Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association Events Newswire

Greater Milwaukee Hospitality Open 9/9/2025 9:30 AM - 9/9/2025 4:30 PM

Thu, 15 May 2025 15:04:39 GMT

2025 Greater Milwaukee Hospitality Open

Visit Milwaukee and the Greater Milwaukee Hotel & Lodging Association (GMHLA) are excited to host the 2025 Greater Milwaukee Hospitality Open (GMHO)!

September 9, 2025

Registration & Continental Breakfast: 9:30 a.m.

Shotgun Start: 10:30 a.m.

Afternoon Reception: 3:30 p.m.

The GMHO is an opportunity for the hospitality community and those who support the hospitality community to come together to enjoy a day of golf and camaraderie. Both organizations fund scholarships for college students to encourage new hospitality talent development.

This event is sold!

WHLA September Events 9/10/2025 - 9/11/2025

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 14:52:54 GMT

Connect, celebrate, and grow with fellow lodging professionals at this special series of WHLA events. Whether you join us for one program or all three, you'll gain valuable insights, make meaningful connections, and leave inspired by the people shaping Wisconsin’s lodging industry.

Wednesday, September 10

12:00 PM - 4:00 PM | WHLA Board of Directors Meeting
Wood Violet
Closed to WHLA board members only.

4:30 PM - 8:00 PM | Lodging Innsights Fond du Lac
Lake and Terrace
Enjoy an evening of networking, dinner, and engaging programming designed to connect and inform Wisconsin’s lodging professionals. Open to all WHLA members, advanced registration required.

• 4:30 PM | Networking Reception

• 5:30 PM | Dinner Service

• 6:30 PM | Program

Dinner Program: The Future of Tourism Promotion in Wisconsin

Tourism Promotion Improvement Districts as a New Funding Mechanism

Speaker: Bill Elliott, WHLA

A Historic Investment in Tourism: How Wisconsin’s Department of Tourism is Investing the New Biennial Budget to Generate Overnight Stays

Speaker: Secretary Anne Sayers, Wisconsin Department of Tourism

Thursday, September 11

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Wisconsin Women in Lodging Breakfast
Lake and Terrace
Start your day with connection and inspiration at the Wisconsin Women in Lodging Breakfast. This special program brings together women from across the lodging industry to share ideas, foster meaningful relationships, and hear from an engaging speaker who will spark insight and conversation. Open to all WHLA members, advanced registration required.

• 9:00 AM | Breakfast + Networking

• 9:30 AM | Guest Speaker: Secretary Sarah Godlewski
Sarah Godlewski is a fifth-generation Wisconsinite from Eau Claire. She is a forward-looking leader who has excelled in both government and business. Appointed by Governor Evers as the 29th Secretary of State of Wisconsin, Sarah has made history by becoming only the third woman to hold this esteemed position.

• 10:00 AM | Leadership Panel: Strength in the Spotlight
Hear from a powerhouse panel of Wisconsin women hoteliers and hospitality leaders who have faced industry storms head-on—and emerged stronger than ever. In this candid conversation, they’ll share personal stories of overcoming obstacles—from operational hurdles to personal setbacks—along with the strategies, mindset shifts, and lessons that fueled their resilience.

Panelists:
• Kimberly Albert, Courtyard + Fairfield Madison East
• Michelle Angell, Hotel Retlaw
• Dana Johnson, Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel
• Lynn Ketterhagen, Lake Lawn Resort

11:30 AM - 1:30 PM | WHLA Awards Luncheon

The 2025 Spirit of Hospitality and Wisconsin Lodging Hall of Fame Awards will be presented, honoring individuals whose passion, dedication, and leadership have made a lasting impact on Wisconsin’s lodging industry. Open to all WHLA members, advanced registration required.

• 11:30 AM | Check-in

• 11:45 AM | Lunch Service

• 12:20 PM | Awards Presentation

Accomodations

Stay on-site and make the most of your experience! A discounted room rate of $98.00 plus taxes and fees is available at Hotel Retlaw for September 10–11. Rooms will be available until the block is full or until September 3.

Book Your Stay!

Sponsorships

Stand out in front of hospitality decision-makers. Become a sponsor and showcase your support for Wisconsin’s lodging industry.

Sponsor Guide

Education/Conference Committee Meeting 9/18/2025 12:30 PM - 9/18/2025 1:30 PM

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 22:47:49 GMT

Scholarship Selection Task Force Meeting 9/19/2025 10:30 AM - 9/19/2025 11:30 AM

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 14:51:56 GMT

GMHLA Board Meeting 9/24/2025 2:30 PM - 9/24/2025 3:30 PM

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 19:24:31 GMT

This meeting is exclusively reserved for GMHLA board directors. Please note that this is a closed meeting; only GMHLA board directors are invited to attend.

The Greater Milwaukee Hotel & Lodging Association (GMHLA) is a non-profit trade association representing the interests of Milwaukee area hotel and lodging properties, as well as the Associate members who provide valued services to our lodging members and their guests. GMHLA exists to promote the growth of the Greater Milwaukee hospitality partners through education and advocacy.

GMHLA Member Mixer 9/24/2025 3:30 PM - 9/24/2025 5:00 PM

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 19:25:31 GMT

Come for the networking, stay for the camaraderie!

Join us for this GMHLA Member Mixer at the Ambassador Hotel Milwaukee! This chapter event is designed for hotel and hospitality professionals to mingle, enjoy refreshments, and build lasting connections.

