►
Description
Convention and Visitors Bureau Presentation: Special City Council Meeting (McLean County, City of Bloomington, and Town of Normal)
B
B
B
B&Amp;R
bien
local
flavor
be
in
good
company,
be
in
the
moment
and
be
in
our
story,
all
great
words
to
describe
our
community
and
what
it
has
to
offer.
A
visitor.
Our
mission
is
to
enhance
the
region's
economic,
vitality,
sustainability
and
quality
of
life
by
marketing
the
county
as
a
compelling
destination,
and
the
key
word
is
marketing.
B
We
are
governed
by
a
board
of
directors,
Karl
Rove
estelĂ
is
our
board
chairman
and
he's
going
to
jump
in
and
answer
any
questions
any
hard
questions
right.
We
have
many
people
in
the
room,
many
board
members
in
the
room,
elected
officials.
You
can
see
all
the
names
up
here
and
we
just
want
to
say
thank
you
to
them
for
their
guidance
for
their
support
for
their
direction,
for
giving
us
that
mission
statement
and
taking
the
time
to
attend
all
the
meetings
that
we
have
without
them.
B
We
could
not
even
accomplish
our
mission
and
we
do
make
sure
that
they
get
monthly
reports
from
the
bureau
on
all
activities,
and
so
we
do
appreciate
that
a
little
bit
about
our
funding,
46
percent
of
our
funding
is
through
the
Bloomington
and
normal
visitor
paid
hotel
tax
37%
of
our
funding
comes
from
the
Illinois
Office
of
Tourism,
through
a
local
tourism
and
convention
bureau,
grant
called
the
LTC
bee,
which
is
allocated
from
the
state
hotel
tax.
This
is
a
matching
grant
and
funds
matched
come
from
the
local
hotel
tax.
B
B
B
Peoria
is
15%
hotel,
tax
Springfield
is
13%,
and
so
we
have
a
12%
hotel
tax,
which
we
are
getting
a
part
of,
and
visitors
infuse
those
dollars
into
our
community,
creating
those
local
taxes
enhancing
our
businesses
that
are
restaurants,
the
entertainment,
the
hotels,
they're
infusing
that
money
into
our
area,
creating
those
local
taxes
which
a
small
portion
is
put
back
into
the
Convention
and
Visitors
Bureau.
So
we
can
go
back
out
and
market
and
bring
those
visitors
back
in
and
that's
what
we
do
with
the
funding.
B
B
Some
of
the
major
events
that
are
hosted
you
can
see
up
on
the
screen:
the
Christian
congregation
of
the
Jehovah
Witnesses,
six
thousand
room
nights,
15,000
people,
and
each
of
these
events
require
a
lot
of
funds
in
sponsorship,
we're
very
competitive,
with
Rockford,
with
Peoria,
with
Springville,
with
champagne,
we're
competitive
with
all
of
these
communities
and
trying
to
get
this
business.
And
what
we
do
is
we
work
with
the
hotels
were
the
facilitator,
we
work
with
the
hotels
and
we
actually
go
out
and
we
actually
put
the
RFPs
together.
B
We
booked
a
hundred
and
eighty
four
group
rooms
groups,
not
rooms
groups
in
our
by
our
office,
but
these
are
group
rooms
that
doesn't
necessarily
mean
the
visitor
that's
coming
in
to
go
on
route
66.
It
doesn't
necessarily
mean
that
it's
an
individual
that
maybe
saw
some
of
our
advertising
or
heard
of
our
events
on
the
radio.
These
are
basically
just
generated
by
our
office,
and
we
had
one
hundred
and
eighty
four
groups
booked
our
sales
staff.
How
do
we
get
these
rooms?
They
call
daily
to
organizers
many
in
this
room.
B
In
fact,
I
have
to
tell
you
a
story
that
we
were
trying
to
get
the
county
officials
of
Illinois
into
town,
and
so
they
came
in
for
a
site.
Inspection
and
I
got
ahold
of
Carlo
and
said
Carlo
we're
getting
in
the
county
officials.
We
need
to
have
somebody
welcome
them,
so
he
was
out
of
town
and
he
went
to
John
McIntyre
and
he
said.
Could
you
greet
this
group
because
we're
really
trying
to
get
him
to
bloomington-normal
John
goes
in.
He
welcomes
the
group.
He
doesn't
even
know
this.
You
probably
don't
even
know
this.
D
B
We
actually
get
a
lot
of
our
business
that
way
a
lot
of
locals
step
forward.
I
mean
we've
had
the
Chamber
of
Commerce
or
that
yeah
the
Chamber
convention
we've
had
the
EDC
convention
we're
working
with
best
Whisman
right
now
and
Dec
Johnson
Arts
Convention.
It
really
does
take
a
community
to
bring
these
groups
in.
