State and Rosemont tourism officials: Visitors spending more
Rosemont and state tourism officials touted new numbers Thursday that show the growing effect of entertainment, hotels, conventions, shopping and restaurants on the local economy.
Visitors spent more than $853.1 million in Rosemont last year - a 33 percent increase over the year before, according to the village and Illinois Office of Tourism, which wrapped up a four-day, 12-stop tour of the state Thursday at Hofbrauhaus in Rosemont's MB Financial Park entertainment district.
Much of that money was spent at the entertainment district, Fashion Outlets of Chicago, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Allstate Arena, the 15 hotels scattered throughout town, and restaurants.
That all fits within a town the size of 2 1/2 square miles, where only 4,200 residents live.
"We need tourists. It has to happen," said Christopher Stephens, the convention center's executive director. "From that standpoint, we love to be a partner with the state bringing people here."
Visitor expenditures generated a total of $76 million in tax revenues split among the village, state and Cook County. All three share sales taxes; the village and state share hotel taxes; the village gets restaurant, beverage and amusement taxes.
Cory Jobe, appointed in January by Gov. Bruce Rauner as state tourism director, gave an overview of state and local tourism numbers and initiatives to a roomful of officials from convention and visitors bureaus in Rosemont, the northwest suburbs, DuPage County, Lake County, the North Shore, and St. Charles.
He also made sure to address "the elephant in the room": the state's financial crisis.
While the governor and legislative leaders remain deadlocked on a state budget, state agency directors remain "crawling rather than running" when it comes to things they're planning for in their individual budgets, Jobe told the Daily Herald.
And while "everything is on the table" to fill the budget hole, Jobe says he's prepared to tout the value of marketing and promotion.
"We are committed to making known the economic impact of tourism on our state's bottom line," he said. "Tourism means jobs, revenue and a better quality of life for all."
The Rosemont Convention and Tourism Bureau is one of 40 visitors bureaus across Illinois that gets money from the state Office of Tourism. It's received grants to help fund an advertising campaign that includes TV and radio ads, billboards, and banners on buses and taxi cabs.
The village pays for half of the advertising campaign, but relies on the state to cover the other half.
"Obviously, we'd like to get our grants," Stephens said. "The village has spent on infrastructure and development. We want everyone to know about it."
How much visitors spent in Rosemont last year
$184.8 million - Gross hotel receipts
$314 million - Gross restaurant, beverage and amusement revenue
$354.3 million - Gross other sales
$853.1 million - Total
Source: Village of Rosemont