The 2013 awards were presented Wednesday, February 27 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Please select this link (Adobe PDF format) to read a press release summarizing the conference and awards.
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Roger Carmack, Executive Director of Great Rivers Country
Best in Show
- Hiltons of Chicago
Best Leisure Collateral
- Williamson County Fishing Guide, submitted by the Williamson County Tourism Bureau
Best Sales Collateral
- The Park at Rosemont Direct Mail, submitted by Davis Harrison Dion
Best Electronic Marketing
- Chicago‟s First Lady Promotional Video, submitted by Davis Harrison Dion
Best Social Media Marketing
- Magnificent Mile Social Media Efforts, submitted by The Greater North Michigan Avenue Association
Best Media/Public Relations Initiative
- Chillcation, submitted by Hiltons of Chicago
Best Cooperative Partnership
- Trail of Terror, submitted by Galena County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Best Branding Initiative
- Midwest Morel Fest, submitted by the Ottawa Visitors Center
Best Website
- Division A: Chillcation, submitted by Hiltons of Chicago
- Division B: VisitGalena.org, submitted by VisitGalena.org
Best Visitors Publication
- Division A: 2012 ILLINOISouth Visitors Guide, submitted by Tourism Bureau ILLINOISouth
- Division B: Great Rivers Country Eagle Watching Sites Brochure, submitted by Great Rivers Country
Best Event or Festival
- Division A: East Peoria Festival of Lights, submitted by Peoria Area CVB and Rick‟s Picks: A Lifelong Affair with Guitars and Music, submitted by Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Division B: History Comes Alive, submitted by Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalitions
Best Tourism Marketing Campaign
- Division A: The BMO Harris Bank Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, submitted by The Greater North Michigan Avenue Association
- Division B: Champaign County as a Destination, submitted by Champaign County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Lincoln Award Recipients
New this year was the “Lincoln Awards,” which were inspired by Steven Spielberg‟s award-winning film, Lincoln. The awards honored the behind the scenes stars‟ who go above and beyond for the Illinois tourism industry. Award winners included:
Best Supporting Actress – Lumi Bekteshi, Head waitress, The Palm‟s Grill, Atlanta
Best Supporting Actor – Tazewell County Resource Centers, Travel Guide Fulfillment Center
Best Actor – Robert Minge, Tourist Information Center Travel Counselor, Cumberland Road
Best Actress – Mary Twomey, Director of Sales and Marketing for Chicago‟s Essex Inn
Best Picture – Rick Nielsen, Rick‟s Picks: A Lifelong Affair with Guitars & Musician