Who Should Attend?

• Hoteliers and Hotel Management Professionals from properties in the Greater Milwaukee region
• Hospitality Vendors who are current members of GMHLA or interested in joining the chapter
• Hospitality Educators from local institutions
• Industry Supporters, including professionals from destination marketing organizations
• Members of the GMHLA Board of Directors

Registration Options

1. Register online using your WHLA credentials to receive discounted member pricing ($10 pp early; $25 pp late)
2. Email your list of attendees to gmhla@wisconsinlodging.org; an invoice and payment link will be provided

Sponsorships

Sponsoring a GMHLA event allows your company greater visibility among Greater Milwaukee hospitality industry professionals. Sponsorship benefits include passes for two attendees, a logo on all event communications and online event page, a copy of the attendee registration list (name, title, company, address), and the option to provide giveaways and door prizes. Sign up to sponsor through the registration link below or email gmhla@wisconsinlodging.org.

Wisconsin Women in Lodging Fall Retreat 9/25/2025 4:30 PM - 9/26/2025 10:30 AM

Fri, 09 May 2025 14:55:00 GMT

Unwind, Reconnect & Rise Together

Join us for a memorable overnight retreat designed exclusively for women working in Wisconsin’s lodging industry. Held during peak fall color season, this energizing event offers the perfect blend of inspiration, connection, and relaxation.

Whether you're seeking leadership inspiration or space to slow down and connect, the WWIL Fall Retreat offers a welcoming environment to be in good company with women who understand your journey.

Who Can Attend?

This retreat is hosted by Wisconsin Women in Lodging (WWIL) and is open to all WHLA members, including hoteliers, associates, and allies who support the advancement of women in Wisconsin’s lodging industry. Whether you're a long-time WWIL participant or new to the community, you'll find inspiration, connection, and a warm welcome at this event.

Retreat Highlights

• A scenic cruise aboard the Lake Lawn Queen
• Dinner and conversation with fellow attendees
• Evening receptions to connect in a relaxed setting
• A powerful breakfast session featuring leadership stories from top female hoteliers
• Intentional time to reflect, recharge, and build meaningful relationships

WWIL Fall Retreat

Thursday, September 25

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm | Registration

4:30 pm - 5:30 pm | Welcome Reception
Kick off the retreat with a cozy fall-inspired welcome reception, where warm drinks, light bites, and great company set the tone for a season of connection and inspiration.

5:45 pm - 7:15 pm | Dine & Drift Boat Cruise
Set sail into golden hour with fellow Women in Lodging for a relaxed evening of dining, laughter, and lake views. Dinner includes a boat tour, 4 4-course dinner with wine paired for each course, and guided wine presentations about Marimar Torres and her family vineyards.

7:30 pm - 9:30 pm | Kindle & Connect Bonfire
Wind down the day with a cozy lakeside bonfire, complete with drinks, light bites, and meaningful moments.

Friday, September 26

7:00 am - 8:00 am | Optional Morning Walk
Start your day with a peaceful, lakeside stroll guided by Lake Lawn’s GM and WWIL leader—an optional morning walk that’s the perfect way to enjoy the crisp fall air and beautiful shoreline views.

8:30 am - 10:30 am | Leadership Breakfast & Program
“Navigating Leadership: Wisdom from Women Who Lead”
Join us for a dynamic breakfast session with trailblazing women from the hospitality industry. Listen to their leadership journeys, learn from their experiences, and leave feeling inspired and empowered.

Featured Speakers

Karen Gilbride is the Global Vice President of avid hotels, Atwell Suites and Garner hotels for IHG® Hotels & Resorts focused on the growth of three of the company’s newest essentials and suites brands. In her role, Karen leads the teams responsible for the overall brand strategy, definition and delivery of the end-to-end guest experience, hotel brand design and the marketing and commercial strategy of these three growing brands. In her 20+ year career with IHG, Karen has held several leadership roles across Global Brands & Marketing, Global Human Resources and on-property Operations. Karen holds a Master of Science degree in Adult Education & Human Resource Development from Fordham University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel Administration from Cornell University.

A lifelong hotelier, Dr. Ann Peterson has been the President and General Manager of the New Yorker Hotel, a 1,050-room hotel under the Lotte brand, located in midtown Manhattan, since 2012. Prior to the New Yorker, Ann was the General Manager of the Omni Shoreham hotel in Washington, DC and spent over 20 years with IHG (Intercontinental Hotels Group) in leadership roles from Seattle to White Plains, to NYC, and many stops in between, working her way from food and beverage operations to Regional Vice President of Operations. A passionate ‘leader of leaders’ and mentor to hundreds across the industry, Ann has her Doctorate in Administration and Policy in Urban Education from Fordham University, a Master in Educational Administration from Seattle University and a bachelor degree in Hotel Administration at the University of New Hampshire. Ann and her husband Mark have two daughters, Amanda and Olivia and a “bunch” of Golden Retrievers.

Lodging Details

Attendees are invited to stay at Lake Lawn Resort by booking a room in the WHLA room block for a discounted rate of $99 +. Use group code: 271 and password: WHLAWomen

Book Now!

Sponsorships

Show your support and increase your business exposure by sponsoring this event! All sponsorships include logo recognition on the event webpage, onsite signage, verbal recognition during the event, and attendee passes as outlined in the sponsor guide.