Travel Tuesday, September 25

Fall has officially arrived. As the first day of the season came and went, I visited the Quad Cities' Paula Sands Live show to talk Illinois travel and the amazing opportunities we have to enjoy autumn all around the state.

There's nothing like a drive through the country to experience fall colors in Illinois. That's why we've introduced our new campaign, "Take the Scenic Route," which highlights road trips to iconic fall destinations. Take in fall colors on the bluffs of the Great River Road on your way to Galena, or smell the crisp autumn air as you motor windows-down to apple orchards along Route 66. Wherever Illinois travelers decide to spend their fall, we hope they enjoy the journey as much as the destination.

While I was in the Quad Cities, I also paid a visit to our friends at the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative for the organization's annual meeting. During the event's opening ceremony, I promoted the Illinois 200 initiative and discussed some of the exciting activities that will be taking place over the next two months in anticipation of Illinois' 200th anniversary.

If you want to get in the Bicentennial spirit, head over to Illinois200.com to find out about Bicentennial events in your area. And be sure to check out more fun fall activities at EnjoyIllinois.com.

Your friend in Illinois Tourism,

Kristie and Niall wanted to create an experience that went beyond the typical restaurant to reflect how they live their lives every day. Since the kitchen is the heart of the Campbell house, the kitchen at Firefly Grill is designed as an expedition for customers to see all the love and hard work that goes into each dish.

If you want to know what’s on your plate, just take a walk around the building and you’ll find an organic farm that supplies the majority of the dishes on their menu. What they don’t produce themselves, they hand select from predominantly local farmers, foragers and fishermen who care for the quality of food as deeply as they do.

This sustainable, community-based dining establishment is well ahead of the curve. And a taste of their roasted salmon with fettuccini, cacao de pepe, fresh peas and carrot butter is about all you’ll need to join the Firefly faithful. Every guest of Kristie and Niall Campbell knows, when they visit here, they’ll be nourished and cared for in a way that makes them feel like they’re coming home.

Meet more of the makers, creators, artisans and craftspeople that make Illinois thrive at the Enjoy Illinois website.

Branded luxury experiences continue to attract Chinese travelers
As the Chinese continue to be driven by brand and status in their travel decisions, one hotel chain has taken notice. Bvlgari recently opened a hotel in Shanghai which promises to be a hotspot for the Chinese luxury hospitality market. Combining Italian design and Chinese style, this new branded hotel speaks to the Chinese market's appreciation for expertise and handcrafted experiences. Hopefully these insights into a key international market can help attract Chinese travelers to your experiences.

Former Expedia CTO believes personalization tech is the key to empowering travelers
During a recent interview with the Skift Take Studio, former Expedia chief technology officer Tony Donohoe discussed the continuing importance of personalization strategies in travel marketing. The key, he believes, is to deliver suggestions that feel tailored to the consumer. "It’s a difficult problem to solve to get the right trip in a person’s hands, and technology has a place there. It will not be done solely with a travel agent. There’s just too much information to parse."