Chicago Southland CVB Awarded Tour Showcasing Region

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1 Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau Vol. 1 Issue 2 April 2015 Tourism Marketing Information Chicago Southland CVB Awarded Tour Showcasing Region With the conclusion of the 2015 Heartland Travel Showcase in Chicago, the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau hosted the post familiarization tour which brought group tour operators on a guided tour through the Chicago Southland. The purpose of the tour was to showcase the Chicago Southland to various group tour operators from the travel showcase. Led by Tobie Fitzpatrick, Chicago Southland CVB Sales Manager, group tour operators experienced the flavors and sounds of the Chicago Southland with dining stops at Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery, Harvest Room, Cracker Barrel in Tinley Park and CD & ME in Frankfort for Spirits tasting. Other stops included horse racing at Balmoral Park Race Track, Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park, Union Street Art Gallery, Bridgeport Art Gallery and Brookfield Zoo. The group tour operators were among the first to tour Chicagoland s newest national monument and world s first planned industrial town, Pullman National Landmark District.... We had a great time; we hope to be able to tie in some of the great things we saw in the Chicago Southland! - Donna Azzolino Vice President, Group Tours LLC The tour visited the Pullman Foundation Visitor Center to find out how the town bounced back to the track of prosperity after near demolition in the early 20th century. They walked along the maroon row houses on the way to Hotel Florence and stopped at the Pullman Factory Complex. To be able to bring them to Pullman as the first official tour of the newest national monument is wonderful, said Jim Garrett, President / CEO of the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau. It s great to have been awarded the opportunity to showcase the Chicago Southland to group tour operators. One group tour operator has already coordinated a group tour that will have stops in the Chicago Southland this coming fall.

2 Congratulations to Pullman! Break Out the Sunglasses! The 2015 Spring / Summer Festivals & Events Guide Is Coming Soon On February 19th, President Obama made Pullman a national monument. The great people at the Pullman National Monument, and the many people whose passion and dedication to achieve this status for Pullman, deserve it, said Jim Garrett, President / CEO of the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau. I encourage everyone to discover the faces and places that tell the experience of Pullman and enjoy Illinois newest national treasure. As the Chicago Southland breaks free from the frigid and snow-covered winter and sets its sights on the warmth of summer, it can only mean one thing; the 2015 Spring / Summer Festivals & Events Guide is coming! The guide includes over 400 events with highlights including the Caribbean Block Party in Tinley Park, Fourth of July parades and the Lansing Autumn Fest. The guide is distributed to visitors outside the region and is featured in the Chicago Southland Lincoln Oasis and local area hotels. To order a copy of the 2015 Spring / Summer Festivals & Events Guide call Bernice Scheive at or Bernice@VisitChicagoSouthland.com Springfield Lobby Days Pictured left to right - Manu Patel, AAHOA Lifetime Member and Hotel Advocate; Cory Jobe, Director of Illinois Office of Tourism; Aemish Patel, General Manager of Holiday Inn Express & Suites Chicago South Lansing and Sally Schlesinger, CPA, Executive Vice President of the Chicago Southland CVB Pictured left to right - Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and Sally Schlesinger, CPA, Executive Vice President of the Chicago Southland CVB The Illinois Council of Convention & Visitor Bureaus, Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association and Illinois Restaurant Association held its annual Lobby Days in Springfield, IL March 9 12th. Jim Garrett, President / CEO and Sally Schlesinger, Executive Vice President of the Chicago Southland CVB, 2 met with legislators to discuss the importance of tourism. During difficult times, it is important that the economic engine funding the state isn t touched, said Sally Schlesinger, Executive Vice President of the Chicago Southland CVB. The governor and legislators understand the value of tourism and the high return on investment it produces.

