Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitor Bureau

What Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitor Bureau does

Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitor Bureau is the official destination marketing organization for Stevens Point and all of Portage County, Wisconsin, founded in 1986 and headquartered at 1105 Main Street, Stevens Point. It operates a digital tourism platform — stevenspointarea.com — built on a content management system, event calendar, business directory, blog, newsletter signup, and free mail-order Visitor Guide ordering. Core offerings include a free official Visitor Guide, an editorial blog ("Insider's Guide"), a searchable Events Calendar, a Things to Do & Attractions directory, the Local Makers Series profiling regional artisans, and the Central Wisconsin Craft Collective that coordinates breweries, wineries, and distilleries under one brand with a Craft Pass program. The bureau also runs dedicated content tracks for Meetings and Sports planners and a Culinary Farm Experiences agritourism program.

The organization's revenue model is non-transactional: all core visitor services are free to the public. Funding flows from membership dues of local tourism businesses, a share of local tourism (lodging) tax revenues, and grant funding, in line with the standard U.S. CVB/DMO structure. It serves six primary visitor segments — leisure travelers, families, couples, food and beverage enthusiasts, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, and meeting/sports planners — with content tailored to each. Distribution is multi-channel: website, free printed Visitors Guide by mail, email newsletter, Instagram with the #StevensPointArea hashtag campaign, and on-site visitor services.

Strategically, the CVB's competitive position rests on its official DMO status, its content library (Local Makers Series, blog, Visitor Guide), and deep integration with hundreds of local businesses across hospitality, food and beverage, outdoor recreation, retail, and agritourism. It does not operate a transactional booking platform and has no disclosed AI/ML, funding events, acquisitions, or technology expansion initiatives in the input data.

Name

Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitor Bureau

Legal name

Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitor Bureau

Website

https://stevenspointarea.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Stevens Point

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitor Bureau is the official destination marketing organization for Stevens Point and all of Portage County, Wisconsin. It promotes the region's tourism economy by producing a free official Visitors Guide, maintaining an events calendar, running a directory of things to do and places to stay, publishing editorial blog content, and supporting local businesses including breweries, wineries, restaurants, hotels, outdoor recreation providers, and makers through marketing programs such as the Central Wisconsin Craft Collective and Local Makers Series.

Product overview

The Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitor Bureau operates a destination marketing platform providing comprehensive travel and tourism services for Stevens Point, Wisconsin and all of Portage County. The core offering includes a free Visitor Guide and Travel Planner, supplemented by a curated Local Makers Series featuring video content about regional artisans and crafters. The bureau maintains an Events Calendar, Things to Do directory covering outdoor recreation (Green Circle Trail, SentryWorld golf, paddling), and a dedicated Blog with insider guides. A key initiative is the Central Wisconsin Craft Collective, showcasing local breweries (Point Brewery since 1857, Central Waters, O'so), wineries (Sunset Point), and distilleries. The Culinary Farm Experiences program promotes agritourism through partnerships with local farms offering tours, brunch, and farm-to-table dining experiences. The platform functions as an informational marketing destination rather than a transactional booking service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stevens Point Area Visitor Guide
• Events Calendar
• Local Makers Series
• Central Wisconsin Craft Collective
• Things to Do & Attractions Directory
• Culinary Farm Experiences

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of local businesses promoted through CVB's digital platform, events calendar, blog content, and visitor guide

