It's a new decade, and we at the Illinois Office of Tourism are excited for the year ahead. By now, you have probably seen the new Enjoy Illinois logo, which began rolling out last month. All the logo files and brand guidelines can be found here. We're also continuing to work hard on our new 2020 brand campaign, which will launch this spring. We'll share a sneak peek at the Illinois Governor's Conference in March and showcase how the campaign will support Illinois tourism around the state for years to come.
Kicking off 2020 in China
We're starting the year off with the GLUSA Trade/Media Road Show in China. Our team is currently traveling to Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai to do travel trade and media presentations. Plus we'll be doing one-on-one appointments and networking events to meet people and share all the great things going on in Illinois tourism.
A Look Ahead to 2020
The list of new events, attractions, hotels and more continues to grow for 2020. Here are some of the things we're excited about:
The 69th annual NBA All-Star
Game will be played at the United Center in February, the first time in over three decades that the coveted game will be played in Chicago.
Also to debut in February: the first ever museum exhibition to focus solely on the life of judicial icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Navy Pier is getting a hotel this spring, and the Mag Mile will be welcoming a hotel that doubles as an art museum.
2020 is the year of music in Chicago, which is a perfect time for the opening of a 3,800-seat music venue in Pilsen.
This spring, Macomb's historic downtown is getting a new sculpture of Abraham Lincoln, but like none you've ever seen before: the 16th president's iconic beard will be constructed from flowers and greenery.
The largest private collection of Frida Kahlo artwork will be on displaystarting in June, and Six Flags will also unveil the world's tallest water coaster.
This summer marks the 40th anniversary of The Blues Brothers, which means it will be a great time to visit the Old Joliet Prison, where scenes from the movie were filmed.
Featured Maker: Higgins Glass
Nestled on Quincy Street in the town of Riverside is a place that is keeping the ancient art of glass fusing alive. Higgins Glass is a family-owned business that specializes in one-of-a-kind glass creations including bowls, plates, mobiles and more. The unique studio and shop, which was initially founded in 1948, has been featured in Architectural Digest, HGTV and more.
Are you registered for the 2020 Illinois Governor's Conference on Travel & Tourism? Explore the schedule and speakers on the website, and subscribe to the ILGOV20 newsletterto stay up-to-date with all the news. Don't forget that every attendee with a full registration will be entered to win two round-trip Premium Economy airline tickets from Air New Zealand. And, submissions for award entries are open and due by Friday, January 31.