Illinois Governors Conference on Travel & Tourism

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  1. ILLINOIS OFFICE OF TOURISM HONORS DESTINATIONS WITH EXCELLENCE IN TOURISM AWARDS

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    CHICAGO – The 2018 Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel & Tourism kicked off Monday, February 26, in Chicago with the Illinois Excellence in Tourism Awards ceremony at the Palmer House Hilton. The awards honored Illinois’ passionate travel and tourism marketing teams with the best marketing initiatives of 2017.

    Travel and tourism professionals from around the country judged submissions in eight categories, ranging from best social media marketing to best event or festival, with one exceptional entry receiving best of show. Each category contained a Budget A for organizations with annual operating budgets of $500,000 and above, and Budget B for organizations with budgets under $500,000. Two special recipients also received the Friend of Tourism award from Director of the Illinois Office of Tourism, Cory Jobe, for their contributions to Illinois tourism.

    Here are the 2018 Illinois Excellence in Tourism Award winners:

    The Best of Show award goes to the submission that received the highest overall score from the judge’s panel, going above and beyond to execute a fully comprehensive event, initiative or campaign.

    Travel and tourism drives significant contributions to Illinois’ economy. In 2016, Illinois welcomed 112 million visitors, which generated more than $38 billion in travel expenditures for the state. The success of state tourism each year couldn’t be accomplished without help from hospitality and tourism partners and stakeholders across the state.

    This year’s Illinois Excellence in Tourism program, Jazzed About Tourism, was presented by Travel Channel. The Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel & Tourism is taking place in Chicago, February 26-28, at the Palmer House Hilton. The conference unites state leaders, travel experts and special guests to share the latest innovative ideas for promoting travel.

  2. ILLINOIS GOVERNOR’S CONFERENCE ON TRAVEL & TOURISM FEATURES PROMINENT TOURISM INDUSTRY SPEAKERS

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    CHICAGO – The state’s premier gathering of tourism industry professionals will gather in Chicago, February 26-28 at the Palmer House Hilton. The annual Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel & Tourism unites state leaders, travel experts and special guests to share the latest innovative ideas for promoting travel.

    Travel and tourism is an essential component of Illinois’ economy. Illinois welcomed more than 112 million visitors in 2016, generating nearly $38 billion in spending for the state’s economy.

    “The tourism industry is a vital part of our state’s economy, not only providing revenue from our visitors, but supporting jobs and quality of life benefits for residents across the state,” said Cory Jobe, Director of the Illinois Office of Tourism.

    The Governor’s Conference provides an opportunity for professionals of all kinds – from small family restaurant owners to luxury hotel managers – to learn about the latest trends and best practices contributing to one of the fastest-growing industry sectors in Illinois.

    Cory Jobe will present the annual State of the State Tourism Address on Wednesday, February 28, at 10:30 a.m. He will reflect on the success of Illinois Tourism’s marketing initiatives and partnerships throughout the past year, as well as offer a look ahead to new programs being unveiled in 2018, including special initiatives to celebrate the state’s Bicentennial this year.

    Conference highlights and presentations include:

    • TRAVEL TREND REPORT WITH BRAND USA, Carroll Rheem, Brand USA VP of Research

    Opening keynote session with travel industry expert Carroll Rheem, Brand USA’s VP of Research & Analytics. Rheem will report on the latest tourism industry trends, how to reach international travelers in 2018 and what’s on the horizon for destination marketing.

    Tuesday, Feb. 27, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

    • CRISIS MANAGEMENT & TOURISM SECURITY, Dr. Peter E. Tarlow, Tourism Industry Expert

    Dr. Tarlow is a world-renowned speaker and expert specializing in the impact of crime and terrorism on the tourism industry, event and tourism risk management and tourism/economic development. Tuesday, Feb. 27, 1:15-2:15 p.m.

    • KEEP CALM AND BRING A CARRY ON, Anirban Basu, Economist

    Acclaimed economist Anirban Basu shares insights on how travel and tourism will impact the economy in 2018, including the latest statistics and travel trends. Monday, Feb. 26, 2-3 p.m.

    • ILLINOIS GOVERNOR’S MANSION PRESENTATION, First Lady Diana Rauner

    First Lady Diana Rauner will make her Governor’s Conference debut with a presentation on the Illinois Governor’s Mansion renovation and the effort to raise $15 million to complete the project. The renovation is supported solely through private funds, raised by the Illinois Governor’s Mansion Association, chaired by the Illinois First Lady.

    Tuesday, Feb. 27, 9-9:15 a.m.

    • THE EVOLUTION OF DIGITAL STORYTELLING, Cat Jordan, Travelzoo VP of Communications

    Travelzoo Head of Communications, Cat Jordan, brings her expertise and shares the latest digital tools and best practices to inspire travelers in 2018 – from Facebook Live, to influencers, to the email marketing renaissance. Tuesday, Feb. 27, 4-5 p.m.

    • ILLINOIS EXCELLENCE IN TOURISM AWARDS

    Illinois Excellence in Tourism Awards dinner will honor and celebrate the most innovative tourism marketing initiatives throughout the state, including Best of Show. Monday, Feb. 26, 7-9:30 p.m.

