Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Quarterly Report FY18, Q1 July –September 2017 News & Marketing Sports Bookings Meetings Notes The mission of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is to drive quality of life and economic growth for our citizens through tourism marketing and destination development. Winnebago County Hotel Statistics RACVB (January – September 2017) Board of Directors YTD Hotel Occupancy YTD Average Room Rate 2015 62.4% 2015 $84.28 David Anderson (Chairman), Anderson Japanese Gardens Bill LaFever (Vice Chairman), Bill Doran & Co. Tim Meyers (Treasurer/Secretary), WIFR-TV 2016 2016 Chad Anderson, Anderson Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram 62.1% $84.98 Marcus Bacon, Radisson Hotel & Conference Center Nathan Bryant, Rockford Area Economic Development Council 2017 74.3% 2017 $89.56 Robert Burden, City of Loves Park Todd Cagnoni, City of Rockford Patrick Curran, Curran’s Orchard Bryan Davis, SupplyCore YTD Hotel Room Demand (rooms sold) YTD Revenue (in millions) Patricia Diduch, Village of Rockton Einar Forsman, Rockford Chamber of Commerce Kevin Frost, City of Rockford 2015 518,291 2015 $43.68 Jennifer Furst, FurstStaffing Amanda Hamaker, Winnebago County Ben Holmstrom, William Charles Construction 2016 513,880 2016 $43.67 Roberta Holzwarth, HolmstromKennedy PC Marco Lenis, Vocational Rehabilitation Management Ted Rehl, City of South Beloit 2017 565,062 2017 $50.61 Jay Sandine, Rockford Park District Sister City Reports RACVB BORGHOLM, SWEDEN — Swanson Tours brought a group Staff of Swedish travelers to Rockford on September 23, and Scandarama brought a group on September 28. Both tour groups followed a variety of paths that immigrants took when they first settled in the United States. John Groh, President/CEO Midwest Living is doing an article featuring several Josh Albrecht, Director of Marketing & Public Affairs locations including the Swedish Historical Society on the Lindsay Arellano, Director of Sales & Service importance of maintaining historic homes and their history. Jenny Caiozzo, Destination Development Manager LIDKÖPING, SWEDEN Andrea Cook, Marketing & Communications Manager — There is a new mayor in Lidköping for the first time in 23 years. The new mayor has already had a Heidi Gee, Office Coordinator/Receptionist Skype conversation with Rockford’s Mayor McNamara. Jennie Hahn, Group Services Specialist Fred Harris, Brochure Distribution Assistant FERENTINO, ITALY — Eleven students from Boylan High School and Mary Holmes, Group Services Manager three teachers returned at the end of July from a two week visit to Ferentino and the surrounding area. The Boylan students were Janet Jacobs, Marketing Assistant welcomed into the homes of the Italian students who visited Lindsey Kromm, Accounting Assistant Rockford last August. Bea Miller, Destination Development Assistant CLUJ-NAPOCA, ROMANIA — A Romanian publication Elizabeth Miller, Creative Services Manager featured the Romanian dancers’ visit to Rockford and included Joanne Nold, Director of Finance & Administration photos of Rockford’s Mayor McNamara. The dancers visited Kristen Paul, Executive Assistant Rockford in June of this year. Nick Povalitis, Sports Destination & Sales Manager Tana Vettore, Director of Destination Development 2 | RACVB FY18, Q1 News & Notes Visitor Spending Reaches All-time High in Rockford and Winnebago County During 2016, visitor spending in Rockford and Winnebago County reached an all-time high Tough of $353 million, directly creating/sustaining 2,888 jobs with $85.51 million in payroll. Mudder’s An analysis of visitor spending since the Great Return Recession shows that tourism in Winnebago County is growing faster than in other major counties in Illinois. Spending in Winnebago TOUGH MUDDER WEEKEND ran August 26- County grew 39% since 2009. This growth 27 with participants attempting to conquer the grueling course of 20 obstacles in 10 miles. was second in the State of Illinois only to Events over the weekend included Tough growth in Chicago/Cook County. Mudder’s overnight event series, America’s In 2016, local tax receipts generated by Toughest Mudder, which is an eight-hour visitors – funds that help local governments competitive event series that kicked off at pay for services residents rely on – were $6.23 midnight on Sunday. This weekend event million and state tax receipts were $19.02 brought more than 15,000 participants and spectators to the Rockford region million. Compared to 2015, visitor spending was and accounted for more than $4.8 million in up 1 percent, employment grew by 2.4 percent economic impact. As part of the Toughest and wages grew by 5.6 percent. Importantly, local tax Mudder competition, CBS Sports was on- receipts grew by 5.5 percent and state tax receipts grew by site filming the competition with the race 3.2 percent according to numbers released by the Illinois Department of Commerce’s scheduled to air on October 28, 2017. Office of Tourism and US Travel Association. In addition to overall visitor spending statistics, hotel sector-specific data demonstrate growth with