Tourism
May 19-25th, 2024 is National Travel & Tourism Week. National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) is an annual celebration that underscores travel’s essential role in driving our nation's economy, cultivating vibrant communities and forging connections. The Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce plays a vital role to the tourism economy in the Northwoods. We are celebrating NTTW and what travel means to Rhinelander – from our communities to our jobs to our economy—travel touches and improves it all.
The Chamber’s Role in Tourism
The Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce is Rhinelander’s Destination Marketing Organization (DMO). The Rhinelander Chamber, in collaboration with local tourism committees such as the Rhinelander Tourism & Marketing Committee and the Oneida County Tourism Council, leads tourism related projects and initiatives for the Rhinelander area. Tourism is a driver of the area economy and positively impacts the Rhinelander area each year. Tourism affects many different aspects of our community, including dining, shopping, lodging and more. Below are some Chamber-led tourism projects:
Explore Rhinelander
The Rhinelander Chamber maintains, manages and creates content for the Rhinelander tourism website and social media pages, Explore Rhinelander. Explore Rhinelander highlights different businesses in the area, attractions, lodging, things to do, and more targeted towards tourists. You can also find articles and information on the hodag (a huge tourism driver) on the website. Explore Rhinelander’s Facebook page currently has nearly 50,000 followers, with primary fans from Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago, Green Bay, and Appleton. Last month, ExploreRhinelander.com had 14,000 users.
Explore Rhinelander- E-newsletter
Chamber staff also create and send a monthly e-newsletter of travel and Rhinelander related content targeted to visitors. There are currently over 14,000 subscribers to the Explore Rhinelander e-newsletter. Interested in receiving emails? Sign up here.
Recent projects:
Discover Wisconsin Videos
Through a partnership with Discover Wisconsin, Rhinelander Resorts and the Rhinelander Tourism and Marketing Committee, we worked to bring Discover Wisconsin to Rhinelander and they created two short videos promoting the Rhinelander area. The first one focused on Rhinelander Resorts, and the second highlighted outdoor recreation, dining, arts and more in Rhinelander.
WTMJ Interviews
This spring, you could hear us on the radio in the Milwaukee area with WTMJ for their Experience Wisconsin program. This program highlights tourism, events, locations and more in Wisconsin. Our Chamber CEO, Lauren, did several radio interviews as part of this program.
Travel Writers
The Chamber has brought and will bring several travel writers to the Rhinelander area to experience events, dining, outdoor recreation and more. The travel writers then create articles and content which are shared in magazines and blogs in popular target areas of our tourism marketing efforts, such as Chicago and Milwaukee.
Additional Advertising
As part of a JEM Grant through Travel Wisconsin, we have been creating and implementing several special marketing efforts including Spotify Ads, Giveaway/Trip Package contests on social media, and TV advertising.
County Collaboration
Our CEO Lauren, is the treasurer for the Oneida County Tourism Council and works with other Oneida County DMO and elected officials to increase revenue and visitor spending throughout Oneida County. The Oneida County Tourism website promotes businesses and attractions throughout Oneida County.
Current Oneida County Tourism projects include a DEIA Research and Website Update as well as a GIS Trails Mapping Project and upcoming trails guide magazine.
Economic Impact of Tourism
The total economic impact of tourism in Oneida County increased 9.1% from 2021-2022, and 112.5% compared to 2019. In 2022, there were approximately 2,125 jobs impacted by tourism in Oneida County.
(Source: Travel Wisconsin)