New Berlin tourism staff reports rising social media engagement and rolls out summer event outreach

At its June 2025 meeting, the New Berlin Tourism Commission received a staff update from DCD staff member Kelly on social media growth and summer event outreach.

Kelly told commissioners that the commission’s social accounts continue to add followers and that “Instagram’s growing a little quicker at the moment.” She said the department is continuing to publish an event calendar that has been popular with residents and visitors.

The staff presentation highlighted Safety Saturday outreach materials developed with the city’s emergency management division. Kelly said the handout includes quick summer safety tips and a checklist of supplies “to keep in your car, stuff to keep in your house and have ready,” and that a small flashlight was being distributed as a giveaway. She also noted printed Wisconsin guides and that the department distributed postcards with event dates to organizations that plan to apply for grants next year.

Kelly reported that the Garden Club was the May organization of the month and that the Miss Wisconsin Scholarship Organization has moved its event to New Berlin for June. On the city’s Bandwango visitor-pass program, Kelly said there has been “no change on sign ups” and described the current registrants as likely to be the core group for the season.

A commissioner asked whether the tourism commission would have a booth at the farmers market; Kelly said no booth was scheduled but agreed to explore having the commission’s QR code available at the market. Another commissioner asked whether staff had a list of people who declined to participate in Bandwango; Kelly said she would check whether decline reasons were recorded and would reach out to Bandwango to follow up.

The update was provided as an informational item; there was no formal action on DCD outreach at the meeting.