National Travel & Tourism Week in the Peoria Area

05/01/2010

National Travel and Tourism Week: May 8-16, 2010 

For more info.:

Cheryl Bockhold-Sloan
Tourism Services and Special Projects Manager
Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
(309) 676-0303, ext. 3279

Immediate Release:

PEORIA, IL - The U.S. Travel Association's National Travel and Tourism Week will be held nationwide May 8-16, 2010 and the Peoria Area is getting in on the action!

The first full week of May is annually recognized as National Travel and Tourism Week, a tradition first celebrated in 1984. Localized events are put on by American cities, states and travel businesses to support and raise awareness of the power of travel. In the Peoria Area, we are holding a number of events to celebrate this exciting week in tourism.

MEDIA ALERT: Monday, May 10^th, we will kick off the festivities with a National Travel and Tourism Week Press Conference. The Press Conference will begin at 9 a.m. at the corner of Fulton and Jefferson Street in Peoria (next to the turn-around at the Peoria Civic Center). Ryan Spain will speak about the impact tourism has on the Peoria Area.

Tuesday, May 11^th is National Rally Day. The Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau employees will be celebrating at the Peoria County Courthouse Square from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. There will be area attraction exhibits, a petting zoo, snacks and more highlighting tourism opportunities in our own area! Everyone is invited to join in the fun. (Cancelled if rain)

Wednesday, May 12^th, the Peoria Area CVB will be hosting After Hours from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Jillian's
Sports Grille in the Shoppes at Grand Prairie. This celebration is open to CVB members and stakeholders. Interested in hearing more about the power of tourism in the Peoria Area? RSVP in advance to Lelonie Luft, Partnership Sales Manager, at 282-3282.

Thursday, May 13^th is Community Day. Area communities will be holding special events and activities to promote not only the power of tourism in their regions, but also the community members who are the heart and personality of those neighborhoods. The cities of Morton and

Washington will have special shopping deals going on for their Shop and Stroll events that day. Both Princeton and Pekin will have planting projects to beautify the area. All community members are encouraged to take part in Community Day festivities and take a vacation in their own backyards.

Friday, May 14^th is the day for the PACVB and Peoria Charter Coach County Motorcoach Tour, in which community members are invited to take part. We will visit 5 of the 8 Counties the PACVB represents and we invite you to reserve a seat for a chance to see them yourself!  The tour will be held from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. 

After we meet at the RiverFront Visitors Center, Peoria Charter Coach will tour us through Princeville Heritage Museum, Camp Grove Wind Farm, Wheels O' Time Museum, Eureka College and Ronald Reagan Museum and a behind the scenes tour of the East Peoria Festival of Lights.  Lunch will be provided as well as parking along the RiverFront. Schedule is subject to change. Admission is $5 per person. Seats are still available, so make sure to get one before they're all gone! Call the RiverFront Visitors Center at 1-866-896-6853 today to reserve your spot.

           
Join us in celebrating National Travel and Tourism Week in the Peoria Area! There is no better time to promote the power of tourism in our area, as well as to get community members excited about the opportunities in their own backyard. Visit http://www.peoria.org/ for more details.
Thank you to our participating partners, and to our sponsors, WMBD and Peoria Charter Coach.

The PACVB represents an eight county region including Bureau, Fulton, Marshall, Mason, Peoria, Stark, Tazewell, and Woodford. The organization's mission is to promote the Peoria Area as a destination for visitors and contribute to the economic growth of the communities they represent.

For more information on these events, please contact Cheryl Bockhold-Sloan, Tourism Services and Special Projects Manager, at (309) 676-0303, ext. 3279.

# # #