EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Sports is an economic driver in south suburbs

Every year, we see more families building vacations around their child’s sporting events. Whether it’s a golf tournament at a prestigious course, a 300-team softball tournament or an NCAA sanctioned AAU basketball tournament, sports are driving family decisions on travel.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Hospitality industry pumps dollars into economy

I was speaking with a young banker at a recent networking event, when I asked him, “How long have you been in the hospitality industry?”

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Use your connections to land events for local venues

One of the prime missions of Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau is to attract and host conventions, trade shows, conferences and sporting events to financially benefit the region. Our marketing plan includes attending and exhibiting at more than 20 industry trades hows, placing…

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Tourism contributes to Chicago Southland economy

All across America this week, Destination Marketing Organizations, like the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau, are celebrating National Travel and Tourism Week. This week, we focus on how everyday Americans benefit from tourism. Whether directly through employment, or throug…

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Public art enriches community

Many of us are awaiting the arrival of spring, even if old man winter is refusing to let go here in the Midwest. The changing of the season brings many opportunities for outdoor activities in the Chicago Southland.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: This year's highlights, next year's preview

As we approach the holiday season and the end of the year, I find myself oscillating between reflecting the year that has been, and the year that is to come. The municipalities in the Chicago Southland accomplished many things that advanced their economic and community development. Some of t…

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Companies must develop their cultural competency

During the recent Diversity Inc. annual dinner and awards at Olympia Fields County Club, the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau was awarded the Community Spirit award for the bureau's ongoing support of diversity in our marketing and development campaigns.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: National Travel and Tourism Week highlights tourism's benefits

The week of May 8-14 marks National Travel and Tourism Week in the United States. Tourism's impact on the national, state and local economies cannot be understated, and the jobs the travel and tourism industries provide the American work force are substantial.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Expanding convention center nears completion

Several tourism-related projects of note are under way in Chicago's south suburbs that will have an impact far beyond our borders.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Local contacts help bring events to south suburbs

Convention and visitor bureaus across the nation use a variety of methods to attract meetings, seminars, conventions, trade shows, sporting events and other events to their locale through coordinated sales and marketing efforts.

Despite tough times, people are still traveling, meeting

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Convention center expansion moves region forward

The expansion of the Tinley Park Convention Center is under way. A ceremonial groundbreaking was April 13.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Good news for regional tourism and hospitality

The hospitality and tourism industries struggled along with everyone else in 2009, but the new year brings new hope to our industries, especially in the Chicago Southland region, where a major hospitality development project is under way to make the Southland more competitive in the national…

Chicago Southland hospitality sector rebounding

Recent data gathered by the Illinois Office of Tourism and Smith Travel Research, a leading hotel performance data company, indicate the tourism and hospitality sectors are poised for a modest recovery in 2011 throughout Illinois.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Illinois Tollway 'building green' efforts save money, environment

The Southland portion of the Tri-State Tollway is now complete, and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority has completed the project on time and under budget. One of the ways the Toll Authority accomplished this was through innovative reuse and recycling methods that have saved Illinois t…

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: 2016 Olympic bid built strong foundation for future success

Now that I have had some time to digest the Chicago 2016 vote and its impact on Chicago and the Southland, I've concluded there is a silver lining in this experience.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Time to consider a Chicago Southland Multi-Use Sports Complex

When people think of their favorite entertainment options, many people think of sporting events. You may not be a big sports fan, but chances are someone you know or love certainly follows or plays sports. Sports is big business in this country and all over the world.

Calumet-Sag Trail off and running

On Saturday, representatives from throughout the Chicago Southland and 14 river communities were to gather at Alsip's Freedom Park at 131st and Cicero to celebrate the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Calumet-Sag Trail.

Casino decision compels Southland plan for the future

The decision by the Illinois Gaming Board naming Des Plaines, Rosemont and Waukegan finalists in the bid for the state's 10th casino license was a great disappointment for the Chicago Southland region. Not one of the three Southland communities submitting bids -- Calumet City, Country Club H…

Tourism bureau efforts will bring business to region

Even in these tough economic times, the Chicago Southland CVB has been successful this past fiscal year in attracting new groups and events to the Southland region.

Tourism's role in these tough economic times

Every time we look at the newspaper, we hear more evidence of the downturn in the American economy. People are nervous, and rightly so. Gas prices continue to climb, foreclosures are on the rise, and the airlines are having a difficult time with fuel prices. Residents are tightening their be…

New events raise region's profile for visitors

Several past and upcoming meetings and events should raise the profile of the Chicago Southland as a visitor destination in the consumer's mind.

Thanks to IDOT for Kingery Xway improvements

The long wait and headaches are finally over as the Kingery Expressway Reconstruction Project (I-80/94 near the Illinois/Indiana State Line) is complete.

Regional tourism has major impact on local economy

With the recent recognition of National Tourism Week and the start of the summer travel season this Memorial Day weekend, now is a good time to look at regional tourism achievements during the past year. Tourism and hospitality continue to be strong and thriving industries in our region, hav…

Meet here and help your local economy

Whatever you like to do with your spare time, you probably belong to an association or organization of like-minded individuals. And that organization might hold a yearly meeting, monthly work sessions, biyearly tournaments or a series of seminars.

Interstate construction going smoothly

Most of the major road construction on I-80/94/294 and IL-394 should be over by the end of the year, according to the to Illinois Department of Transportation.

National Tourism Week highlights industry successes

People are traveling again.

New trails make bi-state connection

Now more than ever, Illinois and Indiana are working together to achieve common goals to benefit the residents of both states. Some border communities, like Lansing and Munster, are cooperating on projects that cross state lines and benefit potential visitors to the region.