Quad Cities – Lunch, dinner, casual or elegant dining, the choice is yours during the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau’s fourth annual Quad Cities Restaurant Week on February 29-March 6, 2016.

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These efforts deliver benefits to QCCVB partners including local municipalities, park and recreation departments, hotels, convention centers, restaurants, attractions, and other services.

"The sales team at the QCCVB actively prospects meetings, conventions, group tours, special and sporting events.  In 2016, we are noting a trend towards more sporting and special event bookings, which are generating a large percentage of the economic impact on the Quad Cities Region," says Lynn Hunt, QCCVB vice-president of Sales.

"Servicing has become the new sales.  The Quad Cities has a reputation for being a destination that makes it happen for various event planners.  We use our collective talents in the hospitality industry to exceed the service expectations of planners, and that has led to repeat business and new referrals."

Some of the meetings and events in 2016 include the following:

Name of Event                          Dates                 Est. Attendees    Economic Impact

Missouri Valley Conf. Basketball Tournament        March 10-13       7,000                    $1.5M

Gathering of the Green John Deere Enthusiasts     March 16-19       2,500                    $1.5M

U.S. Trampoline & Tumbling Assoc. Northern IL    April 22-24          1,800                    $150,000

NAIA Men's Golf Championship at TPC                    May 22-27           500                       $396,000

Roughneck's Motorcycle Rally                          June 22-26          600                       $180,000

Great Race Finish Line in Moline                         June 26-27          3,000                    $36,000

Pontiac Oakland Club International Convention     July 13-17            1,200                    $1.7M

Life Leadership Conference                     July 21-24            12,000                  $5.4M

ISC Men's Fastpitch Tournament                               Aug. 10-18          4,296                    $1.9M

Iowa Tourism Conference                                Oct. 19-21           300                       $162,000

"The sales process will continue and these numbers will grow as the year progresses.  The QCCVB works months and even years ahead of the actual event to ensure its success," said Lynn Hunt, QCCVB vice-president of Sales.  "Many events that booked are coming through our Host it Here program.  This program is offered through the QCCVB to assist local residents who have a connection to bring an event to the Quad Cities.  The QCCVB helps by researching what is needed to host the event and assisting with the hotel rooms and other logistics."

The QCCVB continues to lead promotions to attract visitors to the area and encourage residents to experience more of what the Quad Cities has to offer.  A new promotion during the month of April is Quad Cities Live Month.  It's an entire month dedicated to live performances at venues throughout the area.  Enjoy theatre, dance, comedy, and music that celebrates the talents of local, national and international actors, musicians, dancers, and comedians.  Visit www.quadcitieslive.com for more information.

This new promotion follows on the success of:

Be a Tourist in Your Own Backyard Weekend - Jan. 15-18, 2016, www.qcbeatourist.com

Quad Cities Restaurant Week - Feb. 29-March 6, 2016, www.qcrestaurantweek.com

Quad Cities Museum Week - June 18-26, 2016, www.qcmuseumweek.com

The 25th anniversary of riverboat gaming will be here this spring as April 1, 2016, marks the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Diamond Lady Casino and President Riverboat Casino in the Quad Cities in Bettendorf and Davenport, Iowa.  The launch of these riverboats sparked the introduction of regional gaming across the nation.

2016 is also bringing in some exciting museum exhibits, including The Discovery of King Tut (Mar. 5-Sept. 5) at the Putnam Museum and Science Center, and the Figge Art Museum hosts The Art of Architecture: LEGO (Feb. 20-May 29) and The Wonderful World of Oz: Selections from the Willard Carroll/Tom Wilhite Collection (June 12-Sept. 25).

There is also a shift in the 2016 summer festival calendar with the John Deere Classic moving to August 8-14, because of the significant changes the PGA TOUR has made to its summer schedule to accommodate the Rio Olympics.

The QCCVB is the official tourism destination marketing and management organization for the Quad Cities region.  The organization serves the tourism interests of Scott County in Iowa and Rock Island, Mercer, Warren and Henderson Counties in Illinois. The QCCVB increases visitor expenditures and overnight stays through strategic sales, marketing, and services to customers, members and communities.  The Quad Cities averages over 1 million visitors a year that generate an $837 million economic impact on the local economy.    Visit www.visitquadcities.com for more information.

Northern Iowa vs. Akron and Illinois State vs. Northern Illinois

Women's Basketball Doubleheader

Moline, Illinois - The iWireless Center in Moline, Illinois, welcomes two Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) women's basketball teams, Illinois State and Northern Iowa, for a doubleheader against the Mid-American Conference (MAC) teams of Akron and Northern Illinois on Sunday, December 13, 2015.

