Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau Tourism Marketing Information

Cal-Sag Trail Officially Opens 13-Mile Western Segment

of Trails for . “As this trail team in 2011. Since then, the Nearly one year after breaking connects to other trail systems, that Mizwicki’s have worked with Trails for ground, the completion of the 13-mile health impact is going to grow.” Illinois to realign the crossing by 104th western portion of the Cal-Sag Trail The ribbon cutting ceremony Avenue, from a 45 degree diagonal to was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting included speakers Congressman Dan a perpendicular cross-walk.“It means ceremony and relay race at Lake Lipinski, Mayor Robert Straz of Palos the world to us that the cross-walk Katherine Nature Center & Botanic Heights and Jim Garrett, President / was realigned,” said Joann Mizwicki, Gardens, Saturday, June 6th, 2015. CEO of the Chicago Southland the mother of Patrick.“It truly is a gift The trail spans 26 miles from Route Convention & Visitors Bureau.“We to have people safe and still be able to 83 in Lemont to the Burnham encourage everyone to explore and enjoy the trail my son loved so much.” Greenway near the Indiana border; experience this trail as a new Chicago Eventually the Cal-Sag Trail will when completed in 2017, the trail Southland adventure,” said Jim Garrett. connect with the 100-mile loop and turns an under-utilized and ignored The relay race began at each end give the Chicago Southland riverfront into an inviting recreation of the finished western portion of the unparalleled access to over 40,000 area with scenic trails and riverfront trail and converged at Lake Katherine acres of forestry. accessibility available to everyone. Nature Center & Botanic Gardens. The “This is one of the most important final legs of the relay were run by For more information on the Cal-Sag health related projects developed in Congressman Dan Lipinski and the Trail, visit CalSagTrail.com Illinois over the last 20 years. The trail Patrick Mizwicki Strive for 5 enhances our quality of life, Foundation’s family and friends. encouraging exercising and improving Patrick Mizwicki was fatally injured the health and well being for those that by a vehicle while crossing the Cal-Sag walk, jog and bike the Cal-Sag Trail,” Trail on 104th Avenue while running said Steve Buchtel, Executive Director with his high school cross-country Vol. 1 Issue 3 June 2015 La Banque Hotel Opens in Homewood

David Hinderliter, President & CEO of the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce, poses for a picture with Jim Garrett, President/CEO for the Chicago Southland CVB and Homewood Mayor Richard Hofeld. Jim Garrett, President / CEO of the Chicago Southland CVB. The La Banque Hotel wants you to say “Oui” to weekend “La Banque gives the Chicago Southland an inviting and getaways, corporate retreats and hosting meetings in the unique hotel that not only embraces its customers but also Chicago Southland. The La Banque Hotel in downtown rivals anything you might find in Chicago. With easier access Homewood opened its doors to the public on June 15th, to interstates, commuter rail lines and free parking, I 2015. encourage everyone to visit downtown Homewood and Built in an old bank building and offering 18 luxurious experience the added sparkle to our region.” rooms, a 24-hour fitness center and La Voûte , a French La Banque, owned in conjunction with Ravisloe Country contemporary restaurant that specializes in farm to table Club, presents a unique opportunity for meeting planners cuisine, La Banque Hotel offers a Chicago experience, just and leisure travelers to have access to a top-rated public beyond the city limits. Donald Ross Golf Course. “It’s been a long time coming… I La Banque (French for the bank) offers a French twist on hope this is the beginning, the basis for something new and a bank theme. The hotel features a vault, signed by J. Edgar exciting for Homewood,” said Claude Gendreau, owner of Hoover and utilizes old safety deposit boxes for a feature wall La Banque Hotel. behind the bar in La Voûte (French for The Vault). “This is an exciting time for the Chicago Southland,” said For more information, visit LaBanqueHotel.com Be Sure to Check Out the Chicago Southland CVB on Social Media The Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau wants to hear from you! Be sure to like, comment and share our posts and remember to use the hashtag #ChicagoSouthland when posting content of your own.

ChicagoSouthland CSCVB VisitSouthland ChicagoSouthlandCVB VisitSouthland 2 National Tourism Day

Lansing Mayor, Norman Abbot talks with Jim Phil Masser of Riverdale Body Shop and John Garrett, President/CEO for the Chicago Southland Watson, Director of Economic Development Richton Park Mayor Rich Reinbold, poses for CVB and Mokena Mayor, Frank Fleischer, during for Village of South Holland celebrate National a picture with Joan Murphy, Cook County National Tourism Day. Tourism Day. Commissioner and John Daly.

