For Immediate Release

WCVB Features Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor as Guest Speaker at Annual Dinner
Kleefisch Visit Puts Spotlight On Area During National Travel & Tourism Week

ELKHORN, Wis. — (May 5, 2011) — The Walworth County Visitors Bureau (WCVB) will host its annual awards banquet on Thursday, May 12, during National Travel & Tourism Week. The event is to feature Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch as the guest speaker. The dinner will be held at Hawk’s View Golf Club, 7377 Krueger Rd., Lake Geneva, Wis.

“We are especially honored to have the Lieutenant Governor attending our event,” says Kathleen Seeberg, Executive Director, Walworth County Visitors Bureau. “Our purpose in holding our annual awards banquet during National Travel & Tourism week this year is to emphasize the contributions that our members make to our county with revenue generated by tourism dollars.”

Seeberg continues: “Statistics for 2010 have just been released, and it is estimated that travelers spent $414.2 million in Walworth County. In addition, 7,715 full-time equivalent jobs were supported by tourism in our county. The total number of jobs directly supported by visitor expenditures was 5,897. We are very proud of the positive impact that tourism has on the fiscal health of our beautiful county, and of the recognition given to our area by the Lieutenant Governor.”

The annual dinner and awards banquet will open with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at 5:30 p.m. The Welcome address and dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. The President’s address and awards presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. A silent auction will be held throughout the evening, ending at 8 p.m. The cost for the WCVB dinner is $40 per person, or $260 for a table for 8. For additional information, contact the Walworth County Visitors Bureau at 262-723-3980.

“Be-Fore” dinner golfing is available to WCVB banquet attendees at special rates. For details or to reserve a tee time call the Hawk’s View Golf Club at 262-348-9900.

On Friday, May 13, Lieutenant Governor Kleefisch will visit the AAA Four Diamond Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, 7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva, Wis. to honor the property for its involvement in the Travel Green Wisconsin program. At 9:30 a.m., the Lieutenant Governor will offer remarks on the state of the local tourism industry and will recognize the Grand Geneva as a leader in the leisure, business, and group travel sectors, specifically for its sustainability efforts in the implementation of an electric car charging station. A continental breakfast will be served immediately upon the ceremony’s closing remarks, during which the Lieutenant Governor will be available for questions from attendees. Members of the local community and visitors are invited to attend.

The Walworth County Visitors' Bureau (WCVB), located in Elkhorn, Wis., is dedicated to promoting tourism throughout Walworth County. One of the County's more well-known destinations, Lake Geneva, was named among the 2009 Dozen Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, D.C. The Bureau is located in a historic building featuring antiques and vintage items, where visitors can browse through area travel literature and enjoy Wi-Fi and a coffee bar. For additional information, contact the WCVB at (262) 723-3980 or visit its website at www.VisitWalworthCounty.com. Find us on facebook.com/GreaterLakeGenevaArea. Follow us on twitter.com/VisitLakeGeneva.

###

Contacts:

Name: Kathleen Seeberg
Company: Walworth County Visitors Bureau
Phone: 262-723-3980
Email: kathy@visitwalworthcounty.com

Name: Marilyn McGair
Company: Marketing Images
Phone: (262) 522-4745
Email: marilyn@marketingimages.com