VISIT Milwaukee Announces Influencer Partnership with Milwaukee Bucks Star Bobby Portis

VISIT Milwaukee is thrilled to announce a new partnership with Milwaukee Bucks star Bobby Portis to promote the destination and drive increased visitation. The centerpiece of this partnership is a video produced by VISIT Milwaukee’s leisure advertising agency Hanson Dodge that showcases Bobby’s love for Milwaukee as he acts as a “hype man” at attractions around the city, helping champion our city of champions.

“Since Bobby has made a name for himself as a fan favorite and an emotional leader with the Milwaukee Bucks, we thought it would be fun to have Bobby bring the same energy to promoting the great things to do in Milwaukee during the summer,” says Josh Albrecht, VISIT Milwaukee’s Vice President of Marketing & Communications. “Whether that is volleyball at the beach, coffee on a patio, boating on the river or a trip to a museum, we know there is plenty to get excited for.”

The video will be supported by a robust marketing campaign targeting visitors in markets within a six-hour drive of Milwaukee. In May, according to data from Tourism Economics, 36% of Milwaukee’s visitors came from outstate Wisconsin, while 21.7% came from Illinois, and a combined 24.1% came from Minnesota, Iowa, Florida, Michigan, Indiana, Texas, Missouri, and Ohio.

This partnership is similar to other influencer partnerships the convention and visitors bureau has undertaken with increasing frequency in 2022 to share and tell Milwaukee’s story to new audiences. Most recently, VISIT Milwaukee’s marketing and communications team has worked with Grace Weber and Mudy on their music video for their infectious Milwaukee anthem “414;” Phil Calvert, who created special coverage of the NCAA Tournament, Juneteenth Day celebrations, and Summerfest; Sam Li, a popular videographer who created a video exploring city neighborhoods; Zach and Tara Brose, who specialize in content about family travel; Bill Clevlen, who covers road trip travel; and Daniel Hernandez, who specializes in content about date night ideas for couples.

“We love this partnership with Bobby and are looking forward to more like it with other athletes, entertainers, musicians, and artists throughout the city over the next few years to help us showcase how thriving and vibrant Milwaukee is and will continue to be,” Albrecht says. “Telling these stories will inspire others to see Milwaukee in new and fresh ways and to inspire pride in the city.”

This partnership also aligns with the mission of Sports Milwaukee, a separate division of the company that markets Milwaukee as the ideal destination for sports events, thereby driving more economic impact to the region.