On Wednesday May, 13th, the Chicago Southland CVB hosted its National Tourism Day Business After Hours Event. Those who attended enjoyed a night filled with great food and drinks, networking and a silent auction. Thank you to the following organizations for donating food / drink items for our event: Alsip Chamber of Commerce Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites-Chicago South-Lansing Baymont Inn & Suites-Alsip Homewood Suites by Hilton Hotel/Elements Conference Center Baymont Inn & Suites-Calumet City Hooters Blue Island Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry J.J. Kelley’s Chucks Southern Comforts Café-Burbank Just for Fun Entertainment Productions Comfort Suites/Sleep Inn Hotel-Lansing Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce DoubleTree by Hilton Chicago-Alsip Pickwick Society Tea Room, Gifts & Antiques Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery Granite City Food & Brewery-Orland Park Tinley Park Convention Center Harvest Room Village of Sauk Village Hilton Chicago/Oak Lawn & Conference Center It’s Not too Late New Chicago Southland to Volunteer CVB Board Members

The 2015 U.S. Amateur Championship is still looking for volunteers. The cost is $75 and will include two logoed polos, a logoed hat, meal voucher and grounds pass for the week of the tournament. Held at Olympia Fields Country Club, the 2015 U.S. Amateur Championship brings its historic lineage to the Chicago Southland. Brian Younker, Trustee Hugh O’Hara, Executive Director For more information, go to Village of Tinley Park Will County Governmental League VisitChicagoSouthland.com/2015USAmateur 3 Thank You Ed Zabrocki After 31 years of service, Mayor Ed Zabrocki retires from Village of Tinley Park

After serving for over 20 years on the Chicago Southland CVB board of directors and being mayor of Tinley Park since 1981, Ed Zabrocki retired May, 30th. Dave Seaman, a village trustee since 1984 is taking over for Zabrocki. “It’s going to be an impossible act to follow,” said Seaman. During his tenure, Zabrocki saw the village through rapid growth, his vision to bring the Tinley Park Convention Center to the Chicago Southland started as forward thinking and became reality in 2000. His leadership and commitment to the village helped shape Tinley Park into the municipality it is today. “We at the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau sincerely appreciate everything Ed has done for not only Tinley Park but the Chicago Southland region,” said Jim Garrett, President / CEO for the Chicago Southland CVB.“We wish Ed and his family many good years ahead.” Zabrocki wasn’t just beloved by residents, mayors from other munici- palities in the Chicago Southland held him in the highest regards as well. “For over 30 years, Ed Zabrocki has been a great leader for Tinley Park, making Tinley Park a great community,” said Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin. “His leadership on regional issues will be missed.” Hospitality Expo Save the Date Comes to Tinley Park

Destinations that place a high priority on marketing their brands and amenities realize significantly greater employment We will be attending the Daily Herald Business Ledger’s 2nd and economic growth, well beyond the visitor economy, annual Chicago Southwest Hospitality Expo on Wednesday, July reports Destination Marketing Association International. Jim 22nd at the Tinley Park Convention Center from 3:00 - 7:30 pm. Garrett, President / CEO for the Chicago Southland CVB will We encourage our hospitality partners to join us at the expo be addressing this topic at the Chicago Southland Economic where there will be over 50 exhibitors from restaurants, hotels, Development Corporation’s Summer Quarterly Forum. To country clubs and more! register for the event, call Holly Campbell at 708-206-1155.

th For more information on exhibiting, call Chris Craven at Friday, July 24 at 8:30 am 630-955-6161 Thorton Fractional South High School 18500 Burnham Avenue 4 Lansing, IL Updated RailFan Brochure Frontline Training Now Available

The Chicago Southland CVB

RAILFANCHICAGOSOUTHLANDRAIL.COM recently updated its popular Railfan Brochure. Featuring new highlights including Pullman National Monument and additional rail related things to see and do, the brochure puts railfanning in the Chicago Southland on the right track. With a multitude of railfan

RAILFAN | 1 sights including double diamonds, The Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau Railfan_06-14_rev.indd 1 5/29/15 10:14 AM Pullman National Monument and completed another successful Front Line Training! With one of the only places to see a double wye junction in the 16 people attending in April at the Matteson Community country, just minutes away from each other, it is easy to see Center in Matteson, the seminar aimed to educate why railfans love the Chicago Southland. frontline employees with information about the Chicago If you are interested in receiving a guide, please call Southland and customer service tips. Bernice Scheive at 708-895-8200 or email The next Front Line Training is Thursday, September 3rd [email protected]. Railfan at 8:30 a.m. at the Hilton Chicago / Oak Lawn & Conference Brochures are distributed at our Visitors Information Center. This free, two-hour seminar has limited availability Center and various railfan sites. Additionally, and is worthwhile for both the experienced and new employees. brochures are sent in response to requests from ChicagoSouthlandRail.com and rail related ads. To RSVP, Call Diane Graves by August 27th at 708-895-8200 or email [email protected] Chicago Southland CVB Upcoming Dates Awards Grant Mark Your Calendar!

