What Is the Pilot Program?

Before launching the program statewide, Travel Green Wisconsin was piloted in four areas and communities in the state - Bayfield, Door County, Madison, and Nicolet College located in Rhinelander. Over thirty tourism businesses signed up to participate in the pilot program. Feedback was received from these businesses so the tourism industry would have the opportunity to give suggestions in order to make adjustments to the program. Travel Green Wisconsin is now accepting applications from businesses throughout the state.

Objectives of the Pilot Program

1. Before Travel Green Wisconsin was launched statewide in 2007, it was important to first receive feedback from the tourism industry about the certification process. Pilot business gave the program designers an understanding of what worked well and what needed to be improved. In addition, participants provided input about whether or not the program is easy to understand and to complete for the variety of tourism businesses in Wisconsin. The certification process needed to be tested to ensure that it has the correct balance, that it is achievable yet meaningful. This feedback was received through surveys and interviews during the pilot program phase.

2. Questions that the pilot businesses raised helped prepare the program for a statewide launch. Resources were gathered and case studies will be generated from these pilot businesses.

3. The pilot program also helped promote Travel Green Wisconsin to other businesses and travelers. Pilot program participants helped spread the word about the program and served as mentors to other businesses.

4. Travel Green Wisconsin was developed for a variety of tourism businesses; however, this needed to be tested. Having a variety of businesses participate helped to determine if items of the checklist needed to be changed or additional sections added. Overall, it helped to verify that the program can apply to all types of businesses.

Requirements of the Pilot Businesses

Pilot businesses simply had to complete the certification process and provide feedback. For more details on the certification process, go to the How to Participate section.

• To become certified the business needed to complete the Checklist booklet, which contains the following sections:

1. Registration: The Registration Form asks for contact information, baseline environmental performance data, and a certification fee.
2. Checklist: This contains some basic requirements and nine different categories in which each business must earn a minimum number of points.

Go to the 'How to Participate' section to download the Checklist and Registration together.

• After the process is complete, the businesses will be given a short survey and interviewed in order to find out their experiences regarding the certification process.
• This pilot program is expected to be completed in 3 to 6 months depending on the businesses.