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
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
Great Race Finish Line in Moline
Pontiac Oakland Club International Convention July 13-17 1,200 $1.7M
Life Leadership Conference
ISC Men's Fastpitch Tournament Aug. 10-18 4,296 $1.9M
Iowa Tourism Conference
"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.
