I hope that all of you had a joyous holiday season and that you are eager to welcome 2006. One area we’re all excited about this year is our niche marketing program, which is gearing up for a number of projects to ensure a bright future for these vital industry efforts.

First up is Group Tour and Travel, which will spotlight the growing student and youth market. According to the Student Youth Travel Association, Chicago is the third most popular student/youth destination in the country, while Illinois ranks seventh among all states. Beginning this month, we are developing a brochure and Web microsite targeting this important market.

IBOT will continue providing a number of group travel sponsorships this year, including the American Bus Association, Bank Travel and the Heartland Travel Showcase. Also, keep an eye out for the annual group tour press release with its new theme, “What’s New in Group Tour and Travel.” The release will focus on keeping our newest group tour products in the minds of tour operators.

Sports Illinois is busy working on a direct mail piece for 2,500 of the state’s key sports customers, designed to encourage them to choose Illinois for their next sports destination event. Two sponsorships will be promoted: one through the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association and one through the National Association of Sports Commission.

In addition, Meeting and Conventions will execute sponsorships with the Religious Conference Management Association and the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International.

Finally, IBOT will offer a Spa Packages Sweepstakes to give meetings and conventions promoters an incentive to select Illinois as their event location. Online postcard offers will be sent to 40,000 meeting executives this March to request their participation. Spa packages will also be featured on the Meet in Illinois homepage in March and April, so if there are any spas in your area that might be appropriate for this promotion, please let us know.

A wealth of gratitude goes to IBOT's Kelsey Holt-Austin, who has worked so hard to coordinate all of these projects. Congratulations to both Kelsey and her husband—they expect their first child this month!

Happy New Year!