Video series narrated by community members will give the world a virtual tour of Milwaukee during DNC

VISIT Milwaukee unveiled an immersive virtual experience on August 13 to showcase our unparalleled city and the thoughtful, resilient people who make it come together.

From old fashioneds and cheese curds, to Alice’s Garden’s meditative labyrinth and the local music scene, this collective experience includes 30 videos that cover traditions beloved by locals and visitors alike. And they are not just your average tourism videos. The videos feature the voices of 30 passionate Milwaukeeans who share with viewers an inside look at what makes the city such a dynamic place.

“There’s nothing like being in Milwaukee in person, of course, but we also know this year is unlike any other,” said Peggy Williams-Smith, president and CEO of VISIT Milwaukee. “These 30 videos provide a look at our city through the eyes of the people who know it best from across the community, and we couldn’t be prouder to provide this experience to the visitors who couldn’t visit in person this summer, including DNC delegates, donors, and members of the press.”

In the midst of the pandemic, many destination organizations like VISIT Milwaukee have had to reimagine how they promote their communities. VISIT Milwaukee chose to create this video series, complemented by two new commercials, in order to tell Milwaukee’s authentic story and elevate the perception of the destination by seizing the opportunity in the global spotlight during the DNC.

“These vignettes capture dozens of stories about Milwaukee, but they’re ultimately just the beginning,” said Megan Suardini, chief marketing officer at VISIT Milwaukee. “What we hope viewers come away with is a sense that there is so much more to Milwaukee than they realized and that they want to experience the city for themselves.”

The videos were created by local videographer Samer Ghani. Much of the music was provided by local band Paper Holland. Narration for each video was provided by David Crowley, Peggy Williams-Smith, Russ Klisch, Venice Williams, Ahmad Nasef, Captain Bob De Vorse, Dr. Robert (Bert) Davis, Theresa Nemetz, Scott Schwebel, Beth Handle, Bobby Tanzilo, Natasha Jules, Chuck Wickenhauser, James Davies, Lilo Allen, Chef Miguel Sanchez, Justin Barney, Lisa Caesar, Mei-Lyn Nelson, Jim Haertel, Paul Bartolotta, Pardeep Singh Kaleka, Michael Pink, Tony Snell, Adija Greer-Smith, Ira Koplowitz, Marilu Knode, Mark Baden, Mary Louise Schumacher, and David Mark Zimmerman.