all major hotel sector KPIs (key performance indicators) on the rise. • ADR (average daily rate) reached $81.27 in 2016, up from $64.70 in 2009. • RevPAR (revenue per available room) reached $49.70 in 2016, up from $32.64 in 2009. • The occupancy rate reached 61.2% in 2016, up from 47.0% in 2009. • Annual hotel rooms booked in Rockford (demand) grew to 651,000 in 2016 from 507,000 in 2009, a compound annual growth rate of 3.6%. Statewide, domestic and international travel expenditures reached $37.9 billion in 2016 – a $571 million increase from 2015. This follows the state’s record-breaking domestic PARTICIPANT STATS Illinois tourism figures released in May, which highlighted an increase of one million travelers to the state in 2016. • Over 95% of participants were visitors (non-residents) to Rockford, Illinois. Fast facts about Illinois Tourism in 2016: • 39% of participants traveled to the event • Every $1 invested in Illinois tourism generates $9 in from out of state, while roughly 2% traveled economic impact internationally to attend the event. • Illinois welcomed 110 million domestic visitors (an • Over 42% of participants had never additional one million visitors over 2015). Of Illinois’ 110 traveled to Rockford prior to the Tough million domestic visitors, 17% were for business and 83% Mudder Chicago 2017 event. for leisure. In the past 10 years, domestic travel to Illinois • Over 92% of participants said they are has increased by 19 million visitors likely to return to Rockford for a Tough Mudder event in 2018. • Domestic travelers spent nearly $35.1 billion in Illinois during 2016, a 1.8% increase over 2015. In 2016, domestic travelers to Illinois generated $2.6 billion in state and • Tough Mudder Chicago was the primary local tax revenue, an increase of $122 million over 2015 reason 95% of event guests traveled to Rockford over the event weekend. • Length of stay per visitor increased by 3%, surpassing the US average of 2.4% RACVB FY18, Q1 | 3 News & Notes Business is Blooming Recognizes Excellence The Rockford Area Convention & Visitors HolmstromKennedyPC; Restaurant Bureau (RACVB) announced a new Outdoor Dining Abreo and Prairie pilot program to further build on the Street Brewing Company (tied) and Forest City Beautiful efforts aimed to Special Recognition Woodfire Brick beautify the Rockford region. Business Oven Pizza. is Blooming exists to build a culture of This multi-year program aims to develop community involvement and visually and maintain a partnership among appealing environments for our city. The RACVB, businesses, neighborhood program supports and acknowledges the advocacy groups, schools, non-profit positive values and efforts displayed by organizations, volunteer groups, etc. our business owners to make Rockford to share in the vision and maintenance a beautiful and enjoyable place to live, of this program. As a result, they will work and play. Rewarding activity that serve as exemplary models to inspire strengthens civic pride is one of the more people to do the same. The vital links to long-term success in the program will recognize and incentivize Rockford region. businesses, organizations and property A team of judges visited the exterior owners to improve the landscaping grounds of selected businesses in the and facades of their building and River District Association, Midtown properties; promote the goal of year- District and Coronado Haskell round activity/maintenance such as Long-term, the goal is for the program Neighborhood Association to be proper snow removal at businesses for to expand city-wide. In the pilot year it considered for this designation. Out customer access as well as lush summer is focused on the central city. The 2018 of 23 businesses, six were chosen in landscapes and weed-free, litter-free program is in a contest format, with judging select categories: Small Business (1- environments; and select and reward in July. Business owners are encouraged to 10 employees) The Loc Shop and outstanding or innovative beautification visit forestcitybeautiful.com/bloom to get Community Foundation of Northern achievements. more information about the program and to Illinois; Large Business (26+ employees) register to participate. New Events at Stroll on State Stroll on State presented by Illinois Bank & Trust will mark its 5th anniversary on Saturday, November 25, 2017. To mark the anniversary, the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is launching two new traditions for friends and family to enjoy. RACVB has partnered with Fleet Feet Rockford to start off the day of Stroll on State with a run called Stroll on State’s Dasher Dash 5K. The Dasher Dash will begin at 8 a.m. on the morning of Stroll on State. Starting at the UW Health Sports Factory, the race moves through historic parts of downtown and southwest Rockford, including four bridge crossings, Haight Village and the Founders Landing District including the lovely grounds of Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum & Gardens. Once runners cross the finish line on Grove Street hot chocolate and Christmas cookies will be waiting.