​The WHLA Auction Is Back—and It’s Building Fast. The momentum is building—and it’s worth celebrating!

The “Getaway to Wisconsin Hotels” Online Auction is officially heating up, and we’re already seeing an incredible response from WHLA members stepping up with exciting packages, stays, and experiences. This is shaping up to be a strong lineup that showcases the very best of Wisconsin’s lodging industry. 

What happens when you treat onboarding not as a process, but as an experience worth remembering?
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At Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, that mindset has led to a creative evolution in how they train, connect with, and retain their team members. By blending intentional onboarding systems, peer mentorship, and a dose of humor inspired by The Office, the team has built a culture that feels both structured and refreshingly human, and the results are hard to ignore.

​The WHLA Online Auction is coming June 8–12, and members are invited to get involved! 

We are seeking room nights, packages, and experience-based items to build a strong auction lineup that directly supports WHLA’s advocacy, education, and workforce development efforts across Wisconsin’s lodging industry.

In an industry where marketing trends shift as quickly as traveler behavior, one thing has become increasingly clear: the old playbook no longer applies.

To better understand how hospitality leaders are adapting, I recently sat down virtually with Brandon McConnell, Corporate Executive for Delavan Lake Lawn Management. Brandon and his team have long been strong partners of WHLA, particularly when it comes to Targeted Marketing campaigns.

​This spring, the Madison Area Hotel & Lodging Association (MAHLA) is proud to celebrate an incredible wave of recognition across our member properties and partners. These honors reflect what we see every day—Madison’s hospitality community is driven by passionate teams committed to delivering exceptional guest experiences.

​The Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association (WHLA) is pleased to announce the official theme for the 2026 Wisconsin Lodging Conference & Trade Show:

WHLA is proud to announce that nominations for the 2026 WHLA Awards are officially open from April 1 through June 20. Each year, these awards celebrate excellence across Wisconsin’s lodging industry, recognizing outstanding service, innovation, leadership, and lifetime achievement.

The Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association (WHLA) is proud to support the future of the lodging industry by engaging with students at the upcoming Wisconsin Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) State Leadership Conference on April 7 at Kalahari Resort & Convention Center.

From March 15–17, WHLA staff and members joined tourism professionals from across the state at the 2026 Wisconsin Governor’s Conference on Tourism (WIGCOT), held at Milwaukee’s Baird Center and hosted by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. As one of the nation’s premier state tourism conferences, WIGCOT once again delivered a dynamic mix of education, inspiration, and meaningful connections that continue to strengthen Wisconsin’s tourism industry.

The Wisconsin Women in Lodging (WWIL) Retreat brought together over 40 women from across the state’s lodging industry for a memorable evening of connection, learning, and celebration. Held from Thursday evening through Friday morning at the beautiful Kimpton Journeyman Hotel, the retreat offered the perfect balance of professional growth, community, and fun.