The Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism invites tourism professionals to “Make News” in 2008
The 21st Annual Illinois Governor's Conference on Tourism, themed "Making News," will take place Feb. 13-15, 2008, at the Hilton Springfield. Hosted by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Bureau of Tourism (DCEO/IBOT) and the Illinois Tourism Alliance, the conference is considered the industry’s premier educational and networking event. New this year, the conference will feature four educational session tracks that will help Illinois professionals like you make the most of your conference experience. The tracks include marketing and media, sales, niche and specialty marketing, and technology. Complete conference information is available at www.iltourismconference.com.
Leading industry experts speaking at the conference include marketing expert Marti Barletta, founder and president of The TrendSight Group; travel trend expert Peter Yesawich; the technology marketing leaders Couple of Chicks; and motivational expert Sam Glenn. Also new this year is a half-day workshop about heritage tourism and development led by John Cosgrove, executive director of the Alliance of National Heritage Areas. Through four educational tracks, newsworthy keynote sessions, the heritage tourism workshop, and targeted breakout sessions, industry professionals will have the opportunity to customize their conference experience and choose sessions and seminars relative to their business needs.
DCEO Director Jack Lavin and State Travel Director Jan Kostner will present the annual State of the State of Tourism Address on Feb. 14. Lavin and Kostner will provide an overview of Illinois’ past successful tourism initiatives and discuss new programs coming in 2008.
The conference also offers attendees ample opportunities to network with industry insiders and colleagues. On Feb. 13, the Illinois State Museum will host the Making News Icebreaker, where attendees can explore the museum’s exhibits while catching up with old friends. On Feb. 14, attendees can enjoy a sampling of Illinois wines and network with the Illinois Tourism Marketplace exhibitors during A Taste of Illinois Networking Reception. That evening, the conference will reprise the popular A Night on the Town option for attendees to enjoy a selection of dining and entertainment options available by advance registration. To end the night, conference guests can indulge their sweet tooth at the Valentine’s Day Sweet Dreams Late Night Dessert Reception at the Hilton Springfield, offering live entertainment and decadent desserts.
The conference concludes on Feb. 15 during the Governor’s Awards Luncheon, when tourism organizations from throughout Illinois will be recognized for their innovative marketing initiatives and original programming.
For a complete conference schedule and list of speakers, or to register for the 2008 Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism, visit www.iltourismconference.com.
Caring for the environment: How the Kimpton brand is making a difference
As concern for the environment continues to grow, more and more companies are looking at ways to create green options for their businesses and customers. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is one in particular, and at the TIA's 2007 Marketing Outlook Forum, Steve Pinetti, Kimpton Hotels senior vice president, offered a glimpse at Kimpton’s approach and its EarthCare Program.
Kimpton Hotels, the first collection of boutique hotels throughout the United States and Canada, is a leader of the hospitality industry in its ecological practices and EarthCare program. Its mission is to “deliver a premium guest experience through non-intrusive, high-quality, eco-friendly products and services.” Kimpton’s ongoing commitment is practiced throughout all levels of management, and new products and practices are introduced every three months to maintain the company’s vision. Kimpton’s EarthCare program sets environmental standards that properties must meet in a variety of areas, including:
- Toxins (eco-friendly in-room cleaners)
- Energy (back-of-house energy-efficient lighting)
- Water (low-flow water fixtures)
- Organics (first national organic bar program)
- Recycling (first national in-room program)
- Paper (mandated recycled content and soy inks)
- Suppliers (reduce packaging and materials)
- Carbon reduction (hybrid parking and offsets)
The success of EarthCare can be seen at Kimpton properties across the country with awards recognizing achievements in environmental stewardship and responsibility. Guests at Kimpton properties enjoy the benefits of this program, including fresh, locally grown produce featured at Kimpton restaurants, organically grown coffee and mini bar goods, even special incentives and savings for guests driving hybrid vehicles.
For more information about this program, log onto www.kimptonhotels.com.
Appealing to the customer experience—trend insight for restaurateurs from a restaurateur
The hospitality industry is evolving and consumers are more interested in having a unique experience from their hotels, restaurants and attractions. Kevin Brown, president of Lettuce Entertain You, knows that potential customers have many choices when it comes to restaurants and these individuals have done their research. Before walking in the door or picking up the phone to make a reservation, most consumers have already read about the establishment in newspapers and magazines, researched reviews online and asked their friends and family.
For a restaurant to set itself apart from the competition, notes Brown, it must offer a menu that will keep customers coming back, create an atmosphere that is distinctive and appropriate for the menu and offer its diners a special experience.
