Bureau Bits

Summer Member Outing: June 18

Celebrate summer from 5 to 7 pm on Thursday, June 18 at the DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau's Summer Member Outing hosted and sponsored by Weber Grill Restaurant, 2331 Fountain Square Drive in Lombard. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and refreshments compliments of Weber Grill Restaurant. Please RSVP by June 12 to sally@discoverdupage.com or call 630-575-8070. Members and partners only, please.

2009 DuPage Visitors Guide and Summer Promotion Campaign Unveiled

If you attended the annual DuPage Hospitality Showcase last month, you received a copy of the all-new DuPage Visitors Guide. Copies of the new guide will be mailed to all members this week. Larger quantities are available free to all members and partners for redistribution. Simply contact Tori Goodheart to request your supply. Click the image at the left to view the Visitors Guide iBook Visitors Guide!

And, to kick-off the season, the Bureau is launching its newest campaign, Discover DuPage This Summer! Click on the image at the right to view the Summer iBook brochure. Hard copies will be available in early July and will be distributed in collaboration with Chicago Windy City Guide, as well as used for advertising fulfillment.

Nominate a Colleague or a Business!

The DuPage CVB's Annual Awards Program recognizes individuals and businesses for their outstanding contributions to the hospitality industry. Nomination forms have been mailed to all members and partners. Download a nomination form, and take a moment to nominate a colleague or organization whose efforts you believe have been exceptional in one of the four award categories. Winners will be recognized at the Bureau’s Annual Meeting on October 2nd.

Meeting Planners Guide Advertising Opportunity

DuPage CVB’s annual Meeting Planners Guide will be printed in collaboration with Midwest Meetings magazine in September. Members interested in showcasing their business to more than 33,000 meeting and event planners may request an advertising kit by contacting Steve Van Maanen at Midwest Meetings by email or at  800-288-8510. The deadline to reserve ad space is July 10.

Sales Team Spotlight

The DuPage CVB Sales Team hosted a hugely successful One Magnificent Day in DuPage FAMiliarization tour on May 14th, with 31 regional meeting planners in attendance. Several of these planners have already expressed interest in holding their next event in DuPage.

The Bureau is partnering with the Reunion Friendly Network to host the upcoming RFN Military Reunion Planner Conference and Marketplace. The event will be held at the Doubletree Hotel Chicago Oak Brook June 15-18. Over 40 planners are expected to attend the conference and experience DuPage.

Recent & Upcoming DuPage CVB Tradeshow Representation:

• Society of Government Meeting Professionals, National Education Conference: May 13-16; Louisville, Kentucky
• Destination Chicago: June 24; Rosemont, Illinois
• Fraternity Executives Association Annual Meeting: July 8-11; New Orleans, Louisiana
• Meeting Planners International/World Education Congress: July 11-14; Salt Lake City, Utah

Featured Members

New Member

• Village Roadshow Gold Class Cinemas, Bolingbrook

Member Highlights & Updates 

The Naperville Park District was recently represented at Parks Day at the Capitol in Springfield, Illinois. Parks Day is part of a two-day legislative event coordinated by the Illinois Association of Park Districts, which gives local governments and state legislators an opportunity to discuss issues related to parks, outdoor recreation, conservation, open space, and the quality of life in our communities. In the photo, Senator Kirk Dillard talks with Nancy Thompson, Marketing Assistant, and Sameera Luthman, Marketing and Communications Manager, about the Park District’s summer “staycation” opportunities.

Desert Rose Design, Inc. was recently presented with a 2009 American Web Design Award by GD USA, the news magazine for creative professionals. The award was for Desert Rose's TurboEats website design.

The Hyatt Lodge at McDonald's Campus is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Congratulations!

Local media recently picked up stories to benefit DuPage CVB members. Congratulations to Naper Settlement for the live WGN-TV broadcast publicizing Civil War Days in May and to SugarToad at the Arista for the recent ABC-7 News coverage highlighting the restaurant's soft shell crab menu items.

Member Events & Special Offers

Choose DuPage invites DuPage CVB members to attend "Seeds of Recovery," a panel discussion on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for 2009. The event will take place on Friday, June 5, 2009 from 7:30-9:30 am at the Wyndham Hotel & Executive Meeting center in Lisle. Here's your chance to become informed on the $787 billion program that has great potential to provide assistance to local business. RSVP to Kathleen Gutierrez at kgutierrez@choosedupage.com.

On June 8, Morton’s The Steakhouse in Naperville is holding a book-signing reception benefiting Feeding America. The event will showcase a sampling of recipes from Morton's The Cookbook paired with a selection of fine wine and cocktails, and will include an auction. To purchase tickets which include a copy of the new book by co-author and Morton's co-founder Klaus Fritsch, call 630-577-1372.

Comic book fans: make plans to visit the upcoming exhibit at the Elmhurst Historical Museum. The Drawn-Out History of Comic Books runs June 16 through September 6, 2009. This family-friendly exhibit showcases the evolution of comic books from humble beginnings to more sophisticated story lines and memorable characters that spawned a multi-million dollar, multi-media industry. Exhibit is open Tuesday through Sunday afternoons, and admission is free.

DuPage Children's Museum, The Naperville Park District and Naper Settlement have joined together to offer the On-the-Go PLUS Pass, a convenient way to experience 5 key Naperville attractions for the discounted price of $27 (a $37.50 value). Pass holders can enjoy one-time access to Centennial Beach, the Millennium Carillon in Moser Tower, a Riverwalk Quarry paddleboat ride, DuPage Children’s Museum and Naper Settlement. Passes may be purchased at any location.

Naper Days will be back at Naper Settlement over Father’s Day weekend, June 19-21. Main Stage performances include The Smithereens on June 19, and Matthew Sweet on June 20. Naper Days tickets are available online at www.naperdays.org.

Ballydoyle Irish Pubs in Downers Grove and Aurora, together with 95.9 The River, are running a Battle of the Bands Contest through July 30. The contest will be held every Tuesday at the Aurora pub, and on Wednesdays at the Downers Grove pub. One overall winner will be announced each month. Come out and support your local bands! For more information, visit www.ballydoylepub.com.

Don't miss Dinosaurs Alive! at Brookfield Zoo. This new interactive exhibit runs through October and includes 18 life-size, animated, roaring dinosaurs in an outdoor “Jurassic” setting. Dinosaurs will range from 10-foot-tall “babies” to 30-foot-long carnivores. Exhibit includes the world’s largest animatronic dinosaur on display in Roosevelt Fountain.

Visit the DuPage CVB Events Calendar for a more complete list of exciting events in and around DuPage.