MADISON, Wis. – The UGM Conference, hosted by Epic Systems, kicked off on Monday at the company’s Verona campus, attracting over 7,000 attendees to the Madison and Verona area.
This conference serves as a gathering for partners of the health IT organization, providing a platform for Epic organizations from around the globe to showcase innovations and engage in discussions regarding common challenges through peer-to-peer sessions and focus groups.
To ensure the event runs smoothly, Epic has partnered with local organizations such as Destination Madison and Dane County Airport. Destination Madison played a key role in organizing thousands of hotel accommodations for guests, while the airport collaborated with Epic to arrange flights and transportation, ensuring operations for regular passengers remained unaffected this week.
The influx of visitors during the conference is expected to significantly benefit the local economy. “These are attendees who are here visiting our restaurants, retail shops, and staying in our hotels; it’s a huge boost for those business owners and our community overall,” said Rob Gard, Director of Communications for Destination Madison. Gard anticipates that visitor spending could reach approximately $8.2 million this week due to the Epic crowds.
Additionally, Verona is gaining increased visibility as it hosts the Epic campus. The local chamber of commerce has ensured that businesses are prepared for the surge in visitors. “They love it when different organizations come in and visit Epic throughout the year, especially during UGM and XGM, which are significant opportunities for them to showcase their businesses,” said Le Jordan, Executive Director of the Verona area chamber of commerce.
Expect elevated traffic around the Epic campus and Dane County Airport throughout the week as visitors explore the area and make their way back home.
The conference will continue all week.