Currently, our state has the honor of hosting the American Bus Association (ABA) 2005 Marketplace. Under way since February 4, McCormick Place's Lakeside Center is packed with the largest gathering of travel professionals in our industry.

The ABA is a vital tourism organization in that they represent much of the group tours and motorcoach industry. They promote group travel to the general public and lobby for their interests in Washington D.C. Their members include approximately 950 motorcoach and tour companies throughout North America. Additionally, the ABA partners with more than 2,000 organizations that service and supply the vehicles. All together, they are responsible for moving more people than any other commercial entity in the U.S. They serve six times more destinations than airlines and seven times more than passenger rail.

Chicago can expect great benefits for hosting this important convention as host cities regularly see a significant increase in the group tour business in the five years following the event. Moreover, $2.5 million in additional spending is expected as tour group members tend to spend more than individual travelers and, on average, stay longer at accommodations. This is a prime opportunity to showcase to our fellow tourism industry members the many exciting travel opportunities visitors to Illinois can expect. With our diverse products, the positive word-of-mouth will be a great benefit in bringing large numbers of new travelers to the Land of Lincoln.

Many delegates will choose to take advantage of the sightseeing tours and familiarization — or "fam" tours — that will be made available. The sightseeing tours will take place during the conference and will showcase the Chicago area through architecture, museum and neighborhood visits.

Beyond the Chicago area, Illinois will be prominently featured through fam trips scheduled around the dates of the conference. Delegates can choose from “The Mississippi River Experience” in Galena and the Quad Cities; “Steeples Tower, Eagles Soar and the Journey Begins” in Southwestern Illinois; “Chicago’s Front Yard” in Lisle and Oak Park; “Gardens Galore, Horses and More” in Greater Woodfield and Lake County; “Antiques, Archeology & Applause” in the Rock River Valley; and “The Past Meets the Present” in Springfield. These trips will cover most areas of the state and provide a fine showcase of our wealth of statewide sites and attractions.

The Marketplace itself is an opportunity for motorcoach professionals from across the country to network, listen to speakers and attend educational seminars. Delegates will have the opportunity to schedule seven-minute sales pitch appointments with buyers to maximize networking potential. The ABA’s Marketplace Education Subcommittee has scheduled almost 50 hours of professional development seminars, including programs relating to personal development, business management, operations and marketing.

Local industry partners have also been getting involved. We anticipate that 300 volunteers will be on hand to meet and greet delegates at airports, hotels and on-site at the conference.

There are many people to applaud and thank for their hard work and initiative in hosting ABA. Joleen Domaracki (CCTB), Carey Randall (Sears Tower Skydeck), Janie Lawson (Heritage Corridor CVB), Michael Simons (Skyline Chicago), Heather Baria (Adler Planetarium), Mary Twomey (Essex Inn), Fran Ferrone (American Sightseeing Chicago), Jennifer Gregory (Royal American Charter Lines), LouAnn Hayes (Skyline Chicago) and IBOT’s Kelsey Holt are some of the many leaders we can thank for their tremendous effort.

We are happy to welcome ABA delegates and all those involved with the conference to Illinois and wish them all the best for a great event.