Gurnee may need to pay more for tourism promotion
Gurnee may have to increase what it pays to Lake County's tourism bureau this year.
Visit Lake County President Maureen Riedy made her pitch for what would be "a little more in dues" from the village after presenting tourism financial data from 2015.
For example, travel spending was $1.26 billion last year in Lake County. The industry accounted for 10,330 jobs, $27 million in local taxes and $76 million in state taxes.
In addition, Riedy said, Visit Lake County has passed on 111 leads for Gurnee hotels and attractions for this year that could represent 10,833 room nights valued at $3.4 million.
"There is so much we could be doing to market Gurnee for you," Riedy said.
Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik said the agency provides good value to the village.
About $142,000 from local hotel-motel tax receipts was budgeted for 2015-16 fiscal year ending April 30.
Visit Lake County reported it had secured 43 groups for Gurnee that used 2,517 hotel rooms in the village in 2015, with an estimated economic benefit of $917,000.
Meanwhile, Riedy told the village board that about $1.13 million in state funding is expected to arrive next month. Similar to other tourism agencies, Visit Lake County has not been receiving state grants because of a budget stalemate in Springfield.
Last month, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law a measure that ensures state funding will return to suburban convention and tourism bureaus, but at a reduced rate. The law included 911 call centers and local governments.
Tourism organizations must apply for money owed since July, based on a formula from the Illinois Office of Tourism.
Local tourism bureaus receive a cut of hotel occupancy taxes from the Illinois Office of Tourism. The state requires that money be spent on sales and marketing initiatives to boost tourism and overnight stay