Highlights from the Platteville Chamber of Commerce

Wayne Wodarz President Terri Ellis, Wayne Wodarz, and Carley Borcherding

Optimist Carley Borcherding invited fellow Optimist Wayne Wodarz, Executive Director of the Platteville Area Chamber of Commerce to speak to our Club. Wayne highlighted three different areas of interest; 2025 State Tourism, Travel and Tourism Week, and Day Trips in our area.

The latest tourism results showed that room tax revenue in Platteville hit a new record in 2025. It rose a whopping 17%, generating $236,500. The room tax revenue is split three ways, with 70% going to the chamber to promote tourism, 28% to the City of Platteville, and 2% remains with the lodging to cover administrative costs. Some of the increase was due to last April's hail storm which resulted in many contractors staying in the city while repairing storm damage. Wayne explained that there is increased competition for tourism dollars since the Covid pandemic. Many area communities have added new events to attract tourists.

May 3rd-9th was National Travel and Tourism Week for 2026. It is a time when travel and tourism professionals across the country unite to celebrate the value travel holds for our economy, businesses, communities and personal well-being. Locals celebrated by exploring tourism destinations in Platteville, including a scavenger hunt along our Rountree Branch Trail, a 290-stair trek to the top of the World's Largest M and a cookout at Katie's Garden. These events require getting the word out. To help with getting the word out, Discover Platteville set up a Facebook page about a year and a half ago. Many people from Dubuque were included in the almost 100 people who came to climb the M, showing the importance of advertising. The Chamber has a website but is developing a second one, so one site can concentrate on Chamber activities and the other one on tourism.

Finally, Wayne talked about Day Trips within 50 miles of Platteville for people to enjoy this summer. Right here in Platteville we have the Mining and Rollo Jamison Museums, the Mitchell-Rountree Stone Cottage, and the Big M (Platte Mound M). Nearby Belmont has Belmont Mound State Park and the First Capitol Historic Site. Many, many more attractions in Galena, Dubuque and Prairie Du Chien and the surrounding communities. Stop by the Platteville Area Chamber of Commerce to pick-up brochures such as a Southwest Wisconsin Historic Driving Tour or Platteville Outdoors Art Scavenger Hunt.