March Illinois Tourism Monthly

The 2020 Illinois Governor's Conference on Travel & Tourism is around the corner. There is so much to look forward to, including our most impressive speaker lineup date, and so many chances to network with fellow industry professionals. Highlights include:

"Luck of the Irish" themed Awards Dinner recognizing excellence in Illinois tourism
A full lineup of expert speakers covering exciting topics you don't want to miss
Evening networking event at a dueling piano bar
The 2020 State of the State Tourism Address where you'll be the FIRST to see the new tourism campaign launching this spring

We can't wait to see you all there! Find a detailed schedule and speaker list here to get an idea of what this year's conference will offer, and subscribe to the ILGOV20 newsletter to ensure you receive all the important pre-conference info.

A message from IOT: We join the travel industry in closely monitoring the evolving situation on COVID-19, including its impact on tourism. We stand with our partners in encouraging continued travel and participation in meetings and events in Illinois. The best thing the general public can do at this time is to be extra vigilant about precautions normally taken during flu season, and pay close attention to recommendations and guidelines from state health authorities.

The U.S. Travel Association and the Illinois Department of Public Health are great resources to get ongoing updates about travel recommendations and restrictions.

IOT and several CVBs recently traveled to Orlando for Connect Travel Marketplace, an international trade show that matches tourism suppliers for individual appointments based on their requests in the rapidly evolving global market.

Illinois also had a great presence at RTO Summit West in California, which attracts over 100 receptive operators and helps suppliers and destinations meet L.A.-based RTOs.

On Feb. 24, Jan Kemmerling, Acting Deputy Director of the Illinois Office of Tourism, spoke at the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Alliance Annual Conference, where she was presented with a Friend of the Industry award.

Here's a look at activities, openings and announcements for the month of March:

March is Women's History Month, and Sunday is International Women's Day. Take a look at some notable women from Illinois, and get out to explore the events and exhibits around the state highlighting some of these incredible women and more.

In celebration of their 15th anniversary this month, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum & Library will host a critically acclaimed national touring exhibit from the International Spy Museum, which will highlight the evolution of U.S. counterintelligence and homeland security efforts.

Be sure to stop and smell the roses March 18-22 at the Chicago Flower & Garden Show at Navy Pier. It's blooming with all sorts of new garden exhibits: Explore a display of 39 award-winning floral quilts, floral fashion by local designers, a mobile garden boutique and more. Nightly Spring Fling events feature live music, craft beer, local wineries, distilleries and more.

The 2020 Sports Illinois Huddle will be hosted by Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau on May 11-13, 2020 in Bridgeview at SeatGeek Stadium. The Sports Illinois Huddle is the annual Illinois state sport tourism peer-to-peer conference for sports event rights holders/decision makers and Illinois convention and visitor bureau partners to gather and exchange resources, strategies, solutions, and more.

Speaking of sports, it's baseball season! We look forward to welcoming travelers to Chicago and around Illinois to see our major and minor league teams.