This is it! It’s time for “The Main Event” and the game can’t begin without you. Of course, I’m talking about the 2006 Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism. Themed “The Main Event: Winning the Tourism Game,” the conference will be held Feb. 22-24 at the Hilton Springfield.

Sports are a great analogy for what we do in the tourism industry. Both put a strong emphasis on teamwork, planning, skill and winning. The Governor’s Conference is a wonderful opportunity to enhance our teamwork in one big huddle. It’s a rare chance to bring all of our industry partners together for a fun and productive event. At the conference, we’ll review last year’s game and work together on this year’s playbook.

With Springfield as our host, you can experience firsthand a special attraction that made last year such a winning season. Don’t miss the opening night icebreaker reception, our industry “pep rally,” which will be held at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. Since its historic opening last year, the museum has been a phenomenal success and is sure to be an inspiring location to kick off the conference.

The conference itself will feature a wide variety of dynamic speakers, including keynotes from NTA President Hank Phillips, futurist Watts Wacker, training and leadership expert Doug Lipp, and former Chicago Bear and current NFL analyst Tom Waddle. There will also be a multitude of valuable breakout sessions covering topics from heritage tourism to sports marketing. These sessions will feature some of the top professionals in their fields, including renowned historian Richard Norton Smith and Internet and technology guru Omar Wasow.

DCEO Director Jack Lavin and I will formally open the conference and present the State of the State of Tourism Address on Feb. 23. I encourage you to join us as we take a look back at the past year and announce a variety of new (and improved!) initiatives to keep Illinois tourism going strong in the next year and beyond.

We’ll end on a high note at the 2006 Governor’s Awards, an all-star luncheon that honors the MVPs who have made significant contributions to the industry in the past year.

The Illinois Bureau of Tourism and Visit Illinois are proud to be partnering again on the Illinois Governor’s Conference, and have spent considerable time planning it with you and your needs in mind. With your participation, it will continue to be among the nation’s top conferences and a great source of information and inspiration for Illinois tourism. We hope to see you in Springfield for “The Main Event!”