February 2007
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Statewide News Governor’s Conference just a few days away The 2007 Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism kicks off this Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 1 pm at the Palmer House Hilton. More than 600 leading travel professionals, public officials and destination-marketing experts will convene in Chicago to network with colleagues, learn from renowned industry experts and celebrate the past 20 years of tourism in Illinois with an optimistic look to the future. This year’s conference has a dynamic roster of keynote speakers who will share refreshing and valuable insight into the industry’s future with all in attendance. The speakers include Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Inc. President and CEO Kevin Brown, nationally recognized customer service expert Lisa Ford, Chairman Emeritus of DDB Worldwide Keith Reinhard and brilliant young futurist Andrew Zolli. In addition to the educational components of the conference, attendees from across the state will enjoy private viewings of the Body Worlds 2 and U-505 exhibits at the famed Museum of Science and Industry during the opening night event, The Future is Ours Icebreaker. New this year, the second evening of the conference will give attendees A Night on the Town to enjoy Chicago’s spectacular nightlife and theatrical performances with specially priced tickets for conference participants. The night will be capped off with local music and delectable desserts to enjoy at the Sweet Dreams Late Night Reception at the Palmer House. Throughout the conference a trade show will allow attendees to learn about destinations, new attractions, products and services at their leisure. This year a passport program has been launched to encourage participants to visit each booth – with those who visit the most winning a prize. There will also be a silent auction during the trade show for attendees to bid on more than 330 items such as the “Play in Peoria” package, complete with 20 box seats at any Peoria Chiefs Minor League Baseball game and four passes to multiple local and surrounding attractions; a Spa and Theatre package in Quincy that offers a spa day for two, two tickets to the theatre and a dinner voucher to a Quincy restaurant; an adventurous and exciting Segway Tour of Chicago; and much more. For a complete conference schedule and list of speakers for the 2007 Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism, visit www.iltourismconference.org or www.visitillinois.net, or call 888-658-0749.
On Saturday, Jan. 7, Craig Schone of Chapin, Ill., was welcomed as the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum’s millionth visitor since its April 2005 opening. Reaching this milestone in less than two years is believed to be a record for a Presidential Museum. The Clinton Library in Little Rock, Ark. reached 800,000 visitors in its first two years of operation, and officials with the Clinton Foundation anticipate reaching one million visitors sometime in 2007. Schone received a key to the City of Springfield presented by Mayor Tim Davlin, two tickets to Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich’s Inaugural Swearing-In Ceremony and Inaugural Ball, and a gift basket from the Museum Store compliments of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation. With Lincoln’s birthday approaching on Feb. 12, the ALPLM is also busy preparing for upcoming exhibits, including Tales from the Crypt: A History of the Lincoln Tomb. This display will relive the events and decisions surrounding the creation of the Lincoln Tomb – from the tomb raiders and the plots to steal Lincoln’s body, continuing through the restoration of the site and reburying of Lincoln in 1901. In addition, the exhibit will highlight the caretakers who have protected this historic site through the years. All this and more will be open Feb. 3 through March 25, 2007. In April the Museum will debut Mary Todd Lincoln: First Lady of Controversy, which will immerse visitors in the story of a young Mary Todd in Kentucky, including her troubled courtship and eventual marriage to the young lawyer Abraham Lincoln. Museum-goers will continue on her path as Mary assumes her new role as wife and mother, taking charge of running the household and raising a family. As First Lady, Mary undertakes a major renovation of a neglected White House. Then the tragedy of war, the loss of her son Willie and the assassination of President Lincoln leave emotional scars that never heal. Convinced that his mother is insane, Robert Todd Lincoln has her committed for a brief time in a private sanitarium. Mary’s efforts to be released and her subsequent travels in Europe will all be revealed in this fascinating exhibit, running April 28 through Oct. 28, 2007.
What do a “Dreamgirl,” two hip-hop artists, a sculptor and a photographer have in common? Illinois! My Illinois – the celebrity narrative-driven tourism campaign that’s a component of IBOT’s The Soul of Illinois program – continues to attract notable hometown heroes. The latest slate of participants spans a wide array of talent, from “Dreamgirls” star and Golden Globe winner Jennifer Hudson to rappers Twista and Lupe Fiasco, renowned sculptor Preston Jackson, and photographer Eric Werner. Additionally, some of these noted personalities will represent IBOT during the 2007 Black History Month celebration at Navy Pier Feb. 1, 6, 13 and 20, further leveraging the star power of the program. Other Soul of Illinois program highlights include the Great Bronzeville Giveaway, which has garnered close to 400 entries, more than 2.2 million media impressions and 1.5 million advertising/marketing impressions. In addition, the Publicity Club of Chicago awarded the Soul of Illinois Web site a 2006 Golden Trumpet Award. Overall, 2006 was a star-studded year for IBOT’s African-American marketing efforts.
According to a recent TIA study, almost one in five American leisure travelers have participated in a culinary-related trip in the past three years. In recognition of this trend, IBOT is currently reaching out to media with opportunities for travelers to experience local farms, wineries, culinary travel packages and much more across the state. With spring just months away, many are looking for compelling stories to provoke travelers to take advantage of one-of-a-kind opportunities, such as culinary travel offers. Illinois offers a wide array of experiences spanning all regions of the state, including cooking and winemaking classes in Chicago, indulging in horseshoes in Springfield, following wine trails in the Shawnee Hills, escaping to culinary retreats in the Quad Cities, and more. With this trend on the rise in the United States, Illinois’ wide variety of culinary tourism opportunities position the state to be an industry leader.
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