Jane, Rockford’s very own dinosaur, helps lure visitors to town. (News Bulletin photo) The Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is thinking big as it kicks off its second 30 years. Surrounded by partners, business leaders, elected officials and friends RACVB officially kicked off its 30th Year Anniversary Celebration last week. Officials highlighted some of the most prominent achievements of the past three decades at a news conference last Thursday while looking to the future with the announcement of several special activities and events to be held throughout the year. “In 1984, visionary community leaders doubled down on an economic development strategy built around the seemingly audacious idea that visitors would come – and spend their money, and enjoy it,” said John Groh, RACVB president & CEO. “Today, we celebrate those individuals and organizations that saw the best our region had to offer and wanted to invite the world to experience it.” The RACVB was launched in 1984 as an independent non-profit organization and has since led the region’s efforts to attract leisure visitors and group travelers. In 2013, Winnebago County’s tourism industry generated more than $71 million in payroll – generated by visitor spending of nearly $320 million. Last year, local sites, attractions and events welcomed more than 6.7 million guests, up from approximately 4 million in 1984. Since 2011, the hospitality/leisure industry has led the Winnebago County MSA as the fastest-growing sector in job creation with more than an 11 percent growth rate. For the Rockford MSA, leisure and hospitality jobs are at a record level with approximately 13,900 jobs, which accounts for 9.4 percent of total jobs in the market. A hallmark of RACVB’s work has been partnering with key organizations to develop new products and experiences that appeal to residents and attract visitors. Projects with RACVB’s footprint include the development of Davis Park and Sportscore Two, the restoration of Shumway Market and Memorial Hall, the opening of the Laurent House, development of Stroll on State and the coming Reclaiming First improvements including a new 100,000-sq.-ft. downtown sports complex and modernization of Sportscore Two and the Indoor Sports Center, among others. More than 20 new attractions and cultural organizations have opened since 1984 including Aldeen Golf Club & Practice Center, Anderson Japanese Gardens, Sportscore Two/Indoor Sports Center, the Laurent House by Frank Lloyd Wright, Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, Davis Park, Riverfront Museum Park, Nygren Wetlands, Rockford City Market, as well as major expansions or renovations at institutions like Burpee Museum of Natural History, BMO Harris Bank Center and Coronado Performing Arts Center. Developing the sports tourism market has also been a significant focus for RACVB. Each year, more than 150 sports tournaments draw visitors to the region. Working with many partners, including the Rockford Park District, RACVB has led efforts to position the community as one of the country’s top destinations for amateur sports. Initially focused on filling Sportscore, the region’s facility line up now includes Sportscore Two, the Indoor Sports Complex, Harlem Community Center, several bowling centers, top-flight golf courses, the beautiful and wide Rock River and soon the Downtown Sports Complex and expanded Sportscore Two complex, among others. During the 30 years, 18 new hotels have opened in Winnebago County. In 1984, only three hotels were at East State and I-90; now known as the “hotel campus” there are a total of 19 hotels there. Today, there are more than 3,000 rooms in the county across several categories and from nearly every hotel brand family. Collectively, hotels generate more than $50 million in revenue each year and provide a significant number of jobs for local citizens. In 2017, Gorman & Company is expected to open a 160-room hotel and conference center in downtown Rockford, along the Rock River, in the former Amerock building. In keeping with the spirit of celebrating partners and visionaries, RACVB annually recognizes and inducts individuals and organizations in to its Tourism Hall of Fame. Inductees are recognized for taking bold steps to develop and support the region’s tourism industry. To date, more than 35 have been recognized for their achievements and exceptional service to the tourism industry. Rockford City Hall, located in the heart of downtown on State St. (News Bulletin photo) In celebration of the RACVB 30th Year, Groh announced that a permanent tribute wall would be installed at RACVB’s office recognizing the Hall of Fame inductees. “Our inductees have given of themselves in exceptional ways for the benefit of our community,” he said. “Their collective efforts have helped us get here today, celebrating 30 years of tourism. Their contributions will now be remembered and celebrated on an ongoing basis.” Further, RACVB has launched a “30 Days of Fun” promotion. Over the next 30 days RACVB will feature one event, attraction or business per day and encourage visitors and local residents to visit that site and then post about their experience on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram by using the hashtag #RockfordFun30. Activities include visiting popular spots such as Rockford City Market and Volcano Falls or attending events including Fall ArtScene, Head of the Rock Regatta or Locktoberfest Apple Days, to name a few. Each time a guest posts on social media using the hashtag they are entered to win a Rockford-themed getaway, including annual memberships to several local cultural attractions. To keep track of what’s going on each day and learn more information about each site and event featured, visit RACVB’s website at ift.tt/1mOJaTb. Winners will be announced on Oct. 27. “At RACVB, we feel blessed by the presence of the many hard-working, creative, inspiring citizens whose good work enriches our community,” Groh said. “We truly are In Good Company – and these fine people do so much to enhance the Rockford region as a destination, so we decided to celebrate them.” To that end, RACVB commissioned one of Rockford’s most prominent photographic duos, Nels and Anna Akerlund of Nels Akerlund Photography + Video, to create 40 highly conceptual photographs depicting the people and places that make the region appealing for residents and attractive to visitors. The photos will be on display throughout the region at 30 locations. “The 40 people we photographed are making the Rockford area a better place to live, and that inspires us to help further their success in any way we can. Every one of them was so much fun to get to know during the process, and it makes us feel great knowing we share a home with so many dedicated, positive, all-around awesome people,” said Nels Akerlund. “Their passion for what they do fuels our creativity and drives us to go above and beyond. We hope the same inspiration and pride infects those who view the images.” RACVB will host an opening reception for the exhibit during ArtScene at Octane Interlounge on this Friday from 5-9 p.m. Following ArtScene, the portraits will then be on display in 30 locations throughout Winnebago County. A complete list of locations will be available at ift.tt/1wWMWuA The region-wide exhibit will close on January 5, 2015. “We envision people wanting to see each of the 40 portraits as such we hope they will take the opportunity to discover our locally owned retail stores and restaurants, as well as our cultural and civic organizations that are serving as hosts for the In Good Company exhibit.” The region-wide art exhibition is just the beginning of In Good Company. Over the coming year, RACVB will introduce the In Good Company messaging and imagery into all of its leisure focused advertising and marketing efforts – including a redesign of its primary website, gorockford, and visitors guide. In the spring, RACVB will host a series of “Big Ideas Learning Labs” for tourism industry partners. “We often learn and are inspired most when we drive outside our lane, when we explore something new and then relate it back to our work. These Learning Labs will allow our partners to experience some of the most innovative practitioners and visionaries in the fields of art, hospitality, experiential learning and design. Our hope is that collectively we’ll be inspired with ideas that will spur innovation and growth of our industry as we head in to the next 30 years,” said Groh. RACVB’s 30th Anniversary Celebration will conclude with its Annual Luncheon, on Tuesday, May 5, 2015. The annual luncheon will include a keynote speech by a nationally known authority on the power of hospitality, a celebration of Tourism Hall of Fame inductees including the induction of its newest members and will conclude with a celebration progress made in growing the region’s tourism industry during “The First 30 Years.” –News Bulletin news sources The post THINKING BIG appeared first on News Bulletin.
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 06:38:39 +0000
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