With so much to do and see in Chicago, the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau's (CCTB) Tourism Sales Department can help travel professionals navigate through everything the city has to offer and develop a successful travel program. The CCTB offers travel professionals many services and resources when planning a trip to the city that will enhance the overall Chicago experience.
In the past year, the CCTB has worked to better serve travel professionals by creating a new marketing program for those planning student/youth tours, opening a new motorcoach parking lot, and offering special incentives for booking hotels through the CCTB.
With virtually hundreds of hotels in the Chicagoland area, the CCTB can quickly and efficiently distribute hotel leads to local properties based on preferences for location, size and special amenities. Chicago's unique mix of hotels range from basic accommodations to luxury properties. Groups have an incentive to confirm a hotel lead through the CCTB because the Bureau offers a $20 American Express gift cheque for both the driver and manager when a hotel is booked through the CCTB lead system.
The CCTB also offers special incentives for tour operators and motorcoach drivers who use the new McCormick Place lot overnight. The cost is usually $20 per day, but the CCTB offers an incentive to encourage operators to book and confirm a hotel through the CCTB. The Bureau will rebate the organization the parking costs with the receipt for each night the CCTB-confirmed hotel stay coincides with the parking date. The lot is fenced, patrolled, and available 24 hours a day.
The CCTB can also suggest sample itineraries that highlight many of the activities and entertainment options Chicago has to offer. Whether it involves a visit to the city's renowned blues bars, shopping on Michigan Avenue or a Chicago architecture tour, the CCTB can provide suggestions based on the group's needs.
In addition, the CCTB can quickly link travel professionals with a variety of local products and services including destination management companies, tour guides, restaurants, and attractions. Travel professionals can request information on specific products or services by submitting a request form via fax or the www.choosechicago.com website. The CCTB will then forward the form promptly to only those local businesses offering those goods or services.
The Bureau can also supply a wide variety of resources for travel professionals interested in learning more about Chicago including the "2004 Travel Professionals Guide," the Travel Professionals section of www.choosechicago.com, and the Chicago Map & Guide, which is available in seven languages.
In addition, the CCTB can provide marketing collateral to help travel professionals promote the city for their trips including the "Destination Chicago" video and promotional photos. The CCTB also created a new travel marketing piece - "Chicago, Live It. Learn It. Love It." - for those planning student/youth group travel to the Chicagoland area.
The CCTB Tourism Sales Department was created in December of 2000 through partnerships with the Chicago Office of Tourism and both the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's Bureau of Tourism to promote leisure travel to the city.