TABLE OF CONTENTS. Contents

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1 ANNUAL REPORT 2015 Mission Statement: The DACVB s mission is to promote the Decatur/Forsyth area. This, in turn, increases the number of day and overnight visitors; thus, contributing to the economic growth of the area.

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents Letter from the Executive Director 1 About Us 2 Valued Partnerships 4 Community Profile 5 DACVB by the Numbers 6 New Events 7 DACVB Assisted Events 8 Farm Progress Show 9 Advertisements 10 Marketing 11 Looking for Lincoln 14 Decatur Area Convention & Visitors Bureau 202 East North Street Decatur, IL P: F: tourism@decaturcvb.com

3 LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Letter from the Executive Director Page 1

4 ABOUT US About Us HISTORY Founded on April 13, 1981, the Decatur Area Convention & Visitors Bureau has stood ready to help visitors make the most of their time in the Decatur and Forsyth area. Originally supported solely by the City of Decatur, the Village of Forsyth has also generously supported the DACVB since The DACVB is one of 40 Tourism Bureaus in the State of Illinois. FINANCES The DACVB receives its funding from the following: City of Decatur Hotel/Motel Tax Village of Forsyth Hotel/Motel Tax Illinois Office of Tourism/Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity The DACVB serves a single county area encompassing all of Macon County. The Total Annual Budget for 2015 was $448,000 with the city of Decatur contributing $240,000, the Village of Forsyth contributing $65,000 and a Local Tourism & Convention Bureau Grant of $142,318. The State s grant is based on a formula of hotel-motel tax, food and beverage tax and local population, which causes the amount to vary from year to year Funding Grant 32% City of Decatur 54% Village of Forsyth 14% Page 2

5 ABOUT US BOARD OF DIRECTORS Executive Board Kassie Landry, Homewood Suites, President (2012) Kemper Willcut II, Del s Popcorn Shop, Vice President (2012) Mike Mandrell, State Farm Insurance, Treasurer (2012) Mark Avery, Grain Journal, Secretary (2010) Board Members Andrew Erickson, Richardson & Erickson (2015) Patrick Hoban, City of Decatur (2014) Evelyn Hood, African American Cultural Museum (2012) Jack Kenny, Decatur Park District (1995) Caitlyn Mooney, Decatur Conference Center & Hotel (2014) Emily Prather, Village of Forsyth (2015) Phil Romano, Romano Company (2015) Mirinda Rothrock, Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce (2008) DACVB STAFF Teri Hammel, Executive Director Sarah Conley, Office & Services Manager Almost 30 years combined experience! Katy Mize, Director of Sales & Sports Katrina Wilkerson, Director of Sales & Media *Picture by Bailey Broderick Page 3

6 VALUED PARTNERSHIPS Valued Partnerships ADM Area Attractions City of Decatur Cromwell Radio Group Decatur Civic Center Decatur Leadership Institute Class of 15 Decatur Magazine Decatur Park District Decatur Public Library Decatur Public Transit System District 61 Schools Downtown Decatur Businesses Dynagraphics/Wood Printing Farm Progress Show Forsyth Youth League Grain Journal Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Herald & Review Heritage Network Horve Hospitality Hotels, Motels and Bed & Breakfasts Illinois Council of Convention & Visitors Bureaus Illinois Tourist Information Centers Land of Lincoln Regional Tourism Office Looking for Lincoln Committee Lutheran School Association Madden Arts Center Market Illinois Masonic Temple Meet Illinois Millikin University Mt. Zion Convention Center Neuhoff Media Peerless Cleaners Progress City, USA Richland Community College Shelbyville Office of Tourism Sports Illinois Ticket-N-Trips Tour Illinois Village of Forsyth Page 4

7 COMMUNITY PROFILE Community Profile DECATUR/FORSYTH AREA Population* o Metro 109,833 (estimated) o Decatur - 75,088 (estimated) o Forsyth - 3,690 (estimated) 20 Hotels/Motels 2 Bed & Breakfasts Around 9,800 Tourism Jobs in Macon County More than 1,400 Hotel/Motel Rooms More than 60 Unique Restaurants 5 Golf Courses (3 public/2 private) 2 Disc Golf Courses 6 Museums More than 200 Churches More than 15 Football/Soccer Fields More than 25 Ball Diamonds ILLINOIS TOURISM STATISTICS** More than Million visitors to Illinois (3.5% increase from 2013) Visitors spent nearly $36.3Billion in Illinois (5.1% increase from 2013) Illinois hotel-motel tax revenues for fiscal year 2015 were $255.6 Million (7.6% increase from 2013) Traveler expenditures directly supported 306,040 jobs Illinois tourism saves the average Illinois household $1,300 in taxes each year * According to the Census American Community Survey 2014 data (newest available) **State of Illinois Tourism Statistics based on most recently available data from 2014 Page 5