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Central Wisconsin Craft CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA collaborative initiative bringing together the region's craft breweries, wineries, and distillery under one unified brand. The Collective enables visitors to discover and experience local craft beverages through coordinated marketing, the Craft Pass program, and shared events. Members include Point Brewery (since 1857), Central Waters Brewing, O'so Brewing, Great Northern Distilling, Sunset Point Winery, District 1 Brewing, and others across the Stevens Point Area.
• Point Brewery (Stevens Point Brewery)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWisconsin's historic brewery operating since 1857, recognized as one of the oldest continuously operated breweries in the nation. Featured prominently in CVB content as a cornerstone of the local craft beverage scene and culinary tourism. Home to Point Premium sodas including root beer, and host to live music events.
• Central Waters Brewing CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning barrel-aging brewery in Amherst, part of the Central Wisconsin Craft Collective. Known for Imperial Stouts and solar-powered operations. Hosts annual HHG (Horseshoes & Hand Grenades) shows and has created a signature HHG Pale Ale. Featured in CVB craft beer content and culinary tourism promotions.
• Portage County Historical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as the publisher of 'Women of Vision,' a book documenting Carrie Frost — the early 20th century entrepreneur who built a fly tying business in Stevens Point and earned the city the designation of 'fly tackle capital of the world.' CVB promotes this historical resource for cultural tourism storytelling.
• Ruby Coffee RoasterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured in the Local Makers Series. A specialty coffee roaster in Stevens Point with a second location at Ruby Cafe in downtown. Noted for roasting all their own beans for local sale and national distribution. Owners Jared and Deanna are highlighted for their community-building mission and deep ties to central Wisconsin.
• Fall Line OutfitterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured in the Local Makers Series. A fly fishing gear and supplies shop in downtown Stevens Point founded by Craig Cook, a 22-year Army veteran. The shop celebrates Stevens Point's history as the 'fly tackle capital of the world' and connects the region's outdoor recreation heritage with modern fly fishing culture.
• Father Fats (Chef's Kitchen / Chef C's Munchie Mobile)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured in the Local Makers Series. Restaurant and food truck business owned by Chef Christian Czerwonka (trained under Chef Emeril in New Orleans, ~30 years culinary experience). Sister restaurant Chef's Kitchen is steps away. Featured in Wisconsin Foodie television series. Strongly connected to local food sourcing and the farm-to-table scene.
• Agora Local Makers MarketcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured in the Local Makers Series. A local maker's market in downtown Stevens Point founded by Cara. Supports the local maker community and community cooperation. Showcases products from multiple local makers including Tapped Maple Syrup, Siren Shrub, and other artisans. Promoted as a destination for local goods year-round.
• Tapped Maple SyrupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured in the Local Makers Series. A five-generation family craft maple syrup business owned by Jeremy and Abi Solin. Known for pure craft maple syrup, flavor-infused syrups, and aromatic cocktail syrups. Featured on Wisconsin Foodie. Products sold at Agora, Ruby Cafe, Stevens Point Area Co-op, and online.
• Siren Shrub Co.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured in the Local Makers Series. A culinary shrub and mixer company co-founded by Mindy McCord, working with local farmers to preserve peak-season fruits and herbs. Produces drinking vinegars for cocktails, mocktails, and recipes. Featured in CVB mocktail content and local food guide articles. Products sold at local restaurants and retailers.
• University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe local university is referenced across multiple CVB content pieces. Its students and alumni are highlighted as contributors to the local music scene (Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, Danny Mitchell), and the campus is featured as a visitor destination. The CVB promotes local university attractions as part of the overall Stevens Point Area experience.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Simpleview: DMO technology and CRM vendor whose platform underpins many US visitor bureaus (the Stevens Point site runs on Simpleview asset URLs). Included as an ecosystem/thematically relevant peer — vendor relationship rather than competitor.

Direct peers

• Visit Eau Claire: Wisconsin DMO for Eau Claire / Chippewa Valley area; comparable regional DMO focusing on outdoor recreation, craft beverage tourism, and events with similar funding and content strategy.
• Explore La Crosse: Regional Wisconsin DMO with analogous mission around visitor information, content marketing, and event promotion in a mid-sized city anchored on outdoor recreation and culinary tourism.
• Greater Wausu Convention & Visitors Bureau: Neighboring central Wisconsin DMO with similar geography, scale, and funding model, focused on outdoor recreation, meetings, and cultural attractions — a close structural analog to Stevens Point Area CVB.
• Visit Milwaukee: Wisconsin's largest destination marketing organization, also a federally recognized DMO structured as a 501(c)(6) and supported by membership dues and tourism tax revenue, providing content marketing, visitor guides, and meeting/sports sales support — directly comparable in operating model even though larger in scale.
• Destination Madison: Greater Madison DMO offering visitor information, events calendar, blog content, and meeting/sports promotion funded by tourism tax and partner dues. Operates the same DMO playbook in a nearby regional Wisconsin market with comparable mid-sized municipality dynamics.
• Visit Green Bay: Wisconsin DMO running visitor guides, content marketing, meetings/sports sales, and events promotion funded through tourism tax and membership — comparable DMO operating model in a similar-sized Wisconsin market.
• Door County Visitor Bureau: A Wisconsin DMO whose visitor guide, blog content, and curated partner network mirror the Stevens Point CVB model, with comparable emphasis on outdoor recreation, culinary tourism, and seasonal/event promotion in a single-county destination.
• Visit Oshkosh: Wisconsin DMO serving Oshkosh and Winnebago County; comparable DMO structure with visitor guide, event calendar, and content marketing supported by tourism tax and member dues.

Broad incumbents

• Travel Wisconsin (Wisconsin Department of Tourism): Statewide DMO with a much larger mandate and budget; sets broader destination context, grants, and cooperative marketing programs in which Stevens Point CVB participates, but is not a like-for-like competitor — instead a broader incumbent umbrella.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/stevenspointarea
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stevenspointarea

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitor Bureau