3 The Chicago Southland hospitality industry led the way this year in the South-Southwest Suburban United Way s annual April Food Day. Twenty-two drop-off points were established throughout 12 communities in the Chicago April Food Day Southland region and food was collected through Wednesday, April 1st, The sites included hotels and park districts. Local food pantries estimate that the need for food and toiletries has more than doubled in the past five years. While many think of food pantries during the winter months, need is typically higher in spring and summer as donations decrease and supplies diminish. Last year the Chicago Southland hospitality industry helped to raise over 7,000 pounds of food locally. This year, they helped raise over 25,000 pounds. On April 1st, all the collected food was taken to the Tinley Park Convention Center and weighed. The food was packed up and taken to six local food pantries and shelters throughout the Chicago Southland. The shelters that were helped included: Respond Now - Chicago Heights Ford Heights Community Service Organization Richton Park Food Pantry Catholic Charities - South Holland, Restoration Ministries South Holland Together We Cope Tinley Park Front Line Training Meet the Marketing Manager! The Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau recently completed another successful Front Line Training. The seminar held on Thursday, February 26 th at the Holiday Inn Express - Crestwood aimed to create stronger employees armed with information about the Chicago Southland and customer service tips. The next Front Line Training is Thursday, April 30th at 8:30 a.m. at the Matteson Community Center in Matteson, IL. This free, two-hour seminar has limited availability and is for both the experienced and new employees. To RSVP call Diane Graves by April 23 rd at or Diane@VisitChicagoSouthland.com. Kristen Bonk, Marketing Manager, will utilize social media and e-marketing platforms in conjunction with other media to market the Chicago Southland as a unique, convenient and affordable destination. Bonk will also plan and execute a variety of Chicago Southland CVB special events, activities and publications as well as serving as a community liaison. 3

4 Chicago Southland CVB Welcomes New Board Appointments! Annie Byrne The Southland Center, a Ho-Chunk Enterprise Exposition Appointment Jodi Kennedy Ravisloe Country Club Village of Homewood Conrad Kiebles Village Administrator Village of Orland Hills Adam Woodworth Children s Museum of Oak Lawn Membership Appointment National Tourism Day Last year, we distributed Visitors Means Jobs decals to our members. We are asking you to play your part in raising awareness about the importance of tourism for the Chicago Southland and the entire State of Illinois by proudly displaying the decal in your main entrance. We also encourage you to share photos of your sticker displayed along with any other photos you would like to share via social media during National Tourism Week, May 2nd - 10th using #NTTW as well as #ChicagoSouthland. If you are in need of a replacement decal or have not received one, please contact Bernice Scheive at or Bernice@VisitChicagoSouthland.com. If you are interested in making a silent auction or food donation, call the CSCVB office at

5 January and March Grant Recipients Children s Museum in Oak Lawn, 6th Annual Easter Egg Hunt for Kids with Disabilities, Village of Oak Lawn - Pictured left to right; Jim Garrett; Amanda McCarthy, Friendraising Director, Children s Museum in Oak Lawn and Adam Woodworth, Executive Director, Children s Museum in Oak Lawn. Mokena Community Park District, 11th Annual Farm & Barn Fest, Village of Mokena - Pictured left to right; Jim Romanek, Executive Director, Mokena Community Park District; Erin Cortilet, Special Events & Trip Coordinator, Mokena Community Park District and Jim Garrett. Village of Orland Hills, Party in the Park - Pictured left to right; Jim Garrett; Glenn Bilina, Recreation Director, Village of Orland Hills and Sally Schlesinger. City of Palos Heights, 2015 First Midwest Bank Half Marathon and 10K - Pictured left to right; Jim Garrett; Mel Diab, Race Director, 2015 First Midwest Bank Half Marathon & 10K, City of Palos Heights and Kim Kislowski. Illinois Nurses Association, INA Membership Assembly in Alsip, Village of Alsip. Chicago Gaelic Park, Irish Fest Promotion, City of Oak Forest - Pictured left to right; Jim Garrett; Marian Ryan, General Manager, Chicago Gaelic Park and Sally Schlesinger. 5