8 DACVB BY THE NUMBERS DACVB by the Numbers 3 Trade Shows Attended o Amateur Softball Assn. National Convention, IL Governor s Conference on Travel & Tourism, Religious Conference Management Assn. 3 Golf Shows Attended o o o Milwaukee, St. Louis & Chicago 846 people registered at the Decatur Golf Booth 465+ golf packages sold to participants from, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Texas, & Wisconsin Attended 615 Meetings/Events 119 New Facebook Likes, 1,932 Total Likes 313 Visitor Guides Requested 3,310 Downloads of the Online Edition of the Visitors Guide 19,532 Visitor Guides distributed (2 issues) Brochures/Visitors Guides placed at 9 Tourist Information Centers in Illinois Total Tourist Expenditures for Macon County: $136.9 Million* $675, generated in Hotel/Motel Tax in Decatur $311, generated in Hotel/Motel Tax in Forsyth 22,149 Total Hotel/Motel Room Nights Reported for an estimated Total Economic Impact of $5,315,760 *State of Illinois Tourism Statistics based on most recently available data from 2014 Page 6

9 NEW EVENTS New Events Conventions/Conferences/Workshops Baptist General State Convention of IL, Inc. Bonnie s Baskets Workshop Illinois State Florists Association Illinois Women s Golf Association (State Senior Tournament) Illinois Trappers Association Inter-Union Wet/Dry Corn Milling Council Millikin University Dept. of Chemistry Sheldon Heights Church of Christ Wabash Railroad Historical Society Widows Sons Masonic Riders Association Events Decatur HS Class of 55 St. Teresa Class of 65 Sports APA Midwest Singles Regional Tournament ASA Men s 50-Over Fast Pitch National Tournament ASA Umpire School CCIW Women s Golf Tournament Collegiate All-Star Water Ski Tournament Illinois Men s State Bowling Hall of Fame Page 7

10 DACVB ASSISTED EVENTS DACVB Assisted Events APA Midwest Singles Regional Tournament ASA Men s 50-Over Fast Pitch National Tournament ASA Men s Class D&E Slow Pitch State Tournament ASA Umpire School ASA Illinois Hall of Fame Inductee Event Baptist General State Congress of Christian Education Baptist General State Convention of Illinois, Inc. Bonnie s Baskets Workshop CCIW Women s Golf Tournament Central Illinois Jazz Festival Churches of God Illinois State Women s Discipleship Collegiate All-Star Water Ski Tournament DECA Career Dev. Conference Decatur Celebration Decatur-Forsyth Classic Decatur High School Class of 55 Decatur Homecoming Reunion Decatur Quilt Fest Decatur Train Fairs Spring & Fall East Central IL Highway Commissioners Elks Hoop Shoot State Free Throw Contest Page 8 Farm Progress Show Games for Troops Greater Decatur Chapter of Credit Unions Health Occupations Students of America Heartland District Women s Conference IHSA Class A & AA Girls Golf Tournament IHSA Cross Country Sectional IL Assn of Home & Community Educators IL Assn of Housing Authorities IL Baptist State Assn IL Baptist State Assn Women s Missions IL Men s State Bowling Hall of Fame IL Special Olympics IL State Florists Assn IL Trappers Assn IL Women s Golf Association (State Senior) Illinois Moose Assn Inter-Union We/Dry Corn Milling Council Jobs Daughters Lakeview All School Reunion Leadership Illinois Lions of Illinois, Inc. MidState Classic Cup Soccer Tournament Midwest Slugfest Millikin University Commencements Spring & Winter Millikin University Department of Chemistry Millikin University Department of Theatre and Dance Millikin University Fall Family Weekend Millikin University Homecoming Millikin University Women s Golf Classics Spring & Fall Optimists International Jr. Golf Tournament PB & PA Golf Outing Penguin in the Park 5K Pride of the Prairie Marble Shows Spring & Fall Midwest Taekwondo Tournament Sheldon Heights Church of Christ St. Teresa Class of 1965 Stephen Decatur High School Class of 65 T.O.P.S. Club, Inc. USTA Ursula Beck Pro Tennis Classic Wabash Railroad Historical Society Widows Sons Masonic Riders Assn Wilder Family Reunion

