Get to know Destination Madison!

Madison is the capital city of Wisconsin and home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, blending civic progress with cultural vibrancy. Our welcoming downtown district is nestled between two picturesque lakes—Mendota and Monona. Here, you’ll find a lakeside convention center, 12,000+ hotel rooms, a world-class university and green urban spaces that are safe, walkable and accessible. Destination Madison’s Sales and Services team has the relationships, experience and deep expertise to make your job easier and your attendees happier.

Here’s a high-level overview of our city’s meetings capabilities:

• 250,000 square-foot and 630,000 square-foot meeting venues
• 12,000+ hotel rooms in Greater Madison
• 1,400+ hotel rooms near the convention center
• 300+ restaurants and attractions downtown

Destination Madison’s Event Services team partners closely with planners, supporting everything from coordinating hotel room blocks and organizing dine arounds to developing custom itineraries that support LGBTQ+ businesses in the area. We take care of these details so you can focus on more critical aspects of planning your event.

Madison offers natural beauty, plus the convenience of urban amenities:

• Easy travel: Madison offers several direct flights, and once you arrive, it’s less than a 15-minute ride from our airport to downtown.
• Sustainable + walkable: The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed, LEED-certified Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center is located lakeside and is walkable from 14 downtown hotels, including the attached Hilton Madison Monona Terrace.
• Safe + welcoming: Your attendees will feel safe exploring on their own in our welcoming community and strong network of hospitality partners.

What sets you apart?

We’re leading the way in our industry through a Sustainable Destination Management

model, investing heavily in advocacy, workforce, placemaking and stewardship for our destination.

That commitment shows up in how we’ve built our team and focus. Our Director of Placemaking leads research and drives placemaking initiatives that enhance the visitor experience and amenities. At the same time, our Director of Advocacy & Public Affairs works directly with elected officials to elevate the importance of tourism and how it supports a vibrant and resilient destination.

How does your organization prioritize customer satisfaction and ensure a positive experience for its clients?

When planners describe Madison, we hear these three words over and over: Friendly. Accessible. Safe. It’s why we consistently earn five-star reviews and testimonials like this one from Cindy Delaney, President & CEO of Delaney Event Management: "The addition of the Embassy Suites downtown is a game changer. Monona Terrace is one of my favorite places to hold a meeting—the staff are extremely professional, the facility is top notch and the location, amazing".

Can you share what your organization is doing to create diverse, inclusive and equitable meetings experiences?

A key effort underway is our LGBTQ+ Pride Pathways certification program that will help planners and attendees identify and support inclusive, values-aligned businesses. The program will initially launch with LGBTQ+ owned and allied businesses and expand to other groups.

In April, we hosted a de‑escalation training with CultureAlly designed for frontline staff and leaders across our hospitality community. The session approached conflict through a DEI lens, helping participants understand how unconscious bias, power dynamics and social identity can shape challenging interactions. These trainings only help strengthen the warm welcome you and your attendees will experience when you step off the plane and into our city.

Why is it important to your organization to support the LGBTQIA+ community?

Supporting the LGBTQIA+ community is essential to our organization because it directly reflects our purpose: Power a thriving tourism industry, creating meaningful connections and real belonging. We pioneer initiatives and prioritize programs that help us stay true to who we are: welcoming, intentional and inspired by Queer voices.

Looking ahead! What does the future hold?

Opening in late July, the Madison Public Market will be a year-round public marketplace with an emphasis on inclusive programs and spaces that support the growth of minority-owned and other small businesses.

We’re also excited about the newly-opened Center for Black Excellence and Culture—a cultural education and economic center intended to realize Black excellence embedded in the Greater Madison community.

Together, these developments signal a future where our city’s meeting spaces more fully reflect the diversity and cultural richness of the communities we serve.

Madison’s annual Pride event, Magic Pride Festival, hosted by the OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center, will take place on Sunday, August 16. View our curated list of upcoming LGBTQ+ events to help you plan your visit.

Last year, we launched Madison Queer Voices—a space where people from a spectrum of identities and backgrounds share their experiences in the capital city, in their words. View these recommendations from Madison’s Queer locals on our LGBTQ+ travel in Madison page https://www.visitmadison.com/plan/lgbtq/.

Check us out!

Want to learn more?

Allison Mead, Convention Sales Manager, mead@destinationmadison.com