The Executive Director of the Manitowoc Area Visitor & Convention Bureau says 2020 was looking good for meetings and conventions in the lakeshore.
That was until the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Jason Ring indicated the coronavirus came on very quickly and has had a major impact. Ring explains they’ve had cancellations extending from the end of March, all of April, and into May, a month where 4 events totaling almost 550 attendees had to be postponed.
He says the good news is that many of those meetings or conventions will be rescheduled.
Ring says June will be a transitional month in that social distancing guidelines will likely still be in place for gatherings and he indicated the HFM Maritime Marathon, with more than 500-runners, has already been canceled. However, the Maritime Bay Classic Bike Race originally set for June 22nd is now going to held over a 2-day period, August 3rd and 4th in downtown Manitowoc.
One convention in September has already been called-off because the majority of its’ members are in the higher risk category for coronavirus.
He says their message to groups is not to cancel but reschedule 30-days or more ahead of events in this fast-evolving period of restrictions being modified or lifted.
Ring also says with city, county and state parks being reopened and maintenance being limited in some cases, it’s a good idea for visitors to “be prepared to take trash back home with them” when leaving.
The MAVCB head added, “We’re resilient in tourism and we’ll bounce back from this.”
