FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
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Annual Conference Honors Tourism Industry Achievements with Illinois Excellence in Tourism Awards in Peoria
PEORIA — Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined tourism professionals from across Illinois at the Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel & Tourism, the state’s premier educational and networking conference for tourism industry professionals. The three-day conference began March 19 at the Peoria Civic Center with the 2024 Illinois Excellence in Tourism Awards ceremony, honoring Illinois tourism leaders’ contributions to the industry. The annual conference, held in Peoria for the first time, unites more than 360 tourism and hospitality leaders, travel experts and visionaries to explore the latest industry trends and insights that contribute to Illinois tourism.
“As Governor, I’m always proud to boast Illinois’ impressive tourism industry, which thrives as a cultural and economic benefit to our state,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Thank you to all the travel and tourism professionals across Illinois, who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to welcome visitors and make this industry stronger than ever before.”
“Illinois’ tourism industry continues to be a significant economic driver, with 111 million visitors from around the globe spending $44 billion across our great state in 2022,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. “The Illinois Governor's Conference on Travel & Tourism provides an opportunity for industry professionals and leaders to share our commitment to bolstering economic development in the travel and tourism industry throughout Illinois.”
“It is an incredible privilege to recognize and celebrate our statewide tourism partners at this year’s Illinois Excellence in Tourism Awards,” said Daniel Thomas, Deputy Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Tourism. “These awards are a reflection of our partners’ unwavering commitment to Illinois’ tourism industry, whose hard work and dedication promote Illinois as a premier travel destination.”
Travel and tourism professionals from across the industry judged submissions in nine categories, ranging from best social media marketing campaign to best event or festival, with one exceptional entry receiving best of show. The Illinois Office of Tourism also announced two Illinois Tourism Legacy Awards to longtime Peoria businessman, George Manias with George’s Shoeshine & Hatters and Roger Carmack, President & CEO of Great Rivers Country.
Each Excellence in Tourism Award category contained a Budget A for organizations with annual operating budgets of $750,000 and above, and Budget B for organizations with budgets under $750,000.
Illinois Excellence in Tourism Award winners:
New this year, the Illinois Governor’s Conference is proud to host 10 students from Roosevelt University’s Heller College of Business as part of the Enjoy Illinois Emerging Tourism Leaders Program. Majoring in Hospitality & Tourism Management, these exceptional students represent the future of the travel industry. Through industry sponsorships, they will have the opportunity to travel to Peoria, take full advantage of the conference’s educational offerings and learn from and interact with some of the top leaders in their field.
“We are immensely proud of our Hospitality & Tourism Management students that were selected to attend the Illinois Governor’s Conference thanks to this exciting new partnership with Enjoy Illinois,” said Stephanie Emrich, Assistant Teaching Professor of Hospitality Management at Roosevelt University. “This will be a significant opportunity for our students to absorb the latest industry trends and gain essential skills for their future careers in travel and tourism.”
For a complete conference schedule and full list of speakers at the 2024 Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel & Tourism, click here.
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