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Daniel Thomas, Illinois Office of Tourism (IOT)
It's been a truly incredible month for our state. You may have already seen the news, but I'm excited to share it again: 2023 was a record-breaking year for Illinois tourism.
We welcomed 112 million visitors who spent $47 billion, marking a $3 billion increase over last year. This led to a new high in hotel tax revenue of $322 million. All of this underscores the strength of our sector, and it's a testament to the work we've done together. Thank you for your continued support and partnership in making Illinois such a standout destination.
This momentum continued later in August as we hosted the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Our Enjoy Illinois messaging was front and center, and it's clear that the success of the convention reinforced Illinois' position as a world-class destination for major events.
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One of those major events is coming soon. On the eve of the DNC, I had the honor of taking part in the announcement that the NAACP National Convention will come to Chicago in 2026. It’s been 100 years since the NAACP first brought a convention to Chicago, and we look forward to again celebrating the diversity that is at the core of our state. We are humbled they chose us.
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Of course, that's not the only centennial we'll see in 2026. It also marks 100 years since the birth of Route 66, and last month I had the opportunity to tour some exciting new attractions in Springfield and Granite City. The story of the Mother Road is still being written!
That's a story we were also excited to share at the U.S. Travel Association's ESTO conference in Columbus, Ohio. We learned, we connected and we collaborated. As always, I left inspired by the opportunities ahead and proud of how we stack up in America's travel and tourism landscape, thanks to all the people and attractions that make our state special.
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Daniel Thomas
Deputy Director
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity,
Office of Tourism
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Fall is Upon Us
September marks the beginning of our fall campaign. This fully integrated, regionally targeted campaign will showcase all corners of the state to prospective visitors. Watch our latest :30s spot here!
As we shift our focus to fall colors, seasonal sips and autumnal activities around the state, it's a great time for Illinois CVBs to ensure that your EnjoyIllinois.com event listings have been added/updated via DOTTIE.
- Submit all your fall events and festivals.
- Review and update your business and attraction listings.
We'll be helping visitors maximize their leaf-peeping opportunities with our Fall Colors Trip Planner, supported by regional fall color reports from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. They'll know where to be to see the colors turning, so make sure they know what else is on offer when they're in your area.
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Enjoy Illinois is the Official Destination Partner of Crystal Palace Football Club
The Illinois Office of Tourism is excited to announce a new partnership with Crystal Palace F.C., a professional football club based in England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.
The Enjoy Illinois logo will be displayed on the LED boards at Selhurst Park, interview backdrops and in-stadia TVs. Enjoy Illinois will also sponsor the popular halftime challenge at Selhurst Park and will run competitions throughout the season where fans can win prizes. Read the press release here.
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Route 66 NOFO Program Closes September 16
Good news! There's still time for certified Illinois CVBs to apply for the Route 66 Grant Program. These grants are for the development of tourism, education, preservation and promotion of the 100th anniversary of Route 66 in 2026. CVBs have until September 16, so learn more and apply.
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New Enjoy Illinois Brand Guidelines
There's an updated set of Enjoy Illinois Brand Guidelines available for viewing and download. The guidelines cover things like logo usage, typography and colors—everything you need to show your Enjoy Illinois pride. You'll also find new partnership guidelines, which will be particularly useful for grantees.
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Connect Marketplace
Last week, IOT proudly showcased the state at Connect Marketplace 2024, held in Milwaukee. The event, which gathered more than 1,000 meeting planners and 2,000 exhibitors, focused on networking, education and one-on-one business opportunities for event professionals.
Our booth was a hub of activity, with representatives from Experience Champaign-Urbana, Chicago's North Shore CVB, Meet Chicago Northwest, Visit Chicago Southland, Discover DuPage, DuPage Sports Commission, Heritage Corridor Destinations and Visit Lake County, all contributing to the state's strong presence. We even had an appearance from everyone's favorite BIG Illinois icon—can you spot him?
Special thanks also go to other Illinois CVBs in attendance, including Aurora, Rockford, Choose Chicago, Elgin, Peoria, Quad Cities and Springfield.
