As summer winds down, the Illinois Office of Tourism is welcoming new leadership, partnering with new agencies and gearing up for a bold fall campaign—plus, we’re celebrating Black Business Month and grant awards across the state.
TOURISM NEWS
IOT Welcomes New Deputy Director
DCEO’s Illinois Office of Tourism welcomes Catie Sheehan as the office’s deputy director. Sheehan is a seasoned executive with more than 20 years of experience leading strategic communications, advocacy and marketing efforts across the public, nonprofit, health care and higher education sectors. She joins DCEO after serving as the SIU System executive director of marketing and communications, as well as interim executive director of marketing and communications at SIU Edwardsville. Prior to joining SIU, Sheehan served as vice president of advocacy and communications for Hospital Sisters Health System, a multistate Catholic health care system with more than 15,000 colleagues. Earlier in her career, she held communications leadership roles in the Illinois state treasurer’s office and at Mac Strategies Group, and she started her career as a journalist working at WICS, WCIA and KOMU-TV. Sheehan brings a deep commitment to public service, strategic storytelling and community impact. She will be based in DCEO’s Springfield office.
Welcome To Our New Agency Partners
The Illinois Office of Tourism is also excited to welcome three new agency partners to the team.
Hoffman York, a Milwaukee-based full-service advertising agency, is leading the charge on our enjoyillinois.com website management.
BVK, also based in Milwaukee, joins as our creative agency partner, overseeing strategy and design to elevate the Enjoy Illinois brand.
MMGY, a leading travel marketing agency, will serve as our public relations agency of record and will be responsible for managing the Enjoy Illinois communications strategy, media relations, and brand reputation.
We’re excited to work with these experienced teams as we continue to inspire travel across the state. Stay tuned for more updates to come as we kick off our new partnerships!
Coming Soon: A Fresh Fall Spin for the “Middle of Everything” Campaign Launching in September, the “Middle of Everything” campaign is getting a fresh new look for fall. This year’s creative highlights Illinois’ breathtaking autumn beauty, thrilling outdoor recreation, Chicago’s scenic sites, rich history and more. Personal moments are paired with vibrant seasonal textures and landscapes, creating a dynamic view of the state’s diverse experiences. While still anchored in “the middle of everything,” the evolved campaign aims to forge deeper emotional connections with travelers and inspire them to discover the people, places and stories that make Illinois truly unforgettable.
August is Black Business Month In honor of National Black Business Month, we’re highlighting some of Illinois’ one-of-a-kind Black-owned businesses we support around the state and the inspiring people that founded them. Each business is in Illinois Made, a program that spotlights craftspeople and their businesses that make Illinois a unique destination to visit.
$6.3 Million in Tourism Grants Awarded Across Illinois
In June, Gov. JB Pritzker announced 36 tourism-related grants totaling $6.3 million through three state programs:
• Route 66 Grant Program – $4 million for revitalizing historic Route 66 attractions
• Tourism Attractions Grant Program – $1.7 million to support museums, cultural centers and more
• Tourism Private Sector Grant Program – $600,000 to amplify public-private partnerships
Townsizing: A Small-Town Travel Trend with Big Impact
According to a recent HuffPost article, travelers—especially younger ones—are embracing the charm of smaller destinations over crowded cities.
In fact, 67% of Gen Z and millennial travelers say they dream of escaping to small towns. Good news for Illinois: we’re full of small-town hidden gems just waiting to be explored.
Married Women Are Traveling Solo—And Loving It A new Travel + Leisure feature highlights a growing trend: Married women are increasingly booking solo getaways.
According to a 2024 Booking.com study, 54% of women want to travel solo, with many citing freedom, personal growth and self-care as key motivations. This presents fresh opportunities for destinations to cater to this confident, independent traveler.
ENJOY ILLINOIS MAGAZINE
Beginning 9/1, we'll have our Fall/Winter issue of the Enjoy Illinois inspiration guide available for distribution. Be sure to make the most of our Spring/Summer issue during these next few weeks! View online Download the PDF
