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* From the twitters…
Great to be with so many leaders in the Illinois tourism industry at tonight's Conference on Travel & Tourism. pic.twitter.com/7RrrKg6mRU
— Bruce Rauner (@GovRauner) March 22, 2016
* From the news…
Illinois risks losing thousands of tourism jobs — and hundreds of millions in state and local tax revenue — from marketing cuts and ongoing budget uncertainty, according to an industry study released Monday. […]
According to the report, a 20 percent cut from $63.8 million for tourism marketing in fiscal 2014 would cost the state $2.3 billion in visitor spending, 4,600 jobs and nearly $200 million in state and local taxes over four years. If marketing money were eliminated, according to the study by Oxford Economics Co., the four-year figures increase to $11.3 billion in visitor spending, 22,800 jobs, and $970 million in state and local taxes. […]
“When they hear ‘museum,’ they think presidential museum,” said Gemberling. “We get calls into our office asking, ‘Is Springfield closed?’ There’s this perception out there that all of our sites are closed. So we have increased our media buys in St. Louis and Chicago, as well as regionally, to combat and stop that message.” […]
Marketing cuts also threaten to set back one of the state’s fastest-growing industries in tourism, said Brett Stawar, president and CEO of the Alton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau. Stawar said Illinois is pulling back at a time when neighboring states, including Missouri, are aggressively targeting Illinois travelers.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 9:49 am
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How much longer will those being hurt by the Governor’s actions continue to allow themselves to be used as pawn by him? How much longer will they let him stand up next to them and speak at their events? I understand that regardless of the person, you have a duty to respect the office, but at this point you would think the Governor would start to run out of people willing to look silly by subjecting themselves to the irony of his presence.
Comment by Saluki Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 9:57 am
Welcome to the party of cuts and non-payments. While I sympathize with anyone who may lose a job in tourism, there are other groups out there hurting much worse and for a longer period of time due to the Budget Games.
http://dewittdailynews.com/local-news/245272
Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 9:58 am
Soon, hostages in Illinois will near 100% of the population. The comments Rauner receives on his Twitter posts are (deservedly) brutal.
Comment by AC Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 9:58 am
Yet another hostage in front of the camera in an orange jumpsuit. Look at the jobs and businesses involved. ALL TO DESTROY LABOR. All Rauner has to do is take the Turnaround agenda off the table and he gets a budget and deal. Is the Turnaround agenda worth all this? He never had any intension of governing. He never has governed. I was arguing yesterday that we should give no quarter yesterday because after a year I am convinced that he never will govern. The ONLY path forward, I believe, is for the GA to gain control and to govern around him and despite him. Either the Dems must gain veto proof majority or the Republicans must shed their Raunerite skin and govern. Either the R’s crack now or we sustain total collapse waiting for Jan 2017. CHOOSE NOW PEOPLE. LOVING GOD CHOOSE NOW!
Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 10:00 am
“You hang in there, Tourism” - Fake Todd Maisch
To the Post,
Rauner is trying to outrun realities by Facebook, Twitter, and now Snapchat.
In outrunning realities, Rauner hope to crush what he can, and fool everyone he can with 140 characters or a “sweet!” picture.
Nearly 15 months, the lip service of Rauner, touting in pictures, destroying in fact, continues.
@FakeBruceRauner - Catch me if you can #FoolinYaByTheTweet
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 10:01 am
Words: Great to be with so many leaders in the Illinois tourism industry at tonight’s Conference on Travel & Tourism.
Actions: cuts, no budget, no ad contracts? The travel season may soon be lost
Comment by Langhorne Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 10:02 am
You’d think that Rauner would just follow the tourism funding model set by Quinn, Madigan and Cullerton that he so admired when he was head of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Board.
–Rauner commended Illinois politicians including former Mayor Richard M. Daley, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton and Quinn, his 2014 arch-nemesis.
Taking the stage, Rauner told the crew that “on behalf of the business community I want to say that you have shown extraordinary teamwork, dedication and leadership on behalf of our convention and visitor industry. The reality is, here in Chicago, in Illinois, there is no more important industry for our future economic growth and job creation than our visitor industry. Our leaders recognize that and we in the business community thank them and applaud their hard work and dedication.”–
Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Bruce-Rauner-video-restaurant-association-show-chicago-quinn-272309081.html#ixzz43dzvGkVL
Follow us: @nbcchicago on Twitter | nbcchicago on Facebook
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Bruce-Rauner-video-restaurant-association-show-chicago-quinn-272309081.html
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 10:03 am
But without workers comp reform, term limits and redistributing reforms, and right to work those jones be will continue to monitor be it of state….. Oh wait….. That doesn’t quite make sense. Still, tourism from being should be doubled just as soon as Madigan stops obstructing my turnarounds bd agenda. - fake Bruce rauner
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 10:04 am
Oops, forgot to say how awful i feel there is no budget, but its madigans fault. There, nailed it.
