February Illinois Tourism Monthly

It's February! The official heart of winter. Despite the cold, it's an exciting month. From Black History Month exhibits to Abraham Lincoln's birthday events and all sorts of outdoor adventures in between, there is so much to do and see. Since spring is coming soon (the groundhog said so), enjoy winter while it lasts. Speaking of groundhogs, did you catch a glimpse of Bill Murray's return to Woodstock, IL as well as Richardson Farm during this year's Big Game? If not, check it out here!

While there are a lot of new exhibits and events, there are even more on the horizon thanks to $1.9M in IOT tourism grants awarded to events and attractions throughout the state!

The 2020 Illinois Governor's Conference on Travel & Tourism is right around the corner and we hope to see you all there. Explore the schedule and speakers on the website to get an idea of what this year's conference will offer, and subscribe to the ILGOV20 newsletter to 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.

REMINDER that award entry submissions close at 5 pm today! Don't miss out on a chance to have your hard work recognized at the coveted 2020 Illinois Excellence in Tourism Awards.

Great Lakes USA had their China Sales Mission in January to Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai. A road show was done in each of those cities that offered partners a chance to present to all travel professionals in attendance and then meet for appointments. We also had scheduled office visits and trainings while in country. Representing Illinois was the Illinois Office of Tourism, Visit Springfield, Great Rivers & Routes, and Go Rockford.

We represented Illinois at TravMedia’s International Media Marketplace, a one-day networking event connecting tourism brands with top travel journalists. We met with nearly 40 freelance writers, travel journalists and influencers to promote Illinois as a destination and pitching stories.

We also promoted National Plan for Vacation Day on Jan. 28 with local media – resulting in two placements (KWQC-TV in Davenport, Iowa and WBBM Newsradio in Chicago) promoting What’s New in Illinois in 2020.

We will also be attending two events around the corner, Connect Travel Marketplace and the RTO Summit series. Connect Travel Marketplace is an international travel show that connects international buyers with US markets, and the RTO Summit combines travel suppliers and tour operator buyers under one roof.

Illinois continues to add more and more events and openings to the 2020 calendar. Take a look below for some of the more notable ones.

The 21c Museum Hotel Chicago opened in the heart of Chicago this week. Featuring a robust collection of 21st century art, this combination museum and boutique hotel experience is not-to-be-missed.

Chicago Theatre Week starts Feb. 13, and it's a great chance to get value-priced tickets to more than 100 performances. Tickets are available now!

The new Black Creativity Exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry runs through March 1, and on Sunday guests will finally get a chance to visit the Notorious RBG Exhibit at the Illinois Holocaust Museum. The popular exhibit will run through August.

Happy Valentine's Day! Aside from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library being FREE for all on Lincoln's birthday, the Library is having a presentation on the little known romantic side of the Civil War-era on Valentine's Day. Learn about courtship, romance, love and dating with an up-close view of rare items such as love letters and poetry, the diary entries of lonely singles from the Civil War-era, Victorian Valentine’s Day cards, and more.

The NBA All-Star Game comes to town next week. Whether you're #TeamLebron or #TeamGiannis, all eyes will be on the newly expanded United Center.

Lastly, don't miss out on two shows from opposite ends of the spectrum: the dazzling Orchid Show at the Chicago Botanic Garden and the nation's largest auto show at the Chicago Auto Show at McCormick Place.

The Illinois Manufacturers' Association is on a quest to find some of the coolest things made in Illinois. Through Feb. 24, you can nominate a product made in Illinois for the contest, and it will then be opened to a vote. Get contest details and learn more at the Maker Madness website.

Introducing our Maker of the Month: Alto Clay Works! In Alto Pass, Stephen Grimmer creates beautiful and functional pottery, woodfired in his studio at Alto Clay Works. From tumblers to teapots, Grimmer's works are elegant in their simplicity and execution. Not only will you find his art in his studio, but he offers classes in the summer for those interested in learning from a true Illinois maker.