CVB details competition for expo center

Fox Cities CVB
A proposed expo center in downtown Appleton would compete with several other markets around the state.

That was one of the topics during a special meeting on the Fox Cities Exhibition Center project.

Pam Seidl is the executive director of the Fox Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau. She says Green Bay, Madison, La Crosse, and the Kalahari and Chula Vista resorts in Wisconsin Dells would be their five competitors.

Seidl says the walkability of downtown Appleton would be an advantage.She says visitors often mention the easy access to nearby businesses, and the safety of the downtown.

Seidl says the Radisson Paper Valley hotel has 395 rooms, and that's about 100 more than the adjoining hotels in Green Bay, Madison, and La Crosse. She says many meeting planners would rather only have to work out a room contract with one hotel.

Without an expo center, Seidl says the Fox Cities would be competing with smaller venues in Oshkosh, Wausau, and Eau Claire. She says that's because they wouldn't have enough space to accommodate larger groups.

Reported by:  whby.com