Historic motorcycle convention to hit Huntsville in September 2015
From left, CVB President Judy Ryals, Madison Mayor Troy Trulock and Huntsville City Administrator John Hamilton. All three were on hand for the GWRRA Wing Ding 37 announcement in Huntsville. RECORD PHOTO/NICK SELLERS
By Nick Sellers | Staff Reporter
HUNTSVILLE – For the first time since 1998, the Gold Wing Road Riders Association will bed down in nearby Huntsville for its prestigious annual conference in 2015.
The conference, formally known as Wing Ding 37 (for the 37 years of the organization’s existence), will take place Sep. 3 –5, 2015 and is expected to bring around 10,000 cyclists to the area. In addition to the influx of tourists and visitors, the event will have an economic impact of at least $3 million according to the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Madison Mayor Troy Trulock was on hand for the announcement at the Huntsville/Madison County Convention Bureau building in downtown Huntsville on July 2.
“We support any way we can, with information, supporting the win as well as supporting the conference once they come in with hotels, restaurants, that kind of thing because we want the tourists that are going to be running around to visit both Madison city, Huntsville city and the county,” Trulock said.
There are several chapters of the GWRRA in Madison County, including ones in Athens and Huntsville. Several Madison residents are members of those local chapters.
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle was in Madison, Wis., which is the site of this year’s conference, for the announcement.
“We are extremely excited to welcome the Gold Wing Road Riders back to Huntsville and for the opportunity to showcase our Southern hospitality,” Battle said in a press release.
The same press release highlighted the travel industry’s $997 million economic impact felt by Madison County in 2013.
Some of the events that will be held in conjunction with the conference are rider safety training programs, a charity benefit and demo rides, among others.
