I’m very pleased to report that the 2006 Illinois Road Show was a tremendous success. You’ll read about the places we visited and the people we met elsewhere in this newsletter, but for now I’d like to focus on the great news that we were able to share with media outlets throughout Illinois. Our theme was “The Power of One” and it focused on our collective strength and on the importance of speaking in one voice, of having one leader, and of the Bureau as one resource to rally our cause.

I highlighted our many accomplishments over the last year as well as our goals and plans for next year. JWT’s Erin Clark discussed how our advertising campaign focuses on our unique tourism offerings and reaches our target markets. We were proud to tout programs like the Offbeat Illinois poster campaign, Illinois Wine Month, the Illinois Great Rivers Ride and “Wild Chicago’s Illinois Road Trip.”

IBOT’s Jan Kemmerling also shared the extraordinary economic impact of Illinois travel and tourism. 2005 turned out to be another record-breaking year, with travel expenditures reaching $26.2 billion—an increase of $1.7 billion—and economic impact numbers climbing 6.8 percent. Domestic travel expenditures were up by 6.5 percent and international travel expenditures were up by 11.5 percent. This is also the second year of growth in travel-generated jobs in Illinois, with 430 new jobs created in 2005. An additional $74.23 million in state and local taxes was generated by traveler spending in 2005 over 2004, as well. Fiscal year ‘06 hotel/motel tax receipts are currently up 11.4 percent, and we are on track to top fiscal year 2001’s record-high level of tax receipts. Continued >

Industry Insider: Illinois State Representative Kenneth Dunkin

To help you get to know who’s who in Illinois tourism, ITN profiles an industry leader each month. This month, we introduce Illinois State Representative Kenneth Dunkin (D-Chicago).

A longtime advocate for Illinois residents, Rep. Kenneth Dunkin was appointed to the Illinois House in 2003. Before becoming Illinois’ 5th district state representative, Dunkin was the director of the Robert Taylor Boys and Girls Club. Dunkin was also a community liaison for his mentor, Secretary of State Jesse White, and served as a consultant for the City of Chicago Department of Health and Department on Aging. In addition, he interned with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Care Financing Administration and with United States Senator Paul Simon in Washington, D.C.

In 2004 Dunkin was selected by the international exchange organization American Council of Young Political Leaders as a delegate to South Africa for a ten-day political study program. Dunkin joined five other young leaders from across the U.S. to study South Africa’s political system, engage in dialogue on bilateral issues and forge professional relationships.

Dunkin is currently chairman of the House Tourism and Conventions Committee, vice chairman of the Child Support Enforcement Committee, and sits on the Appropriations-Public Safety, Financial Institutions, Insurance, Mass Transit and Telecommunications committees.
 
As chairman of the House Committee on Tourism and Conventions, Dunkin is actively involved in promoting tourism in Illinois. “Increased tourism brings jobs and economic development to our communities, making it an investment in our quality of life," says Dunkin. This year he extended the successful Film Production Services Tax Credit, a move that was instrumental in reviving Illinois’ film industry. The credit gives tax breaks to production companies that film in Illinois and hire local workers, with special incentives if minorities are hired or filming is done in blighted areas. Continued >