    For a complete conference schedule and full list of speakers at this year’s Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel and Tourism, visit our Schedule page.

  3. New Illinois Tourism Ad Campaign and Website Unveiled at 2017 Governor’s Conference on Travel and Tourism

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    Over 400 travel and marketing experts gathered in Springfield to celebrate past successes in state tourism and collaborate on future marketing opportunities.

    SPRINGFIELD, Il., March 23, 2017 – The state’s premier gathering of tourism industry and marketing professionals took place in Springfield this week at the President Abraham Lincoln – A Doubletree by Hilton Hotel. Each year, thought leaders convene at the annual Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel & Tourism to present the latest trends, technology, products and services that will enhance tourism in Illinois in the year ahead. This year, the state’s new “Up For Amazing” ad campaign and re-vamped website took center stage.

    After seeding the “Up For Amazing” message with a test ad campaign in the fall of 2016, the Illinois Office of Tourism realized how well it resonated with millennial travelers today. Beginning Wednesday, March 22, the four new ads will run on TV and online in multiple domestic markets – including Cleveland, Detroit, Minneapolis and Milwaukee – as well as internationally. Each ad features travelers experiencing iconic Illinois destinations: a road trip along Route 66 and the Great River Road, President Lincoln historic sites in Springfield, views of Galena Main Street, outdoor destinations like Starved Rock State Park and Chicago destinations like Millennium Park, North Avenue Beach and Wrigley Field.

    “According to our research, 78% of millennials today prefer to learn something new when traveling – they value experiences much more than things,” says Cory Jobe, Director of the Illinois Office of Tourism. “Our goal with the new ‘Up For Amazing’ ad campaign is to differentiate from the competition by creating a more engaging, challenging message that acts as a call to action, encouraging visitors to immerse themselves in Illinois’ unique cultures and return with amazing new experiences they will feel compelled to share, both in person and on social media.”

    In addition, the new EnjoyIllinois.com features many of the same Illinois destinations as the ads, with an editorial twist. A combination of videos and stunning photography is used to help change the way people think about travel in Illinois. The site also uses content from the Illinois Made videos that were created last year, showcasing the artisans and craftspeople throughout Illinois – like the Blaum Brothers Distillery in Galena. These videos can be seen at EnjoyIllinois.com/Illinois-Made.

    Travel and tourism drives significant contributions to Illinois’ economy. In 2015, Illinois welcomed more than 111.1 million visitors, which generated more than $37.2 billion in travel expenditures for the state. The success of state tourism each year couldn’t be accomplished without help from hospitality and tourism partners and stakeholders across the state. A special Excellence in Tourism Awards Dinner on Monday, March 20th recognized their efforts. Below is a list of the winners:

    • Best Leisure Collateral Budget A – Visit Galena
    • Best Leisure Collateral Budget B – Great Rivers Country
    • Best Social Media Marketing Budget A – Shedd Aquarium
    • Best Social Media Marketing Budget B – Ottawa Visitors Center
    • Best Cooperative Partnership Budget A – Visit Lake County
    • Best Cooperative Partnership Budget B – Galesburg Area CVB
    • Best Branding Initiative Budget A – Rockford Area CVB
    • Best Branding Initiative Budget B – Promote Woodstock
    • Best Website Budget A – Galena/Jo Daviess County CVB
    • Best Visitors Publication Budget A – Greater St. Charles CVB
    • Best Visitors Publication Budget B – Visit McHenry County
    • Best Event or Festival Budget A – TIE: Visit Galena and Navy Pier
    • Best Event or Festival Budget B – City of Waterloo
    • Best Tourism Marketing Budget A – TIE: Navy Pier and Rockford Area CVB
    • Best Tourism Marketing Budget B – Ottawa Visitors Center
    • Best of Show – Shedd Aquarium
    • Friend of Tourism Award Recipients – Justin Blandford and Roger Carmack

    Other highlights from the conference included the annual “State of the State of Tourism” address, during which Jobe highlighted domestic and international marketing initiatives from the past year, and officially announced the new ad campaign and website as part of a review of planned tourism marketing initiatives for the year ahead.

    To review a complete conference schedule and list of speakers from this year’s conference, visit www.ilgovconference.com.

  4. 2016 Summer Olympics and the Power of Events

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    The United States might be making its regular splash in the 2016 Summer Olympics, but Illinois is leaving a nice footprint in the Rio-sand as well.

    According to the Chicago Tribune, some 50 athletes connected to Illinois are competing in the Olympic games this summer, the majority representing Team USA.

    From Jimmy Butler, the 6-foot-7 Bulls draft pick who scored 7 points in the US Men’s Basketball win against Argentina Wednesday night, to Lauren Doyle, the 2009 Macon Meridian grad competing on the US Women’s Sevens Rugby team, who played in the 19-5 win against France on Aug. 8 – Illinois is making its presence known.

    But what impact can large-scale events have on tourism? Let’s take a look at a few quick facts from recent Olympic games.