We
can
call
on
a
daily
basis
if
we
don't
have
people
stepping
forward
and
saying
hey.
I
would
like
to
be
involved
and
I
would
like
to
have
our
convention
here.
B
Our
sports,
some
of
the
trade,
shows
that
we
attend
right
now
are
listed
above
here.
Most
of
our
business
comes
from
making
calls
out.
So
we
might
have
our
sales
people
calling
30
people
a
week,
but
we
do
a
lot
of
trade
shows
and
conferences
to
get
the
business
in,
and
then
we
have
a
sports
commission
that
helps
our
sports
groups
are
one
of
the
largest
markets
and
we
have
a
Sports
Commission,
it's
the
Department
of
the
CVB
it,
but
it
helps
with
development
and
funding
of
new
sports
events.
B
B
We
had
five
hundred
and
six
to
six
thousand
eight
views
on
our
website.
The
video
you
just
saw
is
on
the
homepage,
and
our
Vince
calendar
gets
a
lot
of
views.
It's
also
on
the
home.
Page
organizations
are
able
to
post
their
own
events
on
our
website.
We
monitor
them,
but
they
can
post
them
and
if
they
post
them
on
our
website,
then
we
also
post
them
on
the
Illinois
Office
of
Tourism
to
website.
So
not
only
are
they
getting
their
event
locally
here,
they're
also
getting
on
the
Illinois
Office
of
Tourism
site.
B
We
also
include
those
in
our
radio
advertising
if
they're
on
our
site.
The
only
way
we
know
about
events
is
to
constantly
go
out
in
the
community
and
say:
hey
you
post
your
event,
so
we
know
what
you're
doing
and
how
can
we
help,
and
so,
when
they
do
post
those
events,
we
do
put
them
on
the
radio.
You
might
seem
in
our
ads,
but
basically
we
don't
know
them
unless
they
do
post
them.
We
also
have
three
visitor
kiosks
with
our
full
website.
B
B
We
actually
did
a
promotion
on
get
your
six
on
sixty
six
and
what
we
were
trying
to
do
is
get
the
community
out
to
go
to
our
route
66
restaurants,
and
if
they
did
that
and
they
went
to
six
restaurants,
then
we
actually
put
them
in
a
drawing
and
they
would
win
a
photo
shoot
at
rygan
place
at
Sprague
super
service,
and
so
that
was
a
lot
of
fun.
Our
social
media
includes
advertising
and
markets
outside
of
50
miles.
Most
of
our
advertising
is
outside
of
50
miles.
B
We
do
produce
a
quarterly
newsletter
that
shares,
updates
and
informs
viewers
of
events
coming
to
the
area.
Press
releases
are
done
in
all
groups
that
want
one
and
four
times
a
year.
We
have
a
hotel
and
attraction
meeting
and
these
meetings
are
very
informative
for
our
community
any
hotel,
an
attraction
can
come.
They
have
input
on
what
they
would
like
to
see
the
bureau
doing.
In
fact,
one
of
these
meetings
they
said
we'd
like
you
to
use
radio
advertising
outside
the
area,
so
we
did,
we
went
into
champagne
and
we
went
into
Peoria.
B
So
that's
what
happens
at
these
meetings?
We
print
more
than
50,000
visitor
guides.
I
hope
you've
seen
the
visitor
guide
they're
in
our
hotels,
they're
in
our
attractions
there
at
city
halls.
These
visitor
guides
are
our
fulfillment
piece
for
any
magazine
that
we
advertise
in.
That
is
what
they
get.
They
get
this
visitor
guide,
and
so
we
do
offer
that
visitor
guide
to
anybody
in
the
community.
B
That
would
like
one,
but
we
also
make
sure
that
our
hotels,
our
attractions,
have
these
so
that
they
all
the
visitors
that
come
to
them,
they're
also
distributed
at
our
sporting
events,
our
conventions
and
all
the
tour
groups
and
tour
groups
get
them
another
nice
thing
about
visitor
guide
and
the
distribution
is
the
tourist
information
centers
throughout
the
state
of
Illinois.
They
actually
get
these
visitor
guides
in
boxes.
So
not
only
are
they
distributed
locally
here
throughout
the
state
and
Amtrak
Union
Station
also
has
these
guides.
B
So
if
you're
ever
looking
for
one
in
any
of
those
places
just
grab
one,
we
do
tear
off
maps
as
well.
This
one
happens
to
be
McLean
County
made,
but
we
have
specialty
tear
off
maps
that
we
give
to
the
hotels
and
all
of
these
publications
can
be
down
loaded
on
our
website
visit
peon
org.
All
you
have
to
do
our
meeting
planning
guide,
our
visitor
guide
and
all
the
maps
are
downloadable
our
advertising.
B
We
have
a
circulation
of
1.5
million
with
our
advertising.
