 Informative workshops included topics that covered travel trends
(including gender and age subcategories), "going green" tourism,
heritage tourism, Internet applications and marketing, and event
planning.The traditional "State of Tourism" session featured
keynote speeches by Jack Lavin, director of the Illinois Department
of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and Jan Kostner, deputy
director of the Illinois Bureau of Tourism. Lavin reported on the
latest statistics (fiscal 2006) showing 91 million visitors to the
state, up 8 percent overall from the previous year. Lodging was up
15 percent. He also discussed the E-grants Illinois program, which
will make the grant availability process easier. Kostner announced
that the Illinois Bureau of Tourism had awarded $24.8 million in
grants in 2007.
Among the grants awarded to the Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of
Logan County was the Local Tourism and Convention Bureau Grant. This
grant is awarded annually to certified bureaus and is matched by
local hotel tax funds.
The bureau also received a separate grant for the development of
the tourism bureau's new visitors guide, due out in March. The guide
will be the first new visitors guide in several years. "This is an
important step in our evolving marketing campaign," said bureau
director Geoff Ladd, who attended the conference along with several
tourism bureau board members.
Kostner also discussed activities surrounding the Abraham Lincoln
Bicentennial, the ongoing Chicago 2016 Olympics bid and the state's
Illinois
KidVentures spring campaign, launched Monday.
One of the more visible attendees to the conference this year was
the newly hired executive director of the Illinois Looking for
Lincoln Heritage Coalition, Hal Smith. Smith is replacing outgoing
director Nicky Stratton, the former head of the Springfield
Convention and Visitor's Bureau. Smith will speak at the Abraham
Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County's annual dinner in Lincoln on
April 25.
[to top of second column]
 |
Recent Logan County Board primary winner Jan Schumacher also
attended the conference. Schumacher represented the Route 66
Heritage Foundation of Logan County. She serves as vice chair of the
group, which is responsible for restoring The Mill on 66 in Lincoln
and also is the organization behind the annual Route 66 Garage Sale
of Logan County, scheduled for June 13-14. "The tourism conference
generated many great ideas that could bring more tourists to Logan
County," said Schumacher. "One way to make sure that happens is to
develop a countywide tourism master plan."
Also attending the conference, on behalf of the Abraham Lincoln
Tourism Bureau of Logan County, were board members Bob McCue, who
also represents Mount Pulaski Courthouse volunteers; Shirley
Bartelmay, who also represents Postville Courthouse volunteers;
Alberta Hellman, who also represents Emden Historical Society;
Gillette Ransom, who also represents Elkhart Historical Society; and
Stacie Wachtel, who also represents Heritage In Flight Museum in
Lincoln.
Wachtel is the newest Logan County tourism bureau board member,
and this was her first annual conference. "I felt the time was very
well-spent," she said. "Anyone who is interested in promoting their
tourist venue or event would benefit by attending the conference.
From how to best work with the media to planning a successful
‘event,' this conference covered it all! Lincoln would really put
themselves on the tourism map by implementing many of the ideas and
concepts presented."
McCue, who previously served as chairman of the Logan County
tourism bureau, has attended many annual conferences. "As a
volunteer, the conference always rejuvenates and reinvigorates me. I
always enjoy meeting with the other volunteers and professionals in
the tourism industry, and there is nothing more enjoyable than being
with people whose entire business is hospitality."
[Text from file received from
Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of
Logan County] |