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A Record-Breaking Year for the Illinois State Fair!
More than 170 years since it began, the Illinois State Fair continues to go from strength to strength. While total attendance numbers are pending, we saw at least one record-breaking event. With 15,427 attendees, Lil Wayne's Grandstand concert was the largest attendance the venue had ever seen.
If you didn't get a chance to experience the fun firsthand, take a look at our Enjoy Illinois Instagram to see some of the action from the perspective of our influencer partners.
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Sun and Smiles at the Bud Billiken Parade
The Bud Billiken® Parade returned to Bronzeville on August 10th for its 95th anniversary, and we were proud to return as a sponsor. Thousands of attendees enjoyed music, dance and community pride, making it a day filled with unity and joy.
Our Enjoy Illinois float was a tribute to all the incredible outdoor, family-friendly adventures waiting for people in every corner of the state, giving attendees a small taste of hiking, kayaking, ziplining and more. DCEO Assistant Director Cameron Joost shared more during an interview that aired with ABC7's parade coverage, too.
Thank you to everyone who helped make the parade a resounding success!
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Tourism Exchange USA: Register Now for Suppliers/ Attractions Webinar on September 25
Note: There's been a date change for the supplier webinar; instead of two options, there's now only going to be a single webinar available.
There's still time for you to register to join us for an informational webinar detailing how to get connected to Tourism Exchange USA as a supplier. This follows the webinars we ran previously for CVBs and tourism industry associations. (Recording here.)
Who should attend? Lodging properties (local and regional management and sales departments), attractions, events and exhibitions, ticketed tours, as well as ticketed food and beverage experiences. Registration is FREE!
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Economic Shifts Present a Mixed Outlook
A recent Skift article, highlights how economic uncertainties are impacting the U.S. travel industry. The effects vary across sectors:
- Airlines report softening in demand, especially for premium services.
- Hotels are seeing early signs of revenue weakening, though they're still close to 2019 levels.
- Cruise lines are showing resilience with strong bookings and increased guest spending.
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Parking and EV Station Revenue Boosts Hotel Profits
A recent industry report reveals that hotels' parking facilities and electric vehicle charging stations are emerging as surprisingly profitable ventures:
- Parking revenues have surged 23.1% from 2019 to 2023, outpacing total hotel revenue growth.
- Parking department profit margins reached 61.3% in 2023, higher than the average for other operated departments.
- Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) are becoming increasingly important, with 26.6% of U.S. hotels having them installed as of 2022.
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Sports and Music Tourism Predicted to Become $1.5 Trillion Industry
A new report from Collinson International Ltd. reveals the explosive growth of sports and music tourism, highlighting its importance in the travel industry:
- Sports tourism is projected to grow from $564.7 billion in 2023 to $1.33 trillion by 2032.
- Music tourism is expected to more than double from $6.6 billion to $13.8 billion in the same period.
- 83% of surveyed travelers flew to a sports event in the past three years or plan to in the next 12 months. 71% have done the same for a concert.
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Video Feature: Wayward Wovens
Du Quoin's Wayward Wovens turns yarn into unique, handwoven cloth with a modern edge. Owner Nicole Rather combines traditional weaving techniques with fresh, vibrant colors to craft items like kitchen towels, wedding shawls and scarves.
Operating from Wander Community Art Studio, Wayward Wovens showcases Nicole’s dedication to weaving that’s both rooted in tradition and alive with contemporary style.
Watch Wayward Wovens weave their magic in their Illinois Made video.
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As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, the fall/winter issue of the Enjoy Illinois inspiration guide is the go-to place for seasonal adventure ideas. Explore cozy retreats, savor festive flavors and find the best spots for autumnal colors and outdoor activities.
View online
Download the PDF
For bulk orders, please contact Brad.Strauss@illinois.gov.
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The Official Industry Newsletter of the Illinois Office of Tourism
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©2024 Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
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You're receiving this email as a valuable partner of the Illinois Office of Tourism.
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