    The Olympics & Tourism

    Rio de Janeiro became one of the most visited cities during the recent World Cup with a dizzying 886,000 guests spending roughly EUR 1.5 billion.  Trekk Soft

    On the heels of that World Cup success, Rio expects a minimum 380,000 foreign tourists during the Olympic games. Besides enjoying world-class sporting events, guests are expected to visit and spend at a variety of local stops, from monuments and carnivals to sprawling natural attractions. Tourism Review

    Inspired by the convenient information services available at the 2012 Olympics in London, Rio tourism representatives also planned to improve facilities and services to provide better experiences and more effectively cater to the influx of international visitors.

    Sochi has also been enjoying increased winter traffic after a successful presentation at the 2014 Winter Olympics. Though long regarded as one of Russia’s most popular summer destinations, Winter travel is quickly closing the gap. As many as 182,000 visitors ascended the mountains during a 10-day period over New Years. Olympic.org

    “In the past, we used to have that many tourists only in summer, in August,” explained Sochi Mayor Anatoly Pakhomov.

    Sochi is also primed to become Russia’s most significant conference destination thanks to new facilities and hotel rooms created as a result of the 2014 Olympic games.

    What We Can Learn

    With these quick facts in mind, using your destination to host major events is a great way to increase foot-traffic and positive word-of-mouth surrounding your destination. But what if things don’t go quite so swimmingly? It remains to be seen how bad-publicity from crime and water issues will affect perception of Rio de Janeiro as a destination, but it offers a sobering reminder to tourism professionals. Whether we’re expecting 3 visitors or 3 million, we must constantly strive to provide one-of-a-kind, convenient and wholly positive experiences for our guests.

    If you’re a CVB, hotelier, restaurant or valued attraction, how can the Rio Olympics inspire YOU to provide a better tourism experience for your guests?

  5. 2016 ILLINOIS GOVERNOR’S CONFERENCE AWARDED INDUSTRY INNOVATORS, HIGHLIGHTED ECONOMIC INDICATORS THAT POINT TO CONTINUED GROWTH IN ILLINOIS’ TOURISM INDUSTRY

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    SPRINGFIELD – Illinois travel professionals and national tourism industry leaders gathered in Springfield March 21 through March 23 for the Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel & Tourism. The annual conference brings together state leaders, travel experts and other special guests to showcase innovative ideas for promoting travel.

    Special guests at this year’s conference included Illinois Governor, Bruce Rauner, and Illinois Department of Commerce Director, Jim Schultz. In addition, U.S. Travel Association President & CEO, Roger Dow, and Brand USA President & CEO, Christopher L. Thompson presented updates on the state of the national travel industry. Dow and Thompson announced preliminary 2015 economic indicators that point to continued growth in the state’s tourism industry.

    According to preliminary estimates from the U.S. Travel Association, travel spending in Illinois increased by 2.1% in 2015 to $37.1 billion. This spending directly generated $6.9 billion in tax revenue for the state, an increase of 5.6% over 2014. Most notably, this spending directly supported more than 314,400 Illinois jobs, a 2.7% increase from 2014, and a significantly higher growth rate than Illinois’ total private industry employment, which grew by 1.5%

    The conference kicked off with a special Illinois VolunTourism event. More than 50 participants gathered on Sunday, March 20, to help beautify the Illinois War Memorials at Oak Ridge Cemetery. In addition, Illinois Office of Tourism Director Cory Jobe highlighted domestic and international marketing initiatives from the past year in the annual “State of the State of Tourism” address. During the address Jobe also previewed the state’s upcoming seasonal promotional campaigns and new marketing efforts.

    The conference also honored the creative work of tourism industry professionals with the “Illinois Excellence in Tourism Awards.” Awards were presented in 11 categories, plus the Best in Show and Friend of Tourism awards. Entries were judged by a panel of marketing and tourism professionals on clarity of message, creativity, originality and the project’s overall success. Award winners included:

    Best in Show: Alton Regional Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
    Friend of Tourism Award: Nicky Stratton, Springfield Convention & Visitor’s Bureau

    Best Leisure Collateral:
    Division A: Alton Regional Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
    Division B: Visit Galena

    Best Sales Collateral: Springfield Convention & Visitor’s Bureau

    Best Social Media Marketing:
    Division A: Rockford Area Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
    Division B: Visit Galena

    Best Cooperative Partnership:
    Division A: IllinoiSOUTH
    Division B: Visit Galena

    Best Branding Initiative:
    Division A: Alton Regional Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
    Division B: Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway

    Best Website:
    Division A: Alton Regional Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
    Division B: Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway

    Best Visitors Publication:
    Division A: Rockford Area Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
    Division B: Quincy Area Convention & Visitor’s Bureau

    Best Event:
    Division A: The Magnificent Mile Association
    Division B: Quincy Area Convention & Visitor’s Bureau

    Best Hotel/Lodging Campaign: Visit Galena

    Best Culinary Marketing Campaign: Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau

    Best Marketing Campaign:
    Division A: Adler Planetarium
    Division B: Streator Tourism

    To learn more about Illinois tourism, and to plan your trip, visit www.Enjoyillinois.com.