Wisconsin Center District Achieves GBAC Accreditation

The Wisconsin Center District (WCD) has shared some major announcements over the past few days. First the WCD received key financing approval to fund its convention center expansion. Now, the WCD announced its achievement of GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation. The performance-based GBAC program is designed to assist facilities in establishing a comprehensive system of cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention for staff and buildings.

“Our district is dedicated to providing venues, services, and amenities that make planning easy and attending enjoyable. And following the 2020 pandemic, we have heightened our sanitation and COVID-19 safety practices so planners can book with confidence,” said Marty Brooks, WCD president and CEO. “Your big event is our biggest priority, and we’re excited to show our obsession with incredible experiences to our clients.”

WCD facilities have fully re-opened and are welcoming guests, and the convention campus has taken several steps to make that re-opening safe. The district instituted COVID-19 readiness guidelines, acquired new cleaning supplies and tools, created enhanced health and safety standards for staff, and produced protocols and guidelines for district visitors including health screenings and mask requirements.

“As leisure travel resumes and planners start to reinstate in-person programs, VISIT Milwaukee and the Wisconsin Center District have shared and supported the GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation program,” said VISIT Milwaukee Vice President of Sales Leslie Johnson. “All of our research shows that two-thirds of people considering travel in the near future are looking at a destination’s safety and cleanliness policies and procedures before making their decisions. GBAC accreditation helps position the Greater Milwaukee area as a safe place to visit and conduct business.”

Lights, Camera, EVENT
Although the pandemic has canceled or postponed many events in 2020, the WCD is helping event planners get back to business not only with its new COVID-19 protocols, but also with plenty of options and opportunities for planners beautifully illustrated in the district’s video series.

Planners have been a part of the very design of the Wisconsin Center from the beginning with the original convention center project based on meeting planner input. The video series continues that planner-centric service demonstrating how the entire WCD campus is a one-stop shop for events with a plethora of features such as:

• Campus-Wide Scalability.With 28 breakout rooms in the convention center as well as a wide variety of flexible spaces in both the arena and the theatre, the district can accommodate events big or small in all its venues. Also the WCD continues to work closely with local health experts to provide well-appointed, physically distanced room sets to accommodate and facilitate safe, live events.
• Fare with Flare.WCD has partnered with Levy Restaurants for its catering services with new Executive Chef Chris Pulling at the helm. This brings planners direct access to a creative chef ready to collaborate on fresh, personalized, outstanding food and beverages for all dietary needs. Additionally, Levy offers a completely new service procedure that provides outstanding cuisine in a safe, touchless environment.
• Skywalks to Hotels.Milwaukee’s skywalk system is a popular option to travel around downtown while staying indoors. The Wisconsin Center section of that system includes skywalks directly connected to more than 1,300 hotel rooms.
• A Place to Unwind.The CONFLUX space just inside of the Wisconsin Center’s main entrance is an oasis for weary event-goers with charging stations, healthy locally sourced food, and local coffee to name a few awesome amenities.
• Fast, reliable Wi-Fi.The district’s Wi-Fi can handle double the capacity and triple the speed for reliable remote work. Additionally, planners can receive usage reports to identify key metrics for their events.

“The Wisconsin Center District’s team of seasoned event managers has coordinated nearly every event you can imagine,” Brooks said. “From weddings and celebrations to virtual-hybrid events and physically-distanced room sets, we are ready to provide expert service and beautiful surroundings for events large and small.”

Although the entire video series is available online, individual video spotlights will be rolled out through the rest of the year on WCD and VISIT Milwaukee social media platforms. Also stay tuned for the WCD's new COVID-19 safety video highlighting its GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation and innovative approaches to pandemic-era practices.

About the Wisconsin Center District
Experience-obsessed and committed to creating unforgettable experiences, the Wisconsin Center District (WCD) is a quasi-governmental body that operates the Wisconsin Center, UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena and Miller High Life Theatre in downtown Milwaukee. WCD venues are within walking distance of leading hotels, retail establishments, attractions, dining, nightclubs, and transportation. Created under Wisconsin State Statute in 1994, WCD offers captivating and buzzworthy experiences making Milwaukee a not-to-be-missed destination. Visit wcd.org.

About VISIT Milwaukee
VISIT Milwaukee is the Greater Milwaukee area’s convention and visitors bureau, marketing the destination as a top choice for business, convention, and leisure travel to national and international visitors in order to increase the economic impact of tourism in the region. Each year, tourism supports over 52,300 full-time jobs and brings more than $5.7 billion to the community. VISIT Milwaukee has over 700 members, including hotels/motels, restaurants, attractions, services, and area businesses. The Wisconsin Center District and Potawatomi Hotel & Casino are strategic partners with VISIT Milwaukee, providing funding support for conventions and tourism programs. For more information call (800) 554-1448 or visit www.visitmilwaukee.org.