Managing Madison's Nighttime Economy

Downtown Madison is a vibrant, safe, clean and unique place. It is inviting, presenting opportunities to live, learn, work and play. It is the heart of our region and hosts a diverse population which values dignity, respect for others, and trust for residents, business and nonprofit organizations and government. The downtown is a social space and a visitor destination, where we gather to shop, eat, drink, attend events and be entertained as well as to live, work and do business.

In this shared space we define our communal identity through our daily interactions. Downtown Madison, Inc. (DMI) is dedicated to creating positive connections in order to maintain a flourishing downtown where society, education and businesses thrive together. Conflicts created by differing visions of the downtown require practical solutions to help disparate users co-exist peacefully and productively.

Because our downtown continues to change, we need to understand the challenges and opportunities that we face now and in the future. We need to prepare for that future by understanding each others’ needs as businesses, government leaders, and individuals. To begin answering this need DMI has contracted with the Responsible Hospitality Institute (RHI), a twenty-year-old nonprofit with extensive experience in facilitation and strategy development in the area of hospitality management. RHI recommends representation from the following four stakeholder groups: community, development, safety, and hospitality in a Hospitality Zone Assessment process leading to specific action steps. The assessment, which focuses on six core areas, will be facilitated by RHI over six months in 2008. The assessment will produce a strong collaborative alliance for our downtown and allow us to develop and achieve consensus goals within six months after the assessment.

Please bookmark this page and return often for updates. You can also visit www.downtownmadison.org to find other programs and events that help make downtown Madison the thriving heart of our region.
Upcoming Events:

• May 8 - HZA Orientation Assembly: An overview for individuals interested in participating in one of four Roundtables to be scheduled

• June 3 to 4 - HZA Roundtables: Held in four groups by perspective - hospitality, safety, development, community.

Thanks

DMI would like to thank the City of Madison, Arnold & O'Sheridan Inc, Hilton Madison Monona Terrace and JH Findorff & Son for support of this project and for their ongoing support of a healthy downtown.