.  We would walk out at night and see the pigeons roosting on our homemade bird deterrents….  *sigh*

 

So last week I am walking in Home Depot and I see ONE lone plastic owl in the outside garden section.  You know – the tacky plastic kind with the glowing yellow eyes.  Knowing that the owl is a bird of prey, I think to myself, “hummmm, maybe this tacky plastic owl would be worth a try…..”  So I buy the owl and we install the plastic bird hanging from the rail of the fire escape on the third floor.  Additionally, we spend that night banging on the windows behind the area where the birds are roosting to scare them off.

We are on day 10 and it appears the tacky owl is doing his job.  At least for now - - the pigeons have relocated to another building ledge downtown.  Now the game will be to move the owl and keep its presence fresh.  Who would have thought a plastic owl would do the trick??? At least for now…

The Wilson Hotel Going All GREEN

The rehabilitation process of the Wilson Hotel is targeting the LEED guidelines.  In addition to rehabilitating the hotel by the GREEN standards, the hotel will also be operating by GREEN standards when placed back into hospitality service.  This commitment to sustainability is paramount to the ownership team and a guiding principle by which the team abides. 

The green hotel movement generally encompasses three distinct disciplines:

 Design and construction, usually under the principles of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) 

Energy and resource management, encompassing alternative energy sources, water treatment, water management, indoor air quality and energy management;  

Hotel maintenance and operations using environmentally sound but effective products and systems.