Tourism summit revs up area industry leaders

The Shawano Speedway and its contributions to the local economy took center stage Thursday at the 2007 Shawano Country Tourism Summit.

“We have a premiere half-mile dirt track,” said guest speaker Bob Schmidt, former county sheriff and race car driver. “It’s been very productive for 40 or 50 years. We’re very lucky in Shawano country to have what we have here.”

Schmidt shared some of his experiences as a 40-year stockcar-racing enthusiast. He started racing in 1967 when he was 18.

“There’s not much stock in those cars anymore,” he said, referring to the way the cars are structurally reinforced now.

Schmidt said he had read that attending races has actually surpassed football as the top spectator sport in the country. He noted the fan base is clearly very strong in Northeast Wisconsin given the number of tracks that are operating in this part of the state.

“Any given weekend, those people are in Shawano to spend their money in this area,” Schmidt said. “It helps out everyone.”

Tourism is also boosted through local sponsorship of the drivers, Schmidt said. Local businesses get exposure elsewhere as drivers travel the racing circuit, he explained.

Sponsorship is also necessary to the drivers, given that their hobby is a very expensive one.

“Without sponsors, most racers wouldn’t be going anywhere,” Schmidt said.

Tourism Council president Ron Schumacher opened the summit — which was held at The Gathering in Shawano — with some facts and figures about the impact of tourism in the Shawano area.

According to information from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, travelers spent an estimated $88 million in Shawano County in 2006, an increase of 8 percent.

Employees earned an estimated $55 million in wages generated from tourism spending, and increase of almost 10 percent from 2005n according to the state, and traveler spending in 2006 supported 2,269 full-time equivalent jobs.

Schumacher touched in passing on the sentiments of some business owners who don’t believe tourism pertains to what they do.

“Almost every business benefits from tourism,” he said.

Attendees at Thursday’s luncheon and summit also heard a status report from Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce executive director Nancy Smith on the new chamber building.

“We hope to break ground yet this year and be in the building by the end of the year,” she said.

The chamber has raised $478,000 toward its $600,000 goal, and is putting the construction project out for bid. Smith said the bid would be awarded by the end of the month.

Also at Thursday’s event, tourism coordinator Laura Braatz was recognized for her work with the chamber. She is leaving the position after seven years on the job. Patti Peterson, a member-at-large of the tourism council, will take over those duties.

The Tourism Progress Award was awarded to Shawano County for its investment and other efforts in tourism, including the renovation of Shawano County Park and its contribution to the chamber’s new building.

Shawano County chairman Marshal Giese read a proclamation noting the importance of tourism to the area.

Tourism summit revs up area industry leaders

The Shawano Speedway and its contributions to the local economy took center stage Thursday at the 2007 Shawano Country Tourism Summit.

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