11 FARM PROGRESS SHOW Farm Progress Show Biennially, on odd number years, Decatur hosts the Farm Progress Show. This premier agricultural event is known as the 'World's Fair of Agriculture' with its huge exhibit field and product demonstrations. Attendees come from all across the globe! The DACVB welcomes these travelers in the International Tent at the show. The DACVB also sent invitation letters to local US Embassies in support of Travel VISA applications 227 International Visitor Pre-Registrations 110 Invitation Letters sent to US Embassies 800+ International Tent Visitors Page 9

12 ADVERTISEMENTS Advertisements ASA Tournament Book Capitol City Visitor Guide circulation 60,000 Central Illinois Jazz Festival Guide DCCH In-Room Directory Decatur-Forsyth Restaurant Table Tent Decatur-Forsyth Spring/Summer & Fall/Winter Visitors Guides Decatur Magazine circulation 22,500 Discover Central Illinois Guide circulation 60,000 Farm Progress Show Guide Book Golf Time circulation 120,000 Herald & Review Calendar circulation 28,000 Herald & Review Getaway Guide circulation 30,000 Illinois Antique Guide Illinois Times Summer Guide circulation 28,000 Illinois Travel Guide circulation 350,000 Land of Lincoln Visitor Guide circulation 45,000 Midwest Meetings (magazine/online) print circulation 35,000 Midwest TaeKwonDo Book Millikin University Directory Shelbyville Visitors Guide Sports Destination Management (print/online) print circ. 18,000 USTA Tennis Tournament Book Welcome to Decatur Guide Page 10

13 MARKETING Marketing Spring/Summer & Fall/Winter Editions of Decatur/Forsyth Visitor Guides New Office Canopy & Window Display Updated Decatur-Forsyth Area Map with Points of Interest Updated Services Brochure Page 11

14 MARKETING BROCHURE DISPLAYS America s Best Value Inn Chevrolet Hall of Fame Museum Country Inn & Suites Decatur Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Decatur Civic Center Decatur Conference Center & Hotel Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Hawthorne Suites Quality Inn Ramada Limited Sleep Inn Welcome Hotel & Suites RADIO Cromwell Radio Group: Scott Busboom & Doug Wolfe interviews for National Tourism Week Neuhoff Media: ASA National Tournament Interview Neuhoff Media: Central IL Jazz Festival Advertisement Neuhoff Media: Decatur-Forsyth Classic promotion commercials for Tourism Neuhoff Media: Holiday Greeting Page 12

15 MARKETING WEBSITE Designed with visitors in mind, the DACVB website offers a glimpse of what our area has to offer! Designed with Sports & Meeting Planners in mind, the website highlights services the DACVB offers free of charge as well as information on area venues. 19,297 User Sessions 16,519 Users User Session - A session is the period of time a user is actively engaged with the website. Users Users, both new and returning, that have had at least one session within the year. Page 13

16 LOOKING FOR LINCOLN Looking for Lincoln DECATUR S LOOKING FOR LINCOLN COMMITTEE Paula Cross Community Member Patrick McDaniel Decatur City Council Becky Damptz Decatur Public Library Nathan Pierce Macon County History Museum Lynn Dixon Greenwood Cemetery Mary Turner Governor Oglesby Mansion Griffin Enyart City of Decatur Brent Wielt Macon County Conservation District Teri Hammel Decatur Area Convention & Visitors Bureau ABOUT LOOKING FOR LINCOLN In 2013, a working committee of 9 people was formed. This committee works hard to ensure that the wondrous Wayside Exhibits donated to our community are maintained and promoted. In 2013, two exhibits were replaced due to poor materials; in 2014, the exhibit at the Macon County History Museum was replaced; and in 2015, nine exhibits were replaced in Downtown Decatur with the assistance and funding from the City of Decatur. One exhibit remains left to be installed at the Lincoln Homestead. Matching paint has been ordered and received to be used to touch up areas that need refreshing. In addition to the replaced/refurbished exhibits, three remain in good condition. The committee will continue to keep a close eye on all of the exhibits to ensure their quality and appearance. Page 14