CHAMBER ATTENDS DISCOVER DOWNSTATE ILLINOIS ANNUAL DINNER
The Centralia Chamber of Commerce, along with various city officials and representatives from the Greater Centralia Area, attended Discover Downstate Illinois’s annual dinner Tuesday evening at Iron Saddle Ranch in Salem.
Beginning at 6:00 PM, the event celebrated the tourism successes of the previous year and the people who made them possible, while offering guests the chance to meet and mingle.
Discover Downstate Illinois President and Finance Director, Darlene Chapman, discussed the state grants her organization expects to receive in Fiscal Year 2026, which includes a grant from the Local Tourism and Convention Bureau [LTCB] Program for over $940,000, and a hopeful Route 66 Grant for up to $700,000.
Chapman said Discover Downstate Illinois received a total of over 1.2 million in grant funds for Fiscal Year 2025 between the LTCB and Route 66 grants.
“These grant dollars allow us to market and promote tourism destinations throughout downstate Illinois. Looking ahead, I am filled with excitement for the future of tourism. With such a talented team, I am confident we will keep finding new ways to showcase our region and invite everyone to come experience the charm and the surprises that downstate Illinois has to offer.”
Following Chapman’s address, a brief Media Professionals Panel featuring discussions on both social media and newsprint strategies was held. Brief presentations on membership, marketing and the economic impact seen in each participating county followed the panel.
Office Manager/Executive Assistant Jordan Jackovich said Illinois welcomed 113 million domestic and international travelers in 2024, which was an increase of 500,000 visitors from 2023. Visitor spending resulted in $48.5 billion that same year, an increase of $34 billion from 2023.
Speaking on FY2025, Jackovich said Illinois reached its highest ever hotel tax revenue figures in $367 million, a 14-percent increase over the previous record.
“We know that tourism is back and it’s thriving,” said Jackovich.
Representatives from Bond, Clinton, Fayette, Jefferson, Marion, Perry, and Washington Counties attended the event.
Dinner was catered by Iron Saddle Ranch.
