Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel & Tourism

The Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel & Tourism is the state’s premiere industry event. Professionals from across Illinois and around the country come together to network and learn from travel and tourism’s best and brightest.

ILGOV19 Returns to Chicago

The 2019 Illinois Governor’s Conference will be held at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Illinois, February 4-6, 2019

2019 Announcements

Check out the conference schedule for the latest speakers and events.

Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel & Tourism

The Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel & Tourism is the state’s premier industry event. Professionals from across Illinois and around the country come together to network and learn from travel and tourism’s best and brightest.

2019 SPEAKERS

View our 2018 speakers below and stay tuned for 2019 announcements coming soon!

SVP of Global Diversity Equity & Inclusion for Hyatt Hotels Corporation

President and CEO of Brand USA

Gen Z’er & Chief Marketing Officer of JUV Consulting

Future of Work and Leadership Expert

Director of Business Development, Expedia Group Media Solutions

Co-owner, Firefly Grill

Trade Account Director

Head of Production, OKRP

Writer, The New York Times

Director of Sales and Marketing, Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel

Team Lead, Field Museum

Digital Strategist, Spurrier Group

Director, Customer Success, Americas

Gen Z’er and Chief Marketing Officer of JUV Consulting

Founder and CEO of Seva Global

President at Aubry Research

Founder and President of Tourism Economics

Author, Speaker and Advisor

Owner of World Wide Technology Raceway

Founder and President of Living Lands & Waters

President and CEO of Visit Quad Cities

Head of Strategy, OKRP

Destination Strategist

Director of Operations, Aerie’s Resort

Tourism Expert, Lieb Management

Freelance Journalist

Emmy Award-Winning Co-Host of Windy City Weekend on ABC 7

SVP, Longwoods International

President & Ceo, Visit Quad Cities

Freelance Journalist

CEO of TimeZoneOne

COO, and incoming President & COO of MMGY Global

Founder/Executive Director of Open Doors Organization

Product Marketing Manager, CrowdRiff

Founder & CEO, The Gauge Collective

General Manager, USA, and Chief Storyteller for TimeZoneOne

Business Development Manager – Sports Division, Northstar Meetings Group

Content Creator, Social Media Strategist

Assistant Professor & Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Chief of Staff at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Executive Director, Chicago Sports Commission

Director, Travel and Tourism, Epsilon

Marketing Manager at Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center

Co-Founder of Whiskey Acres Distilling Company

SVP Global Trade Development, TimeZoneOne

Veteran Travel Journalist and Destination Marketing Consultant

Editorial Content Manager, Meredith Corporation’s Travel Marketing Content Studio

President & CEO, Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Creative Director, O’Keefe, Reinhard & Paul

Editor in Chief and Content Director, Meredith Corporation

Client Management Director at OKRP

Director of Business Development, NA
Expedia

Instagram Influencer @ChicagoMatt

VP of Insights at Arrivalist

Director of Civic Relations and Partnerships, Art Institute of Chicago

Founding Partner & Chief Commercial Officer of Tangled Roots Brewing Company

Co-owner and Editor-in-Chief of TravelingMom.com

Director of the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau

President & CEO, Visit Champaign County

Director of Sports & Business Growth at Visit Quad Cities

Associate Professor of Marketing, Quinlan School of Business – Loyola University Chicago

Manager of the Local Tourism and Convention Bureau program, Illinois Office of Tourism

Founder and CEO of Better Destinations LLC

Blogger and Influencer

Vice President of Operations for Posh Hospitality Group

Vice President, Research & Analytics at Brand USA

Head of Publishing at Travelzoo

Television Explorer and Host of the Travel Channel’s Mysteries at the Museum

Chairman and CEO of Sage Policy Group

Founder and President of Tourism & More

VP of Customer Success at CrowdRiff

Travel & Food Writer and Photographer, Emmy®-Award Winning TV Producer and Founder of LLmedia

Brand Expert, Entrepreneur and founder of Johnny Cupcakes, World’s First T-Shirt Bakery

Former sitting professor at Harvard & MiT’s edX labs, international best selling author, Pulitzer Prize nominee, and former Head of Marketing at Travelzoo

Destination Expert

Brand Development Manager at TikTok

Founder of CMC Enterprises, LLC

Social Media Manager, TimeZoneOne

 

Other News...

Tourism Leaders Gather in Chicago for 2021 Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel & Tourism READ MORE
ILLINOIS OFFICE OF TOURISM HONORS DESTINATIONS WITH EXCELLENCE IN TOURISM AWARDS READ MORE
ILLINOIS GOVERNOR’S CONFERENCE ON TRAVEL & TOURISM FEATURES PROMINENT TOURISM INDUSTRY SPEAKERS READ MORE
New Illinois Tourism Ad Campaign and Website Unveiled at 2017 Governor’s Conference on Travel and Tourism READ MORE
Illinois Office of Tourism’s ‘Find Something More’ campaign wins U.S. Travel Association’s Mercury Award READ MORE

2022 Presenting Sponsors

2022 Cardinal Sponsors

2022 Monarch Sponsors

2022 White Oak Sponsors

2022 Violet Sponsors

2022 Conference Supporters

2022 Trade Show Exhibitors