Welcome Centers

The Wisconsin Welcome Centers listed below distribute approved travel and hospitality brochures at no charge to the industry. Distributing your brochure provides your business with another way to connect with travelers. Wisconsin destinations, tourism associations, attractions and events are eligible to apply.

Brochure Approval Process

Brochures distributed must be approved by Travel Wisconsin. If you’re interested in submitting your brochure or guide for approval, first please review the Literature Distribution Guidelines and Procedures.

Tourism notifies the staff once brochures are approved. We ask that you hold off on shipping brochures to centers until the center staff contacts you with their request. Display and storage space are limited in some locations and will impact their decisions about ordering. Not all centers will distribute all approved brochures.

Designated Wisconsin Welcome Centers

Interstate Locations

Wisconsin Welcome Center - Beloit on I-39/90
Operated by Visit Beloit

Wisconsin Welcome Center - Kenosha on I-94
Operated by Kenosha Area CVB

Wisconsin Welcome Center - La Crosse on I-90
Operated by La Crosse Area CVB

Non-Interstate Locations

Wisconsin Welcome Center - Marinette on US Hwy 41
Operated by City of Marinette

Wisconsin Welcome Center - Platteville near US Hwy 151
Operated by Platteville Area Chamber of Commerce

Wisconsin Welcome Center - Prairie du Chien US Hwy 18
Operated by the Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce

About the Wisconsin Welcome Center Partnership

Wisconsin Welcome Centers are the result of a partnership between Travel Wisconsin, local Destination Marketing Organizations (DMO) and in some cases the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). This partnership is a win-win situation for the state, its visitors and the tourism industry, providing valuable information to travelers along their trip.

Key Highlights of the Travel Wisconsin Welcome Center Partnership

Visitors receive a much needed service when they cross the state border at six key locations.
DMOs supply knowledgeable and friendly staff to welcome travelers and help them plan their visit.
Welcome Centers distribute approved brochures to visitors at no charge to the state’s travel and hospitality industry.
WisDOT is responsible for building and maintenance costs at the four TWWCs located at rest areas.
Tourism has invested in a marketing buy through its advertising agency that creates a co-branded presence at the Welcome Centers. The marketing buy is based on visitor traffic, the same way outdoor advertising is based on impressions.
This co-branding gives Tourism an opportunity to market TravelWisconsin.com, mobile apps, and social media vehicles to valuable qualified customers.

Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Rest Area Brochure Distribution Policy

The Rest Areas in Beloit, Kenosha and La Crosse that are designated Travel Wisconsin Welcome Centers described above, will provide literature distribution at no charge to the industry based on their guidelines. Otherwise, WisDOT continues with its Rest Area literature distribution program as outlined below.

Columbia and Juneau County Rest Areas on I-39/90/94

WisDOT has contracted to stock literature at these select Wisconsin rest areas effective January 1, 2011. Please contact the vendor listed below directly for information on their guidelines and fees for distributing your tourism brochures and guides at Rest Areas 11 and 12 in Columbia County and Rest Areas 9 and 10 in Juneau County on I-39/90/94.

Vector & Ink Contact:
Jon Brunt
608-254-8770
jon@vectorandink.com

All Other WisDOT Rest Areas

Distribution of literature at all other rest areas not listed above will be limited to State Highway Maps.

The contract with WisDOT states that these vendors and organizations listed above have "the exclusive authority to distribute tourism literature within the rest area building."

If Vector & Ink. is not able to answer your question, Biren Patel at WisDOT at 608-266-7231 or Biren.Patel@dot.wi.gov . This is a change from the past when Rehabilitation for Wisconsin (RFW) had this responsibility.