Statewide News

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum celebrates first anniversary

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum will commemorate its first anniversary on Wednesday, April 19 with a day of special announcements, live entertainment and anniversary cake for all visitors. The museum will celebrate an extraordinarily successful year during which it welcomed nearly 550,000 visitors to explore the life and times of Abraham Lincoln.

ALPM interim director Tom Schwartz will kick off festivities on April 19 with a brief news event at the museum where he will announce the “Traveling Trunk” education program. The “Traveling Trunk” will provide elementary school educators with a curriculum guide and related materials exploring Lincoln’s accomplishments and the effect of his thoughts, ideals and actions in a way that will enlighten and inspire.

During the press event, Schwartz will also announce the members of the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission designated by Gov. Blagojevich, who will oversee the planning of the bicentennial celebration of Lincoln's birth in 2009. To celebrate this auspicious occasion, the museum is planning special events around the sites of the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates, including a special Mayor's luncheon, and is exploring tie-ins with other well-known national events related to the Lincoln era.

Bureau launches spring/summer advertising campaign

On April 24, IBOT and advertising partner JWT will launch its spring/summer ad campaign. Continuing the “Illinois. Mile After Magnificent Mile.” theme, television, print and online advertising will feature some of the state’s most fascinating attractions and events. The campaign will appear in Chicago, St. Louis, Champaign/Springfield/Decatur, Indianapolis, Peoria/Bloomington, Quad Cities, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, Green Bay and Detroit.

IBOT will continue its broadcast efforts with the distinctive black-and-white TV spots that consumers have come to recognize. Several versions will allow IBOT to aggressively drive “heads in beds” through incentives such as a free Shell gas card when booking an Illinois getaway.

Magazine advertising will also continue to feature striking black-and-white photography. Nine ads will highlight destinations and attractions that include Millennium Park’s Pritzker Pavilion and Cloud Gate sculpture, The Magnificent Mile, Shedd Aquarium, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Starved Rock State Park, Shawnee National Forest’s Garden of the Gods, and golf courses throughout Illinois. A variety of publications, including Midwest Living, Good Housekeeping, and O The Oprah Winfrey Magazine, will feature the ads.

A series of newspaper banner advertisements will also debut this spring. The six ads will promote the King Tut exhibit at The Field Museum, the Illinois State Fair, Tall Ships Chicago, the Mrs. President: From Martha to Laura exhibit at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, Illinois wineries and 3-Day Getaways.

The next installment of the hugely successful “Offbeat Illinois” poster campaign will come in two waves. Wave one begins May 1 and will feature the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville, the Dick Tracy Museum in Woodstock and Cave-In-Rock State Park. Wave two will follow in June.

All of the Bureau’s advertising efforts will drive consumers to www.enjoyillinois.com where travelers can explore 20 new seasonal 3-Day Getaways. Both industry members and consumers are sure to see Illinois messaging at every turn this spring and summer.

Illinois spreads sweetness to the world

Chicago and Illinois sported a newly designed booth at the 2006 International Tourism Bourse (ITB) in Berlin March 8-12. Representatives from Illinois convened in Germany for the world’s largest tourism fair, which is attended by thousands of tour operators and top-level travel media. The Illinois booth was busier than ever thanks to specially planned events that set Illinois apart from the thousands of other exhibitors. Along with United Airlines, IBOT hosted a media breakfast that highlighted Illinois’ top attractions and events for 45 members of the German news media. The breakfast was an effective introduction to the state’s upcoming events and museum exhibits, as well as new products and tours in Illinois.

IBOT also hosted a “Sweet Home Chicago” reception, serving guests deliciously memorable chocolate treats. The lure of candy proved irresistible for roughly 80 trade-industry attendees, allowing Illinois representatives to spread the word about Illinois’ many tourism offerings.

Many Illinois tourism partners were invaluable in promoting the Land of Lincoln in Berlin. In attendance were representatives from the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau, Chicago's Essex Inn, the Rockford CVB, The Field Museum, the Quad Cities CVB and the Springfield CVB.

Admitting more than 160,000 people, ITB 2006 broke attendance records and allowed Illinois tourism partners to reach potential travelers throughout Germany and the world.