Rockford Plays Host to Travel Media Showcase
Rockford, IL (PRWEB) August 14, 2013 -- The Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is preparing to host the 2013 Travel Media Showcase– an event that has the potential to propel the Rockford region to the next level as a travel destination. About 100 journalists from leading print and broadcast media will visit the area and meet with convention and visitor bureau representatives from across the country and international destinations including Canada, the Philippines, India and Malaysia. Each year, the showcase is held in a different destination; this is the first time Rockford has hosted the event.
“The term ‘game changer’ comes to mind. In hosting these journalists, we have a unique and unprecedented opportunity to showcase our community to a vast audience of potential visitors,” said John Groh, president/CEO of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Travel Media Showcase 2013 will be held August 20 - 23 at Giovanni's Restaurant & Convention Center in Rockford. The three-day program will include two days of pre-scheduled journalist/exhibitor appointment sessions, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, combined with local tours on Wednesday afternoon.
RACVB has created seven themed tours that highlight area attractions and provide something for every type of traveler. The tours provide the journalists an opportunity to experience what the region has to offer. Local fare has been infused into each tour, as well as the Tuesday and Wednesday evening events. Restaurants such as Garrett’s, Backyard Bar & Grill, Toni’s of Winnebago, Stockholm Inn, Ciao Bella, Sugar Jones and other "Real. Original. Rockford" restaurateurs will be featured throughout the week. Tours include:
● Great Gardens – Nicholas Conservatory, Klehm Arboretum, Anderson Japanese Gardens and La Paloma Gardens
● Historical – Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum, Erlander Home Museum, Laurent House and Midway Village
● Arts & Culture – Starlight Theater, Rockford Art Museum, Coronado Performing Arts Center, Studio 317, State of the Art Gallery and Rockford Art Deli
● Family Fun – Burpee Museum of Natural History, Discovery Center Museum and Volcano Falls
● Adventure – Forest City Queen, Paddle & Trail paddle boats, kayaks and canoes on the Rock River, Trolley Car 36 Public Art tour and Aldeen Golf Course & Driving Range
● Rockford Originals – Midway Village, the Rockford Peaches and Crimson Ridge
● Rick’s Tour of Rockford – Stockholm Inn, Anderson Gardens and Kegel Harley Davidson
Travel Media Showcase is a one-stop opportunity for travel journalists to meet with representatives in the travel industry from across the country and internationally as well. Additionally, the journalists gather new story ideas and background material on a broad range of tourism products. Some of the nearly 100 media outlets include: Chicago Parent, CBS, FoxNews.com, Ladies’ Home Journal, MSN, USA Today, and Woman’s Day Magazine.
Travel Media Showcase is the longest running travel writers show in the United States. Previous host cities have included Kansas City, MO; Palm Springs, CA; Niagara Falls, NY and Oklahoma City, OK. It is an honor for Rockford to be selected as a host city among a list of well-known destinations.
“Our goal is to change perceptions and shine a light on all of the great qualities our community offers, regardless of a few miserable lists that come out from time to time,” said Groh. “Being selected as a host city puts Rockford in a class of top-tier travel destinations. The organizers of this showcase obviously believe there is a reason to visit Rockford; now it is our job to prove them right.”
In addition to the tours, RACVB is leaving each journalist with a lasting and memorable impression by providing unique take-home gifts. Rockford Art Deli has custom-designed a Rockford t-shirt for the event that will be given to each of the attendees. Additionally, RACVB has commissioned several members of the Rockford Etsy team, local artists who design and sell their items on Etsy, to create pieces unique to our region. Each journalist will get to choose one of the Rockford-made pieces to take home.
For more information on the Travel Media Showcase, produced by J. Vero & Associates, visit http://www.travelmediashowcase.com/.
The Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is a private, non-profit organization that champions efforts to promote and further develop the Rockford Region as an overnight visitor destination. RACVB generates positive economic impact for the community through investments in tourism marketing, sales, promotion and advocacy. http://www.gorockford.com/.
Michelle Polivka, PR Etc., 815-282-9976, [email protected]
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