Are you interested in knowing more about the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau? Come to an upcoming orientation held on the second Tuesday at 8:30 am at the Chicago Southland CVB office.

Upcoming CVBO Dates: August 11th, September 8th, October 13th, November 10th, December 8th.

To RSVP, call Bernice Scheive at 708-895-8200 or email [email protected] Annual Meeting & Luncheon, October 7th Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, Midwest Hilton Chicago/Oak Lawn & Conference Center Security & Police Conference / Expo, Village of Tinley Park - $6,329 – Pictured left to right; Jim Garrett, President / CEO for the nd Chicago Southland CVB, Ed Wojcicki, Executive Director for the Holiday Membership Reception, December 2 Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and Sally Schlesinger, CPA, DoubleTree by Hilton Chicago-Alsip Executive Vice President for the Chicago Southland CVB 5 Upcoming Trade Shows

The sales staff will be promoting the Chicago Southland as the premier meetings / group tour / sports destination for tourism and travel, at the following tradeshows in the next few months:

July 8th - 11th August 27th - 29th August 27th - 29th Scottsdale, AZ Pittsburgh, PA Pittsburgh, PA

August 28th - September 1st September 1st - 4th October 5th - 8th Branson, MO Louisville, KY Shreveport, LA

FY15 Economic Impact

6 Secure Your Spot Today in the 2016 Visitors Guide Visitors guides are distributed at: The Chicago Southland • Local hotels Convention & Visitors Bureau is proud to • Chicago Southland Visitor announce that we are partnering again with Information Center Lunar Cow for the production of the 2016 • Airports Visitors Guide. Lunar Cow will be making • State of Illinois Travel Information its primary round of calls about advertising Centers soon. The rates have been locked in and kept • Festivals and Events the same as 2015. • Tradeshows • Regional Organizations Advantages of advertising in the • Other various locations Visitors Guide include: • Circulation for the entire year For more information on advertising in the 2016 • Online reach of 270,000+ people Visitors Guide, contact Kim Kislowski, Director of • Online visitors guide ad will link to Marketing at 708-895-8200 or your website email [email protected].

Meet the Chicago Southland CVB Intern

Julie Panzella is the newest intern at the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau. Studying Hospitality and Tourism Administration at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Panzella hopes to focus on event planning in the future. Panzella is assisting the marketing and sales departments with research projects. “What I have learned so far will more than prepare me for the tourism and hospitality industry,” said Panzella.

Fly on the Ford

Soaring into Lansing Municipal Airport, July 16th – 19th, the Fly on the Ford fly on the event features rides on the historic Ford Tri-Motor 5-AT-B airplane. The immaculate 1928 Ford Tri-Motor will be touring the country offering

experience the golden an opportunity for passengers to experience flight aboard the world’s first Ford age of aviation mass-produced airliner. Stopping at Lansing Municipal Airport on the way to Oshkosh, Wisconsin for an aviation festival, this is a can’t miss opportunity for families and aviation enthusiasts alike. While at the Fly on the Ford event, we encourage you to check out the

For more information or to book your flight historic Ford Hangar and a veterans memorial with an aviation theme. Lansing visit WWW.FLYTHEFORD.ORG • 1-877-952-5395 Municipal Airport can trace its roots back to the early 20s.

Lansing, Il • july 16-19, 2015 • lansing municipal airport Flights available Thurs 2-5 pm • Fri-sun 9 am-5pm Hosted by EAA Chapter 260 For more information or to book your flight, Ford Tri-Motor Child $50 5at provided by ADVANCE ONLINE adult $70 walk up $75 (17 and under) visit FlyTheFord.org or call 877-952-5395. 7 PRESORT STANDARD AUTO U.S. POSTAGE PAID LANSING, IL PERMIT NO. 170

2304 173rd Street Lansing, IL 60438 VisitChicagoSouthland.com

The Chicago Southland CVB Welcomes New Members

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