It
includes
publications
like
route,
66
magazine,
Illinois
meetings
and
events
travel
Illinois.
Most
of
these
are
we
advertise
50
miles
outside
of
the
area,
and
so
we
try
to
advertise
in
those
magazines
that
will
have
a
reader
response,
meaning
they
can
check
off
I'd
like
information,
and
so
we
can
get
that
visitor
guide
out
to
them
a
couple
more
of
those
advertising
areas.
B
B
B
Nuts
distill,
in
funk
squirrel
maple
syrup
that
were
honored
with
videos
done
by
the
Illinois
Office
of
Tourism,
and
we
use
them
in
promotions
as
well.
One
of
the
other
things
I
did
want
to
discuss
were
partnerships.
All
the
events
that
are
listed
here.
We
have
a
program
called
partners
in
promotion.
This
is
a
way
for
our
local
organizations
to
get
involved
with
the
Convention
and
Visitors
Bureau.
All
they
have
to
do
is
meet
the
criteria,
which
is
basically
bring
visitors
into
the
area.
They
can
apply
for
this.
B
This
is
a
program
that
our
office
does
to
ensure
that
our
visitors
are
going
to
be
able
to
be
staying
in
a
hotel
that
is
clean
and
safe.
And
yes,
of
course,
we
want
customer
service
involved
as
well,
but
you
can
see
all
the
hotels
that
are
listed
and
the
nice
thing
about
doing
this.
We
have
a
secret
shopper,
go
out
and
the
secret
shopper
basically
rates
down
again
on
the
cleanliness,
the
safety
and
the
customer
service,
and
they
get
a
little
asterisk.
B
Obviously
we
want
to
increase
visitors
in
everything
and
anything
to
do
with
increasing
visitors,
for
the
very
reason
that
when
they
come
in,
they
spend
that
money.
They
create
those
taxes.
For
us
they
have
a
good
experience
and
hopefully
they'll
see
our
community
and
go
out
and
tell
the
world,
but
that
that
is
what
we're
going
to
be
doing.
We're
going
to
be
doing
that
it's
a
priority.
B
We're
also
engaging
the
strategic
planning
session
with
the
staff
and
board
that's
in
December
and
we'll
be
looking
for
input
from
you,
we'll
be
sending
out
surveys,
so
hopefully
look
forward
that
in
the
next
month,
or
so,
where
we're
wanting
input
from
you
about
the
CVB
activities
and
our
BART
board
will
be
using
those
surveys.
We're
also
going
to
be
producing
three
new
promotional
videos,
one
on
breweries,
one
on
route
66
and
one
on
festivals,
very
similar
to
the
first
one
that
you
saw
the
the
longer
one.
B
But
we're
going
to
be
using
in
that
in
our
advertising
and
promotions,
we're
going
to
stay
involved
with
being
advantage
and
do
whatever
we
can,
especially
in
the
marketing
area,
because
we're
a
marketing
agency
and
so
we'll
continue
our
work
with
them
and
we're
going
to
do
something
new
this
year.
We're
going
to
be
doing
audio
and
mobile
location
targeting.
So
that's
going
to
be
kind
of
a
new
for
us,
but
we
are
getting
into
that
area
and
with
that
there
are
any
questions
that
you.
A
E
Thanks
chairman
chairman,
the
closer,
let's
give
it
for
him
I'm
happy
to
take
questions.
I
just
want
to
say
on
behalf
of
the
board.
Thank
you
to
our
municipal
partners.
Thank
you
for
your
support,
thanks
everyone
who
draws
attention
to
the
really
cool
and
fun
things
that
are
happening
in
the
community,
because
the
agency
is
really
a
conduit.
What
we
try
to
do
is
leverage
all
the
fun
interesting
things
that
are
happening
and
position
them
in
the
market,
so
that
more
people
come
and
more
people
spend
money
and,
and
that
supports
our
local
business.
E
So
what's
brought
us
here
today,
one
of
the
core
questions
that
we
were
asked
is:
how
does
it
all
fit
together?
How
do
we
partner
well
I,
think
the
CVB
plays
an
instrumental
role
in
being
a
connector
and
sharing
the
amazing
things
that
this
community
has
to
offer,
and
by
doing
that,
we
we
make
this
community
a
place
where
more
talent,
workforce
talent
wants
to
be
or
where
a
business
wants
to
expand.
E
And
you
know
one
of
the
things
that
I
have
observed
over
the
years
is:
there
are
often
times
where
I'm
like
I,
just
can't
believe,
but
this
is
like
one
of
the
best-kept
secrets
that
we
have
right
and
we
have
to
break
that
mold.
We
have
to
get
news
out
about
the
exciting
and
interesting
things
that
are
happening
in
our
community
and
the
CVV
is
a
great
conduit
for
that.
