Courtesy Visit Brookfield
Suburban setting with urban amenities: Brookfield
Brookfield is just west of Milwaukee, about 15 minutes from Milwaukee’s downtown district. Guests can enjoy the activities there and return to a quieter location, said Kim Judd, director of revenue management for the Sheraton Milwaukee-Brookfield. With 19,000 square feet of event space, the Sheraton is Brookfield’s largest conference facility.
The Sheraton also has complimentary parking and wireless Internet, something guests might not find in the city. “The hotels in Brookfield are reasonably priced, and there’s less traffic,” said Judd. The location right off Interstate 94 makes for “easy on and easy off,” she said.
The 389-room hotel has had numerous upgrades. Its guest-room updates should be complete by 2014. There are plans to replace the carpet and re-cover the air walls in the meeting space. The hotel also has indoor and outdoor pools and two fitness facilities, renovated in 2011.
Since Brookfield is so close to Milwaukee, planners often head there for off-site activities. On Lake Michigan, the city offers the 20-acre Harley-Davidson Museum, which showcases more than 450 motorcycles and artifacts. Group tours are available, and the campus can accommodate up to 1,000 people at a private event.
The Milwaukee Brewers play in Miller Park, which offers tours.
And, not surprisingly, beer is big in Milwaukee. There are six craft breweries within a 30-minute drive of the Sheraton, Judd said. The Miller Brewery offers tours with beer tastings. In summer, the tastings are held in the outdoor beer garden. Otherwise, tour attendees enjoy samples in a Bavarian-style hall.
As for food, Judd recommends the Sheraton’s beer-cheese soup, topped with popcorn. And no trip to Wisconsin is complete without a brat, short for “bratwurst.” The Sheraton takes the mix and forms patties to create brat “sliders,” usually topped with cheese and bacon. “In winter,” Judd explained, “you need something hearty.”
But no matter the time of year, she said, meeting attendees in Wisconsin can expect a warm dose of Midwestern hospitality.
800-388-1835
www.visitbrookfield.com