Comment by Langhorne Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 10:04 am
“Job creator” turned hostage taker strikes again! Hang in there.
Comment by out of touch Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 10:05 am
This morning on the radio I believe I heard Rauner saying that he’d done so much to bring tourism back from the depths it had fallen to, with his new boards and appointments and such. Very Trumpian language - making Chicago and Illinois a great tourist destination again. Came as a surprise to me, because despite the way Chicago is reported on by the press, I believe the city is still one of the highest ranked destinations in the country, and the Lincoln Library and Museum is still making a lot of people happy.
Comment by Archiesmom Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 10:06 am
There’s a vast difference between tourism funding and social services funding. Tourism GENERATES revenue. For such a pro-business Governor, this should be a very easy concept to grasp. Not to mention he was the former Chairman of Choose Chicago. He GETS tourism, so if he doesn’t fund it, it’s just more games…more of the same.
Comment by FIREDup! Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 10:06 am
Love Illinois but we have to be real with ourselves. There are some cool places with a lot of road in between and now we’re losing rest stops. Illinois is nice but not pee your pants nice.
I’d still pick it over Missouri but give me a flight to Colorado for close to the same price as a drive to the Giant City Lodge and I’m out no matter how many tuxes Cory Jobe wears.
Comment by LizPhairTax Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 10:08 am
So the BigBrains tried to make news 3 times —Trump endorsement, leaders meetin’ and tourism. Another great day here in $uper$tar-ville.
Bettin’ his presidential choice gets more IL attention for the latest Rickets attack.
Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 10:10 am
And they swept that fund back in the Blago days. Not sure how many times since then they’ve swept it. Hotel Motel tax is supposed to pay for the funds distributed to the locsl tourism and convention bureaus for promotions to encourage tourism and DCEO runs that distribution of funds, i audited that program once. The only thing wrong with it was the state level administration of it.
Comment by Team Warwick Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 10:14 am
Don’t bother Bruce, he’s stayin’ the course.
Comment by Hedley Lamarr Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 10:14 am
FIREDup!- “There’s a vast difference between tourism funding and social services funding. Tourism GENERATES revenue. For such a pro-business Governor, this should be a very easy concept to grasp.”
*****
Cutting social services is a “revenue” generator too, in a way. You think funding sweeps from LIHEAP and other social services funds aren’t generating “revenue” for other programs? But, the bigger issue, is the COSTS of cutting social service programs as compared to tourism. Losing out on a hotel room sale is not the same as losing the ability to feed people, house people, or provide medical services for a community.
Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 10:15 am
@ Jack Kemp -
Re-read it. It’s not talking about cuts IN 2014. It’s talking about the consequences of reducing the budget for tourism funding FROM what was spent in 2014.
Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 10:15 am
Jeez, Rauner’s push poll, I mean employee engagement survey provided him with the exact answers he wanted.It is not that I believe the results, I don’t, but even if they were true, the questions were designed so that the satisfaction questions were about things that made you look like a good employee, and the dissatisfaction were things you would have to be dissatisfied with unless you thought of yourself as a below average employee, you would be dissatisfied. Sheesh. I feel silly I didn’t see it at the time.
Employees are dissatisfied that pay and promotions aren’t based on merit. Well yeah, if you ask whether they’ve been rewarded for good work, everyone will think they are a better than average employee, and they wish they got more money for being one. Ask the same question as to whether they are satisfied with step raises and COLA and I’d bet they’d say yes. These results were shared along with the fantastic features of our new health plan, but the old one will stay active should the labor board not rule before May.
Comment by Me Too Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 10:17 am
Jack Kemp, the article is not worded clearly, and you’ve jumped to the wrong conclusion.
They are saying that if the spending level is cut 20% from its FY 2014 level, it will result in these losses. Not that something happened in FY 2014.
Comment by Century Club Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 10:18 am
Let me try again, I guess. If you posit that tourism GENERATES revenue and social services are only a COST, then do we just ignore the actual savings by social services that have been documented by groups such as Voices? Which of the two types of businesses is more of a want than an actual need in a community? We learned to build shelters before we learned to water ski.
Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 10:23 am
Too many people still view Bruce Rauner’s online photos as a reflection of his political priorities rather than as a distraction from his political priorities.
If your organization or concern appears on Instagram with Rauner, it’s only there as a prop.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 10:25 am
Anon221, I agree with you and also agree that tourism is a tougher sell than cuts to social services. And losing out on a hotel room sale isn’t that easy. The maid, cooks, front desk worker, local museum, sporting event, art gallery, restaurant, cabbies and festival are ALL impacted by lack of “heads in beds”. The average visitor to the state spends a few hundred dollars every day they spend in Illinois.
In a perfect world, it’s all funded. We really arguing the same point. Robbing Peter to pay Paul. It all stinks…
Comment by FIREDup! Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 10:40 am
A multiplier of 180? Won’t somebody challenge their math? If the return is that good, why wouldn’t private industry rush to front the money on their own behalf?
