To help you get to know who’s who in Illinois tourism, ITN profiles an industry leader each month. This month, we introduce Lisa Rose, CEO of Robert A. Rose & Associates LLC.

Lisa Rose began her career in Illinois tourism 17 years ago. A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a bachelor’s degree in foods in business, Lisa previously worked as a restaurant manager for Marshall Field’s and as a seafood broker before deciding to join the family business to embark on an advertising sales career.

Lisa joined Robert A. Rose & Associates in 1989, working with her father, Bob, to learn about advertising and tourism. Rose & Associates is a publishers’ representative firm with a specialty in travel and tourism advertising. Today the company is owned and managed by Lisa and her sister, Susan Rose.

The firm is dedicated to providing publishing clients with superior sales representation and service as well as consulting services that drive business growth and success. Its sales expertise crosses both the consumer and trade magazine arenas, and Lisa and her team offer deep travel industry knowledge in the leisure, meeting and group markets.

Current Rose & Associates publishing clients include AAA Magazines (AAA Living, Home & Away, The Midwest Traveler, Southern Traveler, Car & Travel, GO, AAA Touch, Journeys), Illinois Meetings & Events, Serendipity Publishing (Packaged Travel Insider, SYTA’s Student & Youth Traveler), TPG Sports (Chicago District Golfer), Privilege and Baxter (Canadian Travel Press and Travel Courier).

Since 1998, Lisa and her company have partnered with IBOT to sell advertising in its travel guides and publications. The revenues generated by this partnership have offset the production costs of publications such as the Illinois Travel Guide and Illinois NOW! Lisa and her team have consistently grown the sales of these guides, which are so valuable to tourists and to future visitors to Illinois.

Lisa is an active member of the Illinois tourism industry and has volunteered at both TIA’s International Pow Wow and American Bus Association conventions assisting Chicago visitors. She looks forward to attending her 17th Governor’s Conference on Tourism in February.

A Chicago resident, Lisa’s hobbies include cooking, golf and volleyball, as well as spending time with her nieces and nephews. Lisa is also an avid traveler and enjoys visiting Illinois sites such as Fort de Chartes State Historic Site in Prairie Du Rocher and the Shawnee National Forest, as well as driving along the scenic Great River Road. In addition, Lisa enjoys visiting international destinations such as the Isle of Capri in Italy and Ireland’s Dingle Peninsula.