|
Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway
Unveils New Website, New Mobile App & New Membership Program
Send a link to a friend
 [November 11, 2020]
The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway is announcing considerable
changes to their organization today, November 11th, which is also
the 94th Anniversary of Route 66. These changes will benefit
travelers of the most famous road in the world, as well as provide
tourism and economic development benefits to attractions and
communities along the Illinois portion of Route 66.
The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway has finished a complete redesign
of their website; the website can still be found at
www.illinoisroute66.org. An exciting new element is the addition of
an interactive
search and mapping feature that was developed in conjunction with
the Visit Widget team out of Austin, Texas. Byway travelers are now
able to search for attractions and events along Illinois Route 66 as
well as obtain detailed information about Byway attractions. The
interactive feature will also allow travelers to create their own
itineraries and share them via text message or email with others
traveling with them.
The website also features a slick new design that is both user and
mobile friendly. An enormous photo gallery containing over 32,000
pictures for attractions and communities, as well as special
galleries marking ongoing events is a refreshing addition to the
site.
The Byway, in conjunction with Visit Widget has also developed a new
App for the organization – “Explore Illinois Route 66” is available
for free download on Apple and Android formats. The App provides and
even more enhanced version of the search and mapping capabilities
that is contained on their new website.
In addition, the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway, which is a 501c3
non-profit organization, has just announced a new membership
program, which features many new benefits and enhancements for
business, attraction, and community members.
Casey Wichmann, the new Executive Director of the organization,
said, “We have completely revamped the membership program to provide
substantial support for the future members of the Byway. We are
hoping the relaunch of a reorganized membership program will help
boost tourism and economic development throughout the over 90
communities we serve in Illinois.
[to top of second column] |
"Our focus with the new membership program is to offer a variety of marketing
and advertising opportunities as well as PR at a very low cost. The biggest
addition to the program is the creation of the Byway Project Fund. This fund
will provide financial support to members that apply and are in good standing
with the Byway.”
Individual and family memberships are also available, and all membership dues,
including new memberships and renewals, can now be processed online on the new
Byway website. Additional information on the membership program can be found on
their website.
The Byway also has a robust visitor guide that can be downloaded on the website
or requested by mail for free by emailing i nfo@illinoisroute66.org. To
supplement our visitors guide and offer a nostalgic touch, the Byway, in
conjunction with McDaniels Marketing out of Pekin, Illinois are designing a new
print map for Illinois Route 66. A separate announcement and unveiling of this
print map will be forthcoming.
Route 66 turns 100 years old in 2026, (it was officially commissioned in 1926),
and the world is already preparing for the 100th Anniversary; this significant
anniversary led Illinois to be the first state to establish a State Route 66
Centennial Commission. Local Illinois community commissions and committees have
also been formed and are being planned. Millions of visitors from all over the
world are expected to visit Route 66 in 2026 and Illinois plans to be a leader
in the celebration of this historic road.
The United States Department of Transportation has designated certain US roads
as National Scenic Byways because of their special significance to the American
people. Route 66 in Illinois received that recognition in 2005. The Illinois
Route 66 Scenic Byway’s mission is to enhance and promote economic opportunities
for each Illinois Route 66 community by preserving Illinois Route 66 Heritage
and by sustaining and increasing heritage and cultural tourism.
[Geoff Ladd
Assistant Director
Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway]
 |