As part of the MVC/MAC Challenge, the Northern Iowa Panthers take on the Akron Zips at 1:00 p.m. while the Illinois State Redbirds face the Northern Illinois Huskies at 3:30 p.m.  Games are also be available live on ESPN3.

Tickets are just $7.00 for both games and all seats are general admission.  Tickets are available at the iWireless Center box office, by phone at 800-745-3000, and online at www.ticketmaster.com.  For more information, visit www.iwirelesscenter.com

The University of Northern Iowa and Illinois State University are each hosting pre-game alumni gatherings at the iWireless Center before their respective games.

Both Northern Iowa and Illinois State were originally slated to host Akron and Northern Illinois in their own venues, but agreed to move these previously scheduled home games to the iWireless Center to help create an Missouri Valley presence in the Quad Cities in advance of the upcoming MVC that will be played, for the first-time, at the iWireless Center on March 10-13, 2016.

**SPECIAL DISCOUNT** With your ticket stub from the December 13 games, 2 for 1 tickets can be purchased for the tournament in March at the iWireless Center box office.  This offer expires on 12/31/15.  Tickets for the MVC Women's Basketball Tournament go on sale on December 12.

"We are very excited about playing Akron in the iWireless Center," Northern Iowa Coach Tanya Warren said. "To have the opportunity to play there as part of the MVC/MAC Challenge is great for our players and fans.  It serves as a preview for the Missouri Valley Conference tournament in March and we're honored to be a part of it."

"Being a part of the inaugural MVC/MAC Challenge is very exciting for Illinois State University.  Our fans will get a sneak peak of what's in store for them come March.  The iWireless Center will be a great venue to see what I think will be two very competitive games between the MVC and MAC Conferences.  It will also be an electrifying MVC tournament atmosphere that our team and staff are really looking forward to being a part of," said Illinois State head coach Barb Smith.

About Northern Iowa
The Panthers finished last season with an overall record of 17-15 and a MVC record of 12-6 to place in the top-half of the conference for the sixth year in a row. UNI also appeared in its fifth postseason appearance in the last six years, hosting Missouri in the first round of the WNIT.

UNI has now had 17 or more wins in six consecutive seasons, all under the direction of head coach Tanya Warren. The Panthers will bring four starters back to the lineup during the 2015-16 season, along with MVC Sixth Player of the Year Stephanie Davison and 2014 MVC All-Conference first-team selection Jen Keitel coming back after an injury last season.

About Illinois State
Illinois State returns two starters and four letterwinners after recording a 2-28 overall record and a 2-16 Missouri Valley Conference record in 2015-16. Led by third-year head coach Barb Smith, the 2015-16 Redbirds also feature six newcomers. Included among ISU's returners is Octavia Crump, who averaged 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game last season. Crump ranked seventh in MVC field goal shooting (47.1 percent) and eighth in offensive rebounding (2.3 per game).

About MVC Women's Basketball Tournament

Last July, the Missouri Valley Conference announced it had entered into an agreement with the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau to bring the MVC Women's Basketball Tournament to the iWireless Center through at least 2018.  The MVC Presidents Council, following a recommendation of the league's Joint Committee, voted to place the tournament in the Quad Cities after considering bids from multiple sites.

Starting in 2016, the 10-team event will take place at the iWireless Center, March 10-13.  The championship weekend begins with two opening-round games on Thursday. Four quarterfinal games will tip-off at noon on Friday, with the semifinals on Saturday afternoon and the championship title game on Sunday afternoon. All nine games will be available on ESPN3. www.mvcquadcities.com

About the iWireless Center

The iWireless Center is a 12,000-seat multi-purpose arena located in Moline, Ill.  The arena has garnered numerous architectural industry awards since its construction.  The facility opened in May 1993, under the name The MARK of the Quad Cities.  The arena has hosted NCAA Division I college basketball games (including the Mid-Continent Conference men's basketball tournament from 1996-99) in addition to several NHL and NBA exhibition contests. www.iwirelesscenter.com

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Thursday, November 12

6PM-7PM

Black Hawk College, Moline, IL

Building 4 - Rooms 209-210

State legislators will be making important decisions about the future of energy in Illinois this year.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently made history by announcing that for the first time, it will require carbon to be treated as a pollutant.  This gives Illinois the chance to move towards a cleaner, more reliable, and affordable energy economy while creating thousands of jobs.  There are several proposals in Springfield that address energy issues that are under consideration this year and next.

Experts from several environmental organizations will give information on the Clean Power Plan and on the proposed Illinois Clean Jobs bill.  Representative Mike Smiddy will attend and provide his insight into overall energy issues in Springfield.

RSVP at www.ilenviro.org/qcforum or iec@ilenviro.org.  Call 217-544-5954 with any questions you may have.