May 16--More visitors spent time and money in La Crosse in 2012, according to figures released by the La Crosse Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The city broke the $200 million mark in visitor spending, a 5.79 percent increase from 2011. The bureau also saw an increase in inquiries for the second straight year, leaping from 18,122 in 2010 to 24,824 in 2012.

That growth was fueled, in part, by a renewed focus on capturing an online audience. The bureau redesigned its website in April 2011 and has seen a major traffic increase.

"You can't keep doing the same thing over and over every year," executive director Dave Clements said. "You always need to be looking to add something new, to try something different."

The figures were announced at the bureau's annual awards luncheon at the Weber Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, where the group also doled out yearly awards.

The Appreciation Award went to Paul Hoch for his work at sports shows and other events. La Crosse Floral was named the Tourism Business of the Year for its donations to tourism events and flowers at the CVB center. The Tourism Partner of the Year was the City of La Crosse Parks Department for its work on Grandad's Bluff.

Laurie Pfaff, the recently retired director of sales at the Courtyard by Marriot La Crosse Hotel, was named Tourism Volunteer of the Year for her 18 years of commitment to the La Crosse Area.

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