Wisconsin Dells Convention Hosting Stage II - No Staff Big Problem

The Village of Lake Delton has given the Kalahari Resort 10 million publicly collected dollars to build a convention center ( 212 thousand square feet) capable of serving large regional - national groups. This is expected to attract large groups - residents are comparing it to the annual visitations of the past by the World Wide Church of God Gatherings in the Wisconsin Dells area.

The Wisconsin Dells area has no where near the population it will take to staff this new convention center.  The Village of Lake Delton is providing financial incentives to property owners who build housing for temporary staff on their land.  These buildings supported by public resources are to house J1VISA Program staff who travel from out of the Country - in to the Wisconsin Dells area to work typically for about 3 months.

Competition in the Wisconsin Dells area during the summer season is extremely high for the J1VISA Program workers - there is just not enough to cover all the vacant positions.  This high cost of labor is a primary factor in the Wisconsin Dells area's huge lease failure rate.

The reason for tracking and recording data related to the operation of the new convention center has to do with the staffing variable.  Simply, what are the numbers of conventions turned away from the Kalahari Resort Convention Center facility due to the staffing deficit.  This is important given the huge investment of public resources by the Village of Lake Delton.

This data collection speaks to quality and functionality.  Without adequate staff the convention center - despite having the space to serve larger venues - may at times be required to turn them away due to lack of staff.   To maintain the quality of the convention experience the convention facility must not attempt to serve a group they lack the staff to properly accommodate.

When the convention facility is not serving larger groups due to staffing- the functionality related to capacity indicates the facility is performing below the desired standard.  This is a significant data track because the Village of Lake Delton is providing financial incentives for franchise hotel operators to locate in the area.  These franchise hotel operators being brought in to the area with the investment of public resources - are dependent upon the new convention center functioning at the high end of capacity to fill their vacant hotel rooms.

This at first will seem a bit intrusive - knowing that the staffing levels at the new Kalahari Resort Convention Center are being monitored.   It can prove helpful to understand the data is being utilized to assure higher numbered groups are being scheduled , properly served, and returning to the new convention facility.  The Wisconsin Dells area has entered stage II of the convention hosting industry.