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If you don’t hear much from the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau in the next couple of months, don’t be alarmed. The bureau, which drives sales for McCormick Place and Navy Pier, is on the road, trying to find work.
It will be stopping in 10 cities to try to convince corporate and association meeting planners to book their conventions here.
Why all the palm-pressing?
"Our new emphasis is back-to-the-basics, face-to-face sales and marketing," said Mark Theis, executive vice president of the bureau. "Unlike some other bureaus with much larger budgets that do ‘spray and pray’ blanket advertising in magazines, we're rolling up our sleeves and pounding the pavement."
A refreshing approach? Spin for, “We’re broke and desperate?” We’re not quite sure.
The entire trip is expected to cost about $200,000 with United and American airlines underwriting flights and local hotel representatives paying their own way. That money would barely cover one “This is winter in Kahleefornya” spot in primetime.
The Chicago bureau’s budget is ninth in the country at $14.5 million. Las Vegas is first with $227.8 million followed by Orlando with $40.8 million.
Chicago from the Shedd Aquarium via don sorsa.
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"If don’t hear much from the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau in the next couple of months"
I don't remember hearing anything from CCTB in the first place. What is this organization good for anyway?
Gee, looks like a nice job for the wives of some politicians, ya think? If you want to get people to Chicago send the Mayor packing!
i agree with patrick, daley's done nothing to make this city nicer
magilla gorilla...how long have you lived in this city?
yeah thats what i thought...daley's not perfect...but still a damn good mayor..
Could the lack of visitors have something to do with the Chicago cold weather, wind and snow??
anony quiet down! I predict CCTB has some pretty girls with a $200,000 expense account who were told to wine dine and **. All in the name of tourism.
Back in the Old Daley's day, Chicago was the convention capital of the world ('68 Democrat riots exempted, of course). Thanks to O'Hare and McCormick Place being state of the art (for the time), it was the place to be.
But Vegas is just outpacing and outspending everyone these days mainly because tourism is the alpha and the omega out there. As a former Las Vegan, I can say Daley is doing a much better job than his counterpart (Oscar Goodman, former mob attorney) in Vegas in terms of balancing city needs and still getting tourist and convention dollars.
Also, Christmas in Chicago is a hot convention time. Businesses love bringing in families to go shopping and dining. January and Feburary are different matters, though.
Folks don't hear too much from the CCTB because they go after conventions and not holiday vacationers. If you aren't planning a major convention, I'm not surprised you haven't heard much from them.
Also, if you live in Chicago, don't be surprised if you don't see a lot of ads to take a trip to Chicago. I think that's sort of uncommon generally for tourism ads. Besides, we already know how awesome Chicago is.
nmpkm, where are they holding the Christmas time conventions? It's not at McCormick Place they are closing up for the season starting Monday through Christmas. Jan-February are McCormick place's busiest months actually, all the auto shows start up beginning of the year.
Jeffrey:
How long have you not known what sarcasm is?
Yeah, that's what I thought.
I just tended bar last weekend at a hotel downtown for some conventioneers, so I have no idea where they held it. I'm guessing the hotel.
And you're totally right, I forgot about the car show.