Tourism dollars give economic boost to Milwaukee amid busy summer season

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Festivals, concerts, and major events bring hundreds of thousands of people to Milwaukee, and big crowds bring big dollars.

In Milwaukee, the summer of 2023 has undoubtedly been robust, with tourists from big cities like Chicago giving a major economic boost to the City of Festivals.

"We have financially, as far as tourism spending is concerned, recovered from the pandemic," said Claire Koenig, senior director of communications and public affairs with VISIT Milwaukee.

This revelation comes as the Cream City saw a full financial rebound of nearly $6 billion in tourism revenue in 2022.

Now, three months into the thick of summer 2023, Koenig said those numbers are being rivaled.

"We do think 2023 is going to be even better for tourism spending, and we feel confident to say 2024 will be beating that."

According to VISIT Milwaukee's website, as of June, hotels in the Brew City saw a nearly 4% increase in visitor stays, with people coming in from Green Bay, Madison, and Chicago.

"People are realizing that you can have a wonderful experience in Milwaukee for less money, and you can pack more in, in the same amount of time," said Koenig.

A sentiment that Kelly Bare, visiting from the Chicagoland area, can relate to.

"It's kind of like Chicago light, like the architecture is really beautiful, but it's not as like super hectic or stressful," said Bare.

Koenig went on to say while this summer is proving to be successful, they already have their eyes on next year.

"We are already telling a lot of our hospitality partners to just start preparing now, start thinking about those staffing levels, start thinking about what you have to do for an incredibly busy 2024."

VISIT Milwaukee will not have official numbers from the summer of 2023, until May 2024.