IBOT is in the midst of planning the 2008 Illinois Governor's Conference on Tourism, February 13 -15, at the Springfield Hilton (don't miss it!), so now is a good time to look back on the strategies set at last year's conference to see how they have been implemented.
The theme of last year's conference was "The Future is Ours." During my State of the State of Tourism Address, I spotlighted new technologies available to promote Illinois and advance the goals of our industry. The core component of these technologies is citizen-generated media, a medium of communication that allows people to influence products, brands and corporate institutions online through blogs and multimedia posts, among other things.
The Seven Wonders of Illinois campaign was our first foray into this medium. The initiative sparked an incredible level of participation and enthusiasm from the public, the media and the industry, garnering thousands of nominations from every corner of the state. Twelve attractions were chosen for each region.
Continued...40 North / 88 West
With a mission of cultivating creativity in Champaign County, 40 North | 88 West: Champaign County Arts, Culture and Entertainment Council (also known as “40 North”) is dedicated to fueling the growth and well-being of its community by nurturing its arts, culture, and entertainment. 40 North began as a true community effort: local residents saw a need for an umbrella organization to represent and support the arts that thrive in Champaign County.