To create those experiences, Brown suggests:
- Flexibility in planning: Build a party for each guest by tailoring their experience in your restaurant as needed
- Less restriction in budget leads to more creative plans: If it’s exciting, don’t concern yourself with budget; create settings and menus that will be memorable
- Have signature menus: Don’t always assume the client has taste or imagination…show them
- Interactive food and wine topics: Educate and enlighten the guest on what they are eating or drinking
To succeed, restaurateurs should stay current with consumer trends, specialize in these trends and personalize these trends to customers.
IBOT initiates Underground Railroad tourism project
The Underground Railroad has a rich presence in Illinois and IBOT is working on an exciting program to present the sites, monuments and brave people that worked to form this network that guided slaves to freedom.
This project is an exciting component of the State’s Soul of Illinois African-American tourism campaign aimed at maximizing and leveraging Illinois’ impressive Underground Railroad history.
Illinois has 38 documented Underground Railroad stations and six definable routes. The city of Utica is the site of the Sculptured Faces, a historic Underground Railroad marker on the banks of the Illinois River; the two sculpted faces served as a geographic landmark for fugitive slaves traveling in the network.
Information on the state’s Underground Railroad history—ranging from railroad site locations to short profiles of Illinoisans who tell stories about their relationship to the Underground Railroad—is being developed for the Soul of Illinois Web site www.soulfulillinois.com. Additionally, two- to four-day tour itineraries will be developed to highlight historic communities.
Illinois spreads the Blues at London’s WTM
London’s World Travel Market (WTM) trade show was a huge success for Illinois and its partners, with more than 24 media and 24 trade meetings, Nov. 11-15. Illinois was represented on the tradeshow floor and also hosted a reception where legendary Chicago saxophonist Sam Burkhardt played, promoting the Chicago Blues Festival’s 25th anniversary.
Illinois coverage is expected in Travel Weekly, Grazia, Daily Mirror, What’s On When, and Travelbite.co.uk, each of which met with IBOT and Illinois representatives to discuss what’s cool this season. IBOT Deputy Director Jan Kostner was also interviewed on UK station Liberty TV and on Lighthouse Media for Northern Ireland. Also, coverage was secured for Chicago with the major UK travel resource, TravelMole.com, Rough Guide’s International Guide for Gay and Lesbian Travel, and Eurochannel.
On the trade side, tour operator bookings were up an average of 15 to 20 percent, and each of the representatives met with at WTM plans to increase Chicago presence in their catalogs. Additionally, the “Travel Uni” program, an online travel-agent training program featuring Illinois offerings, has received 51 registrations since its launch two weeks ago; and Titan Travel, Thomas Cook and Virgin Holidays are including the Internet training program for their staff.
Illinois hotel executives honored with awards
Congratulations are in order for three of our tourism colleagues who have recently won prestigious industry awards.
Bill Carter, manager of the Hotel Pere Marquette in Peoria, was recognized as Outstanding Hotel General Manager in the medium property size category at the 2007 American Hotel & Lodging Association's (IHLA) Summer Summit held in Nashville. Cited among his accomplishments was his leadership in re-opening the hotel after a $19.7 million renovation.
At that same conference, IHLA also honored Rachel Bedeker as Outstanding Hotel General Manager in the small property size category for her role as assistant manager of the Eastland Suites & Conference Center in Bloomington. It is a tribute to her customer service and hands-on dedication that, as an assistant manager, she prevailed among general manager competitors.
We also congratulate Mary Twomey of Chicago's Essex Inn. The Essex Inn was named Virgin Holidays Bronze Award winner for "Best Hotel—City Break." This was based on a number of criteria including visitor numbers and quality of service.
Smoke-Free Illinois Act implemented
As many of you know, along with the new year comes the implementation of the Smoke-Free Illinois Act, which bans smoking in all public areas. Illinois will be the 22nd state to enact this law, which will protect not only bar and restaurant customers from the dangers of second-hand smoke, but employees as well. Reductions in smoke-related illnesses have been seen in cities and states that have already gone smoke-free.
As of January 1, 2008, the Smoke-Free Illinois Act requires that public places and places of employment must be completely smoke-free inside and within 15 feet from entrances, exits, windows that open and ventilation intakes. This includes but is not limited to:
- Public places and buildings, offices, elevators, restrooms, theaters, museums, libraries, educational institutions, schools, commercial establishments, enclosed shopping centers and retail stores
- Restaurants, bars, taverns and gaming facilities
- Lobbies, reception areas, hallways, meeting rooms, waiting rooms, break rooms and other common-use areas
- Concert halls, auditoriums, enclosed or partially enclosed sports arenas, bowling alleys, skating rinks, convention facilities, polling places and private clubs
- Hospitals, health care facilities, health care clinics, child care, adult care or other similar social service care
- No less than 75 percent of hotel or motel sleeping quarters rented to guests
- Public conveyances, government-owned vehicles and vehicles open to the public