“GREEN” MEETINGS IN WISCONSIN
Impact the environment as a little as possible with your next meeting

MADISON, Wis. (April 20, 2007) -  As the home to such environmental leaders as John Muir, Aldo Leopold and Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, Wisconsin has a legacy of conservation.  So it shouldn’t come as any surprise that the state is also at the front of the global trend toward sustainable tourism, offering lodging properties and meeting facilities that are environmentally conscious and incorporate sustainable practices.  

But what is a green meeting? Essentially, green meetings strive to use practices that minimize the environmental and local impact of an event. It can be as simple as recycling waste and avoiding disposable items.  For example, using erasable “white boards” instead of paper flip charts discarded after one use, printing handouts for only those that request them or using water pitchers instead of disposable plastic bottles.

Green meetings can also mean employing vendors that are committed to improving their operations in order to reduce their environmental and social impact. This could be meeting facilities that employ sustainable energy sources or have adapted green-built standards into their design. Green meetings make good business sense, too. Reducing waste and using sustainable energy sources can substantially reduce many business costs, too.

Madison: Leading the Way for Green Meetings in Wisconsin

Madison has paved the way for green meeting practices in the state.  As a result, Wisconsin’s capital city has served as host to a wide variety of ecological and environmentally focused groups over the years including the Ecological Society of America, the Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference, the Wildlife Society and the International Ecotourism Society.

The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Monona Terrace Convention Center (www.mononaterrace.com; 608/261-4000) in Madison has been the meeting location of choice for many environmentally conscious groups. Certified under the Travel Green Wisconsin initiative, the Monona Terrace is in the process of adding the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) recognition.  At 28,000 square feet, the Monona Terrace features a ballroom, pre-function space, a variety of flexible meeting space, multi-media lecture hall, exhibit hall and rooftop garden.  Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the building has his trademark curving, geometric form converging with the natural environment. The 240-room Hilton Madison Monona Terrace is conveniently located adjacent to the convention center and has also earned the Travel Green Wisconsin certification.

Aldo Leopold, the “father of wildlife management,” purchased a small farm north of Madison in Baraboo, WI, where he recorded his observations on land conservation, science, policy and ethics.  The new Aldo Leopold Legacy Center (www.aldoleopold.org;
608/355-0279) will not only interpret his vision but will do so through a green building concept that incorporates natural day lighting and ventilation, recycled materials harvested directly from the site itself, photovoltaic energy generation and net zero energy use.  Scheduled for completion in 2007, the Leopold Legacy Center has two rental spaces available for conferences and meetings: the boardroom style Outlook Conference Wing and the Home Range Hall, which has lecture seats for 85.

The Alliant Energy Center (www.alliantenergycenter.com; 608/267-3976)
is situated on 164 acres in the heart of Madison with easy access from downtown. Willow Island features 29 acres of pristine outdoor space with a nine-acre isthmus area embraced by two ponds. Picnics, sporting events, concerts and exhibits are just a few of the uses of this unique space. Alliant Energy Center has partnered with Johnson Controls to implement several energy-saving measures to Exhibition Hall. A high-speed cargo door and energy-efficient lighting, new steam traps and other internal automation and mechanical upgrades are in place, which will also reduce sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions, thus making Exhibition Hall a more environmentally friendly green building.

Alternative Urban Meeting Spaces

From transportation to ticket prices, Milwaukee is an affordable meeting destination and a far better air travel value than nearby Chicago, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal-Sun.  Meeting in a location that offers convenience and value doesn’t mean having to forgo vendors that are environmentally sensitive. Milwaukee is one urban center that offers several alternatives.

Hailed as one of the most environmentally sensitive buildings in the nation, the Dorothy K. Vallier Environmental Learning Center at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Milwaukee (www.schlitzauduboncenter.com; 414/352-2880) has received a Gold LEED Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The center’s Great Hall accommodates 225-300 people and is available for evening events. The Auditorium seats up to 200 people and includes a screen, wireless internet access and many other computer and audio-visual capabilities. This room is available during the day and in the evening for meetings, retreats and events.

With a location just minutes from downtown and General Mitchell International Airport, Wisconsin State Fair Park (www.wistatefair.com; 1-800-884-FAIR) offers a green alternative for meeting planners considering a Milwaukee meeting.  Adopting a number of initiatives to reduce their solid waste generation and energy consumption, State Fair Park was one of the first organizations to receive the Travel Green Wisconsin certification.  The Tommy G. Thompson Youth Center at State Fair Park provides space suitable for overnight retreats, conferences, training seminars and small trade shows. An expansive lobby area provides additional space for registration, receptions, hospitality areas and catering.

Corporate Retreats That Take Nature Seriously

Wisconsin’s natural beauty, the serenity of its wilderness, and the variety of recreational activities it supports allow corporate staff to conduct business -- and to rejuvenate -- with a fresh perspective.  Several of the state’s inns and small intimate corporate retreat resorts employ sustainable practices and are certified under Travel Green Wisconsin.

The Treehaven Education and Conference Center (www.uwsp.edu/cnr/treehaven; 715/453-4106) is an ideal meeting spot for people looking for a picturesque, outdoor sanctuary free of distractions. Treehaven, the hub of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources in Tomahawk, is situated on 1,400 forested acres where meeting attendees can cross-country ski, snowshoe, hike, canoe, bicycle or just recharge after meetings in the peacefulness of this Northwoods location. The conference center offers modern yet modest overnight accommodations and full-service catering. The site’s flexibility allows for intimate gatherings or meetings up to 120 people.

Whether it’s a board meeting, team-building weekend or strategic planning session, Justin Trails Resort (www.justintrails.com; 608/269-4522) in central Wisconsin is an excellent choice.  The resort owners are committed to honoring the land and environment while creating a healing refuge for recreation, relaxation and rejuvenation for their guests.  The resort’s Office/Lodge/Restaurant building can be your private meeting room for up to 20 people.

Madison’s Arbor House Environmental Inn (www.arbor-house.com; 608/238-2981) is a national award-winning inn and model for sustainable tourism with a mission to provide the art of hospitality within a model for urban ecology.  The inn offers meeting space for up to 20 people and a complete business center with fax, copier, laser printer and free high-speed wireless Internet access. When the meetings are over, guests will enjoy the inn’s sauna, whirlpool tubs and fireplaces, plus Madison’s many recreational and dining opportunities just minutes away.

Inn Serendipity B&B is one of southern Wisconsin’s showplaces for energy conservation and environmentally and socially responsible living.  The owners have developed a 30-acre private wildlife sanctuary and rural cabin retreat located near Hillsboro, Wisconsin in Vernon County.  Inn Serendipity Woods Cabin (www.innserendipity.com; 608/329-7056) is an ideal space for small retreats, family reunions or organizational development workshops.  The cabin features a spacious main room and kitchen, three separate sleeping areas and plenty of space for deep discussions, brainstorming, community bonding while preparing meals and a secluded place to go for a dip in the pond. 

Picturesque and charming, Bayfield features the natural beauty of the vast waters of Lake Superior and is the gateway to the stunning Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.  It’s also a prime location for a successful corporate retreat. The Bayfield Inn (www.bayfieldinn.com; 715/779-3363) is the area’s premier meeting facility with 1,500 square feet of formal and informal lakeside space, offering enough space to seat up to 75 people.  The Pinehurst Inn’s Garden House (www.pinehurstinn.com; 1-877-499-7651) is the site of the Gathering room, an adaptable space that can be used by two to 14 people and can accommodate all business needs with DSL Internet connection, laser printer, copier and more.  Both inns are Travel Green Wisconsin certified.