Statewide News

IBOT celebrates the success of 2005 Illinois Road Show

IBOT representatives, along with agency representatives from JWT, Edelman, Beaman Inc. and The San Jose Group, traveled the state June 13-16 for the 2005 Illinois Road Show - a 1,000-mile statewide media tour that provided an opportunity for the bureau to update industry partners on the latest Illinois tourism news. The Road Show traveled to six markets--including Gurnee, Rockford, the Quad Cities, Springfield, Alton and Carbondale--to share the 2004 Illinois visitor numbers, the state's upcoming advertising plans, diversity marketing outreach efforts, new attractions and upcoming initiatives.

IBOT, with assistance from the host CVBs, coordinated a presentation in each of the markets at local attractions: Six Flags Great America and Hurricane Harbor in Gurnee, the Burpee Museum of Natural History in Rockford, the Quad City Botanical Center in the Quad Cities, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield, the National Great Rivers Museum in Alton and the African American Museum of Southern Illinois in Carbondale. The presentations gathered industry representatives from CVBs, hotels, attractions and restaurants, and garnered media attendance from a total of 26 television, radio and print outlets.

Road Show participants were treated to warm hospitality throughout the state. The group also toured a number of other attractions in each city providing them with a more comprehensive knowledge of some of the state's tourism offerings. IBOT extends thanks to all those who attended the 2005 Illinois Road Show.

Cycle the state during the Illinois Great Rivers Ride

More than 150 cyclists from 23 states across the country have already registered for the first Illinois Great Rivers Ride. The 385-mile bike ride begins on September 11 and continues for a week, through September 18. Each leg of the trip will average about 55 miles along a relatively easy, hard-surface route. Participants will enjoy the scenic beauty of Illinois as they ride along the Rock, Mississippi and Illinois rivers.

Up to 300 bicyclists will begin this rewarding adventure in Rockford and end at Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton where an exciting Jimmy Buffet-themed party with fireworks will await them. Along the way, riders will stop in Rock Falls, Rock Island, Big River Forest Preserve, Nauvoo, Quincy and Nebo. Cyclists can participate in a variety of activities during the ride, including dinner and entertainment in Rock Island's downtown arts and entertainment area; music under the moonlight at Henderson County's Big River Forest Preserve; a tour of Baxter's Vineyards, the oldest vineyard in Illinois; and an evening at the Black Water Night Club in Quincy.

The cost to participate is $300 and riders will have the option to camp along the way, which is included in the registration fee, or stay at specially discounted sponsor hotels. Since the ride is limited to the first 300 cyclists, be sure to sign up soon to claim a spot! Registration will be open through August 15 and riders can register by calling 877-GRR-7007 or online at www.illinoisgreatriversride.com.

Lincoln's Illinois Heritage

Perfectly timed with the recent opening of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield is the announcement from IBOT about the bureau's newest publication, Lincoln's Illinois Heritage. The bureau collaborated with well-respected American Heritage magazine on this extraordinary 16-page booklet that was polybagged with the June issue of roughly 62,000 subscriptions in the Midwest. Overruns of the Lincoln piece were printed and will continue to be used for general fulfillment. Copies will also be made available at appropriate historic and tourism sites throughout the state.

In addition to the extensive "Following In His Footsteps Today" article written by renowned Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer, highlights include a question and answer segment with Richard Norton Smith, executive director of the ALPLM. Also, follow Lincoln's life with the time line that runs on the bottom of each page. Special mention was also given to Ulysses S. Grant and Ronald Reagan, both of whom also called Illinois home.

Lincoln's Illinois Heritage is available free of charge on www.enjoyillinois.com or by calling 800-2CONNECT. Be sure to order a copy today to discover one of America's most-admired presidents.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum welcomes 100,000th visitor

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield has received extraordinary acclaim since its April 19 dedication. It recently reached another very important milestone by welcoming its 100,000th visitor. The museum's exciting news was announced to industry representatives and the media on June 14 during the 2005 Illinois Road Show.

The 100,000th visitor, Cindy Loeffelholtz of Springfield, was bringing a group of family and friends from Florida to the museum for their first experience at the world's largest presidential library and museum complex. Ms. Loeffelholtz was greeted by museum officials upon her arrival and was presented with a gift bag from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation.

The milestone signifies the complex's ongoing success, which after welcoming 100,000 visitors in less than two months will greet thousands more during the summer vacation season. Visitors to the museum can enjoy the exhibits exploring the life and times of Abraham Lincoln, as well as special events, educational programs, speaker series, guest lectures and temporary exhibits, such as "Blood on the Moon" on view now through October 16.

For more information on the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, visit www.alplm.org or call 217-558-8844.

"Jane" takes a bite out of the media

From the moment a team from Rockford's Burpee Museum of Natural History returned from Hell Creek, Montana, after prospecting dinosaur bones, Rockford and its place on the scientific map were forever changed. That was 2001 and visitors and media alike have been waiting since then to catch a glimpse of the Burpee's discovery: a 66-million-year-old juvenile T-rex named Jane. Jane, the fossilized skeleton of what has been a mysterious and controversial dinosaur, was unveiled June 29 to much fanfare.

The exhibit, Jane: Diary of a Dinosaur, tells the dinosaur's story using a variety of exhibit experiences, including computer-generated animations and hands-on activities. The centerpiece of the exhibit is Jane's skeleton mounted in a dynamic and life-like pose. The media response to the unveiling was overwhelmingly positive, resulting in many local and regional articles, including the front page of the Chicago Tribune. Chicago radio segments, national broadcasts and nearly 100 local TV interviews aired in markets across the country reaching an audience of more than 7.5 million to date.

Jane: Diary of a Dinosaur will draw visitors to Rockford from all over the U.S. and international markets because of its undeniable significance. In fact, author of "The Dinosaur Heresies" and "Raptor Red" Dr. Robert Bakker, called Jane "one of the ten most important dinosaur discoveries in the past 100 years." Many accomplished paleontologists were on hand June 29 to study Jane and discuss what she can teach audiences today.

Scientists, history buffs and kids of all ages can enjoy the educational and family-friendly exhibit for themselves at the Burpee Museum. For more information, go to www.visitjane.com.

The blues heard around the world

Chicago's reputation as an international destination continues to reach far and wide, as IBOT hosted a fam trip in June centered on a blues and music theme. The media group included seven German and three British journalists from outlets such as Mojo magazine, The London Times, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Nuernberger Nachrichten, Bayrischer Rundfunk, Abendzeitung Muenchen, Salzburger Nachrichten, 95.5 Charivari and ACE Lenkrad. The centerpiece of their trip was to experience the thrill and energy of Chicago's Blues Fest (June 9-12). In addition, many journalists visited the city's famous blues clubs, including Buddy Guy's Legends and Blue Chicago.

To complete the Chicago experience for the journalists, an architectural boat tour, Millennium Park Greeter tour, and historic Marshall Field's tour were included in the itinerary. To further establish Chicago's position as a world-class arts center, the German journalists enjoyed a performance by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Coverage has already appeared in multiple publications and more positive articles are expected.