Quad Cities – The sales efforts of the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau (QCCVB) will pump $11 Million of new business into the local community in 2018.  This local economic impact from tourism comes directly from the conventions, group tours, and sporting events booked to stay in the Quad Cities.

“These efforts to bring visitors to the Quad Cities continue to deliver benefits to local municipalities and residents,” says Joe Taylor, QCCVB president/CEO.  “When the travel industry thrives, the entire Quad Cities area benefits.  Travel and tourism is a cash-generator for local and state governments.”

In Scott and Rock Island Counties, travel-generated expenditures equaled $857 million in 2016, up over the $836 million in 2015.

“Increased visitor spending means increased revenues to the municipality’s general funds, which eliminates additional tax burdens on our local residents to provide essential services. Nationally, every U.S. household would pay more than $1,200 in additional taxes without the tax revenue generated by travel.”

“In today’s highly competitive market, states and cities that maintain, or even increase funding, for their travel promotion programs seize market share, while those that cut programs suffer immediate revenue shortfalls and other negative economic consequences.”

More Meetings in 2018

“2018 is shaping up to be the year of conferences and conventions for affinity groups, hobbyists, and enthusiasts.  We are hosting more collector-type events than ever before,” says Lynn Hunt, QCCVB vice-president of Sales.

These conferences are planned by like-minded individuals who share a passion for an activity or hobby.  Gathering of the Green 2018 is a great example of this type of convention.  Local volunteers from four tractor clubs transform the RiverCenter in Davenport into a Mecca for John Deere enthusiasts from around the world.  This event draws up to 3,000 people to town in March every other year.

“The QCCVB is a valuable resource for these types of planners,” says Hunt.  “We help them find their venue and hotel, connect with local service providers, marketing assistance, attendance building, registration, and create experiences that are unique to our destination such as the Channel Cat Water Taxi, Riverboat Twilight, and Celebration Belle to tie in the Mississippi River.  Each conference is unique, and our local, knowledgeable QCCVB staff readily shares ideas and activities that are well-suited to the various groups.”

“Sports continue to drive strong economic impact, and we see these events growing as we enter the first quarter of 2018 and begin booking spring/summer and 2019 sporting events,” says Hunt.

New events for the Quad Cities in 2018 include:

  • American Cue Sports Midwest Championship - January 2018

  • Quad City Chess Festival - February 2018

  • Hawkeye Fly Fishing Association Meeting and Fly Fishing Show - March 2018

  • Knights of Columbus Annual Convention - April 2018

  • Lions Club District 1 Convention - April 2018

  • Cabela’s Walleye Federation National Championship - May 2018

  • Farm Foundation Round Table - May 2018

  • AmeriKids Gymnastics National Championship - June 2018

  • Coca-Cola Collectors Club Annual Convention - June 2018

  • Flow Blue International Collector’s Club Annual Convention - July 2018

  • Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiatives Annual Meeting - September 2018

  • Embroiders Guild of America Regional Seminar - October 2018

Repeat sporting events include:

  • Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Basketball Championship (Hoops in the Heartland) at the TaxSlayer Center March 8-11, 2018.

  • Iowa State Federation of Square and Round Dance Clubs at the Isle Casino Hotel April 12-15, 2018.

  • NAIA Men’s Golf Championship at TPC Deere Run May 15-18, 2018.

  • American Cue Sports Iowa State Championships at the RiverCenter October 2018.

“The sales process continues all the time, 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,” says Hunt.  “We have a couple of big events we are bidding to host, and a couple of really cool events that will make their announcement to come to the Quad Cities in early 2018.”

The QCCVB awaits an announcement coming on January 27, 2018, if the Quad Cities will be, for the third time in seven years, the endpoint of the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) on Saturday, July 28, 2018.

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 $857 million economic impact on the local economy.  Visit www.visitquadcities.com for more information.

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