One of our primary goals at IBOT is to reach out to new and growing markets and get our message out to as many people as possible to stimulate travel to and within the state, which results in economic and quality-of-life benefits for Illinois residents. One such market that the travel industry is focusing on more heavily is the gay and lesbian community. Last year alone, this community spent more than $54 billion exclusively on travel, proving to be one of the most viable and resilient travel markets in the nation. According to the 2003 Gay and Lesbian census, gay couples in the U.S. earn a median household income of $65,000 and more than one-fifth of those couples earn $100,000 or more.

To tap into this high-value travel segment, Illinois will host its first media familiarization trip focusing on the gay and lesbian market. The three-day trip is scheduled August 5-7 and will showcase the Chicago area as one of the most gay-friendly destinations in the U.S. Journalists in attendance will be representing gay-oriented lifestyle media outlets such as Out Traveler magazine, London's Gay Times Travel, Westhollywood.com, Planetout.com and Instinct magazine.

The itinerary includes Chicago's thriving gay and lesbian neighborhoods to shine a spotlight on the attractions that have made Chicagoland such an attractive destination worldwide. Journalists will have a chance to see Chicago's Millennium Park and Museum of Contemporary Art, as well as the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park. They will also have an opportunity to attend a performance at the renowned Steppenwolf Theatre and enjoy a one-of-a-kind view of the city on a Chicago Architectural Foundation boat tour.

Also, coinciding with the fam trip and on the agenda is the Northalsted Market Days. This annual two-day festival is the largest of its kind in the Midwest and showcases the Lakeview neighborhood, a traditional gay destination. The festival features 40 acts on three music stages, as well as crafts, food and merchandise tents. Northalsted Market Days is all about summer fun and we're pleased to be able to show it off.

As successful as we expect this fam trip to be, it's also the opening act to a much more prominent event, the Gay Games VII Sports and Cultural Festival (June 15-22, 2006). Chicago has been selected for the honor of hosting next year's games and we expect both the publicity and economic impact to be substantial. The Gay Games includes athletic competition in 30 sports, as well as a week-long arts festival. Approximately 12,000 participants from more than 70 counties will converge on the state. It's a great opportunity for Chicago and Illinois.

In fact, the expanding gay and lesbian market represents opportunity for all of us. It's an affluent market and it travels. Both this year's fam trip and next year's Gay Games will demonstrate that we are serious about attracting this emerging market to Illinois.

Sincerely,