Regional connections and job expo to draw more tourists

The event on December 3^rd will be highlighting the tourism attractions, lodging and entertainment options around the Mississippi River

According to Brent Hanifl's statements, media and membership director for the La Crosse Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, today's first La Crosse Regional Tourism Expo and Hospitality Job Fair aims to connect service providers and customers for a more comprehensive understanding of each other's needs, to increase the collaboration between the two parts and to promote more future events in the area.

“A way to build on what everyone is doing and get better results as a whole. It’s a good way to go, find all these people in one room and talk with them”, Hanifl explained, as more than 400 people operating in the tourism and hospitality industry already have registered to attend the expo. Among them, 50 exhibitors will come from Michigan and Chicago.

The expo's participants and schedule

Local exhibitors aiming to extend into Minnesota and northeast Iowa will also be present to discuss important tourism and hospitality topics.

The job fair during the event will offer new positions for tourism workers for the 2016 summer season.

Tourism leaders like The Goodness Co. CEO Patrick Goodness, Metre Agency research and communications director Kerstin Boudreau and Timely sales vice president Bradley Roulston will also attend the event to share their experience with the participants. Live demonstrations and entertainment, new tourism programs and a generous food court for the “happy hour “ will feature in the expo's schedule.

People planning weddings or trips, as well as local industry staff are expected to exchange information.

La Crosse Regional Tourism Expo and Hospitality Job Fair will take place today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at La Crosse Center ballroom, 300 Harborview Plaza.