TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Paulina Martinez, Director of Economic Development
SUBJECT:
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Resolution Authorizing a One Year Extension Agreement with Heritage Corridor Destinations for Tourism Marketing and Promotion Services
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BACKGROUND:
On December 7, 2021, the City Council approved a five-year agreement with Heritage Corridor Destinations (formerly the Heritage Convention and Visitors’ Bureau) to manage the City’s tourism marketing and promotional efforts. The current agreement expires on December 31, 2026.
The agreement includes an annual membership fee that increases by 2% each year, along with a tourism marketing and promotion allocation that also increases by 2% annually.
The City is also responsible for the distribution and fulfillment costs associated with the regional Travel Guide for an increase of 2%.
In addition to the City’s direct contributions, Heritage Corridor Destinations supplements city-related tourism marketing, promotional activities, and fulfillment efforts through State of Illinois tourism grants. For FY 2025, Heritage Corridor contributed approximately $80,360.00 toward these activities.
As the current agreement approaches expiration, staff recommends commissioning a tourism market study to help establish a strategic tourism and destination marketing plan for the next five to ten years. The study would evaluate current tourism assets, identify market opportunities, and provide recommendations to guide future tourism investment and promotional strategies.
Given the pending study proposal, staff recommend extending the current agreement with Heritage Corridor Destinations for one additional year from January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2027, rather than entering into a new long-term agreement at this time.
The proposed one-year extension would follow the structure of the existing agreement and include the following:
• Annual membership fee with a 2% increase: $60,881.46
• Tourism marketing budget with a 2% increa...
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