November Illinois Tourism Monthly

Daniel Thomas, Illinois Office of Tourism (IOT)

On October 5, I had the pleasure of sharing a snapshot of my first 100 days as Deputy Director at the ICCVB fall meeting—where it was also announced that ICCVB will be renamed the Illinois Destinations Association (IDA). Congrats on the rebrand!

While I'm still just getting started, I’m proud that in this time, my team and I have given 17 media interviews, delivered 10 keynote speeches, launched a new fall campaign in 22 U.S. markets, added 2,600+ new subscribers to the consumer newsletter, launched Enjoy Illinois on TikTok, generated over 21 million impressions across all our social channels and traveled across the state from boardrooms to biker bars to meet as many tourism colleagues—in person—as possible. It's been an amazing first 100 days and I look forward to the next 100.

I'm also excited to continue my listening tour in the coming weeks. Over the past two months, I've hosted 10 roundtable discussions and met with many CVBs and tourism professionals. My most recent trip was to Kankakee on October 31st. These discussions have been truly impactful. The fantastic participation in these meetings and the questions asked have helped me better understand tourism goals throughout the state.

There are plenty more stops along my tour and many incredible Illinois Makers who I can't wait to visit during this trip. With that said, let's get to it!

As always, please feel free to reach out to me via email. I look forward to many more productive discussions.

Yours in tourism partnership,

Galena Featured in August/September Issue of Country Living

Popular American lifestyle and home magazine, Country Living, featured the town of Galena in its Small Town Saturday section of the recent August/September issue, generating combined print and online impressions of 16.4 million.

The feature shined a spotlight on a number of the town's different attributes including its charming Main Street, various small businesses and picturesque landscapes.

Among the many businesses featured included Galena Bakehouse, the Galena Trolley Depot, the Dowling House, the Ulysses S. Grant Home, Hoof it Goat Treks and many more.

Galena was further promoted with a complete guide visitors can discover on the Country Living website at countryliving.com/galena.

Governor Pritzker Launches New Tourism Grant Programs

Governor JB Pritzker, in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), has initiated the allocation of $15.4 million in funding dedicated to tourism. This funding is distributed through two distinct grant programs: the Tourism Attractions Grant Program, which has $10.8 million available, and the Tourism Private Sector Grant Program, with $4.6 million in funding. These grant opportunities are open to eligible organizations and entities seeking financial support for initiatives aimed at attracting, enhancing and expanding both new and existing projects, events and festivals associated with tourism.

The primary objective of these grants is to invigorate tourism statewide and cultivate a more inviting environment for visitors. Selection of grant recipients will be conducted through a competitive process outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). For more info, visit Illinois.gov to view the full press release.

IOT Attends Brand USA, U.K. & European Travel Week

IOT has returned from attending the Brand USA Travel Week U.K. & Europe 2023 and Brand USA Media Forum.

The event was held in London from October 16-18 and welcomed U.S. exhibitors and U.K./European buyers from the worldwide travel industry. They discussed trends, challenges, innovations and the opportunity to drive future visitation to the United States from the U.K. and Europe.

IOT participated in the Brand USA Media Forum and conducted 40 appointments with travel editors and writers from top consumer and trade outlets from across the U.K. and European markets.

Additionally, IOT participated in media and travel trade appointments as well as events showcasing the Great Lakes region held in London and Dublin from October 9th-13th. We had the opportunity to market the state regionally, showcasing the many itineraries we have that compliment the bookable products found in the Great Lakes.

Cultural and Historical Heritage Week Recap

The Illinois Tourist Information Centers held their Cultural and Historical Heritage Week from October 10 to 14.

Each TIC promoted historical and cultural attractions throughout Illinois via displays while inviting partners to visit and showcase destinations and attractions. Among the many who participated were Elgin Area CVB, Charleston Tourism, Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, Champaign County CVB, Danville Area CVB, Fulton County Tourism Council and many more.

A big thank you to Great Rivers Country Tourism, who manage the TICs, and our incredible counselors.

International Traveler Expenditures Total $19 Billion

According to data from Skift, in August 2023, international travelers spent a total of $19 billion on tourism-related activities within the United States, marking the highest level since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. This amount is just short of the pre-pandemic total in August 2019, which was $19.6 billion.

Booking.com Lists 7 Travel Trends To Watch Out For In 2024

Booking.com has released research data that underscores the vitality of travel and how it can help liberate individuals from their daily routines and embrace their full potential. Extensive research involving over 27,000 travelers spanning 33 countries and territories has resulted in seven predictions for the travel landscape.

Illinois Made Holiday Gift Guide Coming Soon

This month, IOT will unveil the 2023 Illinois Made Gift Guide, featuring one-of-a-kind products from Illinois Made businesses and encouraging shoppers and travelers to support local in every region of the state this holiday season.

New Videos

We are pleased to share the latest addition to our Illinois Made video collection: Water Sweets Soap Company in Edwardsville.

Be on the lookout for the launch of new videos on our YouTube channel in the coming weeks.