VISIT Milwaukee touts city's new status as one of NatGeo's top 25 places in the world
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee is now one of National Geographic's Best Travel Destinations for 2023, a list with only 25 locations on it.
VISIT Milwaukee officials say this puts Milwaukee's name in front of 13 million subscribers to National Geographic and even more on social media. Tourism officials say the impact could be much bigger than just increased tourism.
"Today I have the pleasure of telling you that Milwaukee was included for the first time ever in National Geographic's Best in the World list for 2023," said VISIT Milwaukee Board Chair Eve Hall.
Hall says this moment is possible thanks to all the work VISIT Milwaukee and other organizations put in.
"Marks the great work of this team, but it also says something about our city, that we really are advancing, that we really are making the mark," said Hall.
VISIT President and CEO Peggy Williams-Smith said she wants to commend the communications team, especially, who brought the writer of this National Geographic piece here last summer and personally gave him a tour.
Showing them high-class hotels, the local arts in communities like Bronzeville, year-round attractions like the Harley-Davidson Museum, festivals, restaurants and more, which were all highlighted by the article.
"That tour must've impressed and inspired him so much that he began pitching Milwaukee to National Geographic editors for their story in the months that followed," said Williams-Smith.
VISIT officials say this will be part of all their marketing going forward.
"It's going to be prevalent always, consistently throughout the year, because we need to celebrate this not just today, not just tomorrow, but every day of the year next year and beyond," said Joshua Albrecht, VISIT Milwaukee marketing and communications VP.
It's in hopes of attracting not just new visitors, but return visitors, and in the longer-term, maybe even new residents.
"Every hotel, every restaurant, every attraction can be championing this just as much as we're championing this today," said Albrecht.
VISIT Milwaukee officials say now's the time to send this article to friends and family who maybe haven't visited in a while, so they can come and see everything Milwaukee has to offer.