Downtown BID to host employee appreciation week

The Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21 will host the Fifth Annual Downtown Employee Appreciation Week Monday July 26 through Friday, July 30. The BID will host special events throughout Milwaukee, and will also present lunchtime giveaways and exclusive discounts to downtown employees.
“We really view it as a way to say thank you to the people who support our downtown businesses, restaurants and retail stores,” said. Beth Nicols, executive director of Milwaukee Downtown. “Through the help and support of great sponsors, we’ve been able to grow this event every year since we started.”
As part of the celebration, Mayor Tom Barrett will kick of the week with a ceremony in Milwaukee’s Red Arrow Park, featuring live music, games and a 1,000 item giveaway, Nicols said.
Throughout the week, volleyball, fitness classes, office challenges and the familiar ‘Office Rock Star’ event will take place as well, she said.
“We have some new events this year as well,” she said. “We’re partnering with SPiN Milwaukee to offer ping pong tournaments, and Laacke & Joys will conduct a Scavenger Hunt in Red Arrow Park as well.”
According to Nicols, giveaways and discounts at downtown businesses and restaurants will be offered to downtown employees all week, The Milwaukee Brewers are offering discounted ticket prices for downtown employees for the game against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, July 27. Individuals are encouraged to sport a paper clip to identify himself or herself as a downtown employee.
According to Nicols, the city of Denver hosted a downtown appreciation week for the first time last year, and St. Louis and Madison have also hosted events.
“It’s great knowing that it all started right here in Milwaukee,” she said.
Nicols is on the board of the International Downtown Association, and Milwaukee’s Downtown BID has won a national award for its downtown employee appreciation week event.
“We always say it’s the most fun you’ll have at work all year,” Nicols said. “But as much fun as it is, there’s also a purpose for it. It’s our way of saying thank you, but it’s also our way of getting employees out of their office towers to enjoy some of these great events.”
Downtown Employee appreciation week respects the traditional work week office hours, Nicols said. The majority of events are held either before work, during lunch and after work hours.
Details on the events taking place during Downtown Employee Appreciation Week can be found at www.milwaukeedowntown.com/iworkdowntown