Tourism rising in Illinois

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Jim Garrett, CDME, President/CEO (left) and Warren Ribley, director of the Illinois Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (right), present the 2011 Food & Beverage Employee of the Year award to Sonia Marquez of the Double Tree Inn of Alsip at the Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau annual meeting at the Tinley Park Convention Center in Tinley Park, Illinois, Wednesday, September, 14, 2011. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Updated: November 10, 2011 10:14AM

Judging by tax revenue from hotels and motels, tourism in Illinois is on the upswing, a state official told the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau at its annual meeting Wednesday at the Tinley Park Convention Center.

Warren Ribley, director of the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, is confident that the upward trend will continue.

“Statewide, hotel and motel taxes are up 12 percent in the fiscal year that ended in June, and are up another 8 percent since July,” Ribley said. “That tells us we have more people traveling, more business people as well as leisure travelers.”

With that in mind, Ribley noted that Gov. Pat Quinn will be touting Illinois as a travel destination and an investment opportunity when he heads to China Friday on a trade mission.

“China is showing strong growth for Illinois,” he said. “The governor will visit Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Along with announcing business agreements worth more than $$100 million in investment, he’ll strengthen ties between China and Illinois.

“China is our third-largest export destination. Between 2009 and 2010, Illinois exports there rose by more than $70 million,” Ribley said.

It’s more than corn and soybeans.

“It’s electronic telecommunications, green technology. A vast number of Illinois companies are able to enter new markets for their products. It’s one we are very interested in along with South America, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Rim, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Eastern Europe,” Ribley said.

The Far East is also home for potential tourists.

“Our pitch is that if you want to experience the United States, you can’t go wrong with Illinois,” he said.

Ribley unveiled a new TV commercial that touts Illinois as a destination.

“Illinois has always been the lead destination state in the Midwest. We’re in competition with Wisconsin and Michigan, and we’ll continue our strong marketing effort,” he said.

Asked about the preponderance of TV and radio commercials for those states, Ribley smiled and said, “If you were in Michigan, you’d see a lot of Illinois ads.”

Richton Park Mayor Rick Reinbold enjoyed the commercial.

“I think it’s a very positive step. I think it will get people’s attention, and it’s also beneficial because it helps keep people at home for ‘staycations.’ The diversity of things to do in this state is huge,” Reinbold said.

Jim Garrett, president and chief executive of the convention bureau, said local tourism should get a boost from the expanded Tinley Park Convention Center, which had its grand opening Wednesday, three months after opening its doors.

“We’re trying to accelerate tourism, and we’ve got a lot of challenges, but this is a great addition,” Garrett said.

Ribley said he’s confident that Illinois has “turned the corner on the recession,” despite a report by the U.S. Census Bureau that poverty is at a 19-year high in Illinois and an all-time high nationally. He said he hasn’t had a chance yet to analyze “those shocking numbers.”