Comment by Come on Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 11:22 am
Is Rauner shifting political idols from Scott Walker to Donald Trump?
Comment by walker Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 11:27 am
–A multiplier of 180? Won’t somebody challenge their math? If the return is that good, why wouldn’t private industry rush to front the money on their own behalf?–
They do, of course, and have, forever. No secret.
According to the 2015 Choose Chicago annual report, private industry contributions are 28.2% of revenue.
Those private contributions are above and beyond the dedicated taxes on hotels, restaurants, taxis, etc., that support Choose Chicago, IBOT and tourism efforts throughout the state.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 11:46 am
Nothing says photo op, like taking a picture with your own staffer, posting it on social media, and not having shots with the tourism types! BTW, what happens when Ald. Jobe can’t be seen in PICS w/Rauner for fear of costing him an election, but Tourism Director Jobe has to appear with him?
Comment by Downstate GOP Faithless Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 12:01 pm
Isn’t the multiplier negative 180? If so, my abacus suggests that it’s quite overstated. Remember, these models can’t be reversed and still assumed to be valid. If that were the case, a relatively small investment in tourism promotion could bring Illinois into full employment. #NiceTry
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 12:18 pm
Arthur,
Their point is to not reduce the 20% and all those negative things will be avoided. So they do believe the model can be (and should be) reversed,and it is valid to do so. And if the budget was then increased an additional 20% they would tell you the benefits are again similar numbers.
Comment by PAM Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 12:45 pm
I hate to bring this up but…….
1). How much did these two tourism bureaus pay for this study?
2.) rarely, if ever, have I seen a study which would shed a negative light on those paying for it.
….?just saying.
Comment by Blue dog dem Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 12:56 pm
Rauner hired soon to be leaving Superstar Don Welsh, the $550,000 plus CEO of Choose Chicago.
Rauner then said for every dollar spent on tourism returns $2 in tax revenue in ten months.
Choose Chicago has a $35.2 million a year budget, spent in secrecy because the claim to be a nonprofit even though there are taxpayer funded.
Don’t believe the hype. Same as the Dunkin campaign knows all to well, money doesn’t equal success.
Chicago’s hotels have been consistently below the national averages for occupancy since Rauner hired Welsh.
http://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/news/2016/03/21/chicago-hotel-occupancy-numbers-in-january-and.html
Chicago hotel occupancy numbers in January and February tell a grim tale.
Comment by Chicago 20 Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 1:18 pm
Is Cory Jobe still an alderman? It’s hard to tell since he never shows up @ city council meetings.
Comment by No way... Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 1:45 pm
–Chicago hotel occupancy numbers in January and February tell a grim tale.–
LOL, yeah, that’s exactly what Lazard said in the article you linked.
What both you and he neglect to mention is that 2,200 hotel rooms were added to downtown inventory last year. Significantly higher inventory is certainly a factor in year-to-year occupancy rate numbers.
Curious that private capital is investing hundreds of millions in new hotels when the tourism scene is such a “grim tale.”
Not surprisingly, winter in Chicago is historically the low point of the year for tourism.
Having said that, in the past, post-Christmas media campaigns funded by the city, state and private industry have boosted occupancy rates.
Target media markets have been Chicago (staycation) Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo and St. Louis.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 1:50 pm
According to the Choose Chicago website the current inventory of hotel rooms in their “Central Business District” has actually declined over the last year from 36,842 rooms to the current posting of 34,553 rooms.
Meanwhile the hotel occupancy rates in Chicago, based on Choose Chicago’s own posted numbers have trailed the national averages for some time now.
2012 -2013 + 0.14%
2013 - 2014 + 0.50%
2014 - 2015 + 0.11%
2015 - 2016 - 4.40% (Jan and Feb)
According to Smith Travel Research the national average hotel occupancy rate increased 13.7% during this same time period.
Also during this same time period 13 trade shows have left McCormick Place, which nowadays doesn’t get any press.
This places Chicago well below average despite a mammoth $35.2 million budget which is the third highest budget in the country behind Las Vegas and Orlando.
Rauner hired a Superstar Don Welsh and paid him very, very well.
Welsh was then left to do whatever he wanted without any oversight, no checks and balances while the media was more than happy to regurgitate the Choose Chicago press releases without ever questioning a thing.
When Welsh was asked about the NFL Draft budget and funding he become very evasive tans still refuses to disclose to sources of the NFL Draft funding.
Epic failure.
Comment by Chicago 20 Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 2:46 pm
How sad that we have to pay for a marketing campaign to let people know that “Springfield is open”. Another co$t of winning I $uppo$e.
Comment by burbanite Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 4:08 pm
==closed?’ There’s this perception out there that all of our sites are closed. So we have increased our media buys in St. Louis and Chicago, as well as regionally, to combat and stop that message.” […]==
People come from all over the USA including foreign countries to see the Lincoln sites. You need to get the word out that “Springfield is open” world-wide!
Comment by Mama Tuesday, Mar 22, 16 @ 5:14 pm