6 Host It Here in the Chicago Southland! Jim Garrett Visits Washington to Discuss Legislative Issues Host It Here encourages local residents to host their next state, regional, or national meeting, event or sports tournament here in the Chicago Southland. For more information, contact Mary Patchin at or Jim Garrett, President / CEO of the Chicago Southland CVB attended the annual Destination Capitol Hill conference in Washington, D.C., March th with a delegation of other state CVB Directors and the Illinois Council of Convention & Visitor Bureaus. v Jim met with Congresswoman Robin Kelly and Acting Administrator Gregory Nadeau of the U.S. Department of Transportation to discuss signage issues along the Illinois Tollways. Visit The Abraham Lincoln Exhibit With the Abraham Lincoln Exhibit set to leave the Chicago Southland Lincoln Oasis this summer, we encourage everyone to visit the exhibit. The traveling exhibit was created by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum (ALPLM) to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Lincoln s birth. The exhibit features eight kiosks and covers Lincoln s childhood, the Lincoln - Douglas debates, the 1860 Presidential election the Civil War, the 13th Amendment, the Emancipation Proclamation, his assassination and other important periods and events in his life. It was great working together with the Illinois Office of Tourism, Abraham Lincoln Museum and U.S. Equities to bring this exhibit to the Chicago Southland Lincoln Oasis, said Jim Garrett, President/CEO of the Chicago Southland CVB. This exhibit is a terrific way to welcome visitors to Illinois when they stop at the Oasis on Interstate 80/294. Abraham Lincoln s life is one of the great American stories, and this is a wonderful spot to remind people about that story. Travelers from all over the country will get to see the exhibit, said Amy Martin, director of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. 6

7 Core Ambassadors Program The Chicago Southland Core Ambassadors aim to strengthen positive awareness with visitors and regional stakeholders in order to enhance our destination and encourage economic development. The ambassador program is a marketing arm of the CVB, which allows Chicago Southland leaders and stakeholders with influence to raise the awareness and importance of the CVB s role in creating economic vitality of the region. If you want to find out more about the ambassador program, please contact Lynne DeYoung, CPA, Director of Finance and Administration at or Lynne@VisitChicagoSouthland.com JoAnne Alexander Village of Glenwood Brooke Bialasik Hilton Chicago / Oak Lawn & Conference Center Gareth Blakesley Lake Katherine Nature Center & Botanic Gardens Vicki Foeman Markham Chamber of Commerce & Industrial Association Dan Gardner Prairie State College Videos on the CSCVB YouTube Channel The Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau would like to showcase our members videos on our YouTube Channel. To have your videos featured, Juston Teach, Communications Manager at Juston@VisitChicagoSouthland.com. Greg Lochow Blue Island Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry Jake Melrose City of Oak Forest Allisa Opyd Village of Homewood Rebecca Palumbo Rollins Palumbo Creative Aemish Patel Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites - Chicago South Lansing Thank You Core Ambassadors! Mary Poulsen City of Blue Island Teri Raney Village of Calumet Park Ronald Reed Country Club Hills Chamber of Commerce Laura Tews Holiday Inn Express - Crestwood Cindy Vassell The Pickwick Society Tea Room, Gifts & Antiques John Wilson Lan-Oak Park District Upcoming Industry Trade Shows Convention & Location African American Travel Conference: Merrillville, IN National Association of Sports Commissions: Milwaukee, WI Conference Direct: Dallas, TX Meetings Quest: Providence, RI Christian Meetings & Conferences Association: Jacksonville, FL HelmsBriscoe: Las Vegas, NV Sports Illinois Huddle: Quad Cities, IL Collaborate Marketplace: Orlando, FL 7

8 PRESORT STANDARD AUTO U.S. POSTAGE PAID LANSING, IL PERMIT NO rd Street Lansing, IL VisitChicagoSouthland.com Thank You To John Daly For 20 Years of Leadership! Thank you to John Daly for serving more than 20 years on the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau s Board of Directors. Throughout the years, his service and dedication as the treasurer, vice chairperson and chairperson has made a tremendous difference in making the Chicago Southland a wonderful place for visitors. Mark your 2015 Calendars! National Tourism Day Celebration, May 13 th CSCVB Office Annual Meeting & Luncheon, October 7 th Hilton Chicago/Oak Lawn & Conference Center Holiday Membership Reception, December 2 nd DoubleTree by Hilton Chicago-Alsip Upcoming CVBO Dates: May 12 th, June 9 th & July 14 th