E
So
anybody
can
submit
an
event
that
you
are
organizing
through
the
website
and
the
CVB
will
mark
it
though
they'll
push
it
out,
though
they'll
put
it
in
radio
ads
and
pieces
and
those
kinds
of
things
and
any
collaboration,
effort
or
any
opportunities
please
give
crystal
or
the
staff
a
call
they'll
be
happy
to
do
that.
I'll,
stop
talking
and
take
questions
did.
F
F
D
B
The
investment
is
from
the
hotel
tax
that
we
received
from
the
city
of
Bloomington
in
the
town
of
normal,
which
was
about
five
hundred
and
eighty
four
thousand
five
hundred
for
every
dollar
that
we
received.
If
you
take
the
number
of
hotel
rooms
that
we
had
and
take
that
times,
one
hundred
and
fifty
six
dollars
that
I
mentioned
earlier.
That
gives
you
the
over
six
million
dollars.
You
divide
that
you
come
up
with
eleven
dollars
and
42
cents.
So
basically
I'm
saying
that's.
What's
going
back
into
the
economy.
B
F
F
B
B
Numbers
you're
talking
about
that
that
would
be
far
greater.
These
are
just
groups
that
we
know
out
of
those
184
groups
that
we
looked
then
we
actually
book
2790
grooms
from
that.
We
know
that,
because
we
track
these
rooms
with
our
hotel
your's.
What
we
do
is
well.
The
board
actually
gets
a
report
every
month
of
every
single
group
that
we
bought,
how
many
rooms
they
are,
what
the
attendance
is,
what
the
date
is.
F
B
B
F
B
Number,
if
you
don't
know
yeah
I
mean
these
are
all
estimated.
These
are
all
estimated
direct
economic
impact
and,
when
I
say
estimated
direct
in
economic
impact
that
isn't
even
including
the
indirect,
which
means
that
that
purveyor
that
sold
that
hotel
food
doesn't
even
include
any
of
that.
It's
just
that
direct.
F
B
Indirect
is,
as
I
mentioned,
for
instance,
if
the
hotelier
has
to
have
cleaning
solutions.
Well,
they're,
actually
paying
somebody's
benefiting
from
that
that's
an
indirect,
well,
a
direct
would
be
them
going
in
and
just
paying
for
their
meal,
basically
or
their
actual
hotel
room
they're
going
in
and
paying
that.
How
all.
D
B
G
B
Well,
I
I
would
say
that,
having
facilities
to
be
able
to
bring
in
larger
groups
whether
it's
sports
or
conventions,
we
have
large
facilities,
but
if
we're
going
to
get
the
large
groups,
the
reason
we're
able
to
get
those
major
events,
because
they
would
use
a
facility
that
they
don't
care
here
like
if
a
hotel
is
connected.
Jehovah
Witnesses
are
at
Grossinger
motors
and
they
basically
don't
care
if
they're
spread
out
through
the
city.
Those
are
the
types
of
groups
we're
getting
all
of
those
groups
that
you
saw
are
like
that.
B
All
of
those
groups
do
not
care
if
they
have
a
headquarters,
hotel
and
they're
able
to
use.
Luckily
Illinois
State
University
lets
us
use
their
facilities
because
really
Illinois
State
University
uses
their
facility
first
and
then
they
we
actually
ask
them.
You
know
we
tried
to
get
them
in
on
the
bids
and
they
allow
us
to
use
that
facility
for
all
the
IHSA
events
that
you
saw
up
there
a
little
different
than
Grossinger
motors,
because
that's
what
Grossinger
motors
does
is
you
wants
to
take
care
of?
Is
you.
C
B
E
Think
the
other
trend
is
competition,
I
think
I
would
say.
Competition
continues
to
get
it's,
it's
a
more
and
more
competitive
marketplace
for
these
conventions.
For
these
groups,
municipalities,
counties
communities
not
just
in
Illinois
all
across
the
Midwest
all
across
the
country,
are
competing
for
these
groups
and
we
have
to
maintain
that
competitiveness
if
we're
going
to
try
to
bring
them
in,
and
you
know
it's
that
that
makes
it
that's
a
challenge,
because
every
year
becomes
more
competitive
and
groups
see
the
benefit
of
having
15,000.
E
People
come
to
a
particular
event
and
they're
willing
to
do
as
much
as
they
can
to
get
them.
I
would
just
say
that
the
sales
team
and
the
CVB
has
done
an
excellent
job
of
providing
those
intangibles.
Those
things
that
make
that
experience
really
easy.
They
they
can
count
on
us.
They
know
that
when
they
come,
if
anything
goes
wrong,
we're
gonna
be
on
it.
We're
gonna
fix
it.
We're
gonna
salt,
we're
gonna
problem-solve,
we're
gonna,
really
provide
that
concierge
service
and
I.