REND LAKE, IL — The Illinois Department of Tourism has approved the Rend Lake Regional Tourism Council (RLATC) to become a Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) in 2025.
This change will allow for increased state funding to flow into Rend Lake’s tourism sector. The state of Illinois will adjust funding for the Rend Lake CVB based on the money that competing hotels receive from lodging taxes. This will allow the state to track the amount of foot traffic passing through Rend Lake and distribute appropriate amounts of funding to local communities.
By definition, the CVB is the primary group responsible for promoting tourism in the region. This rebranding comes as a result of years of hard work by the RLATC Board of Directors.
“This is just the beginning and we are very excited about what the future holds,” the tourism council said in a press release Friday. “The transition to CVB will allow us to expand our reach and impact and bring new opportunities to our community. This funding will not only help promote Lake Rend as a major tourist destination , also used to support local communities and events that showcase our hometown pride and sense of community. ”
Rend Lake plans to use the funds for an extensive marketing campaign, attract more conventions and events to the region, and fund infrastructure projects to provide a better experience for travelers.
The council says it will work with local governments in Franklin County to consider how the funding will benefit not just Rend Lake but the entire region.
The council said: “This is something we should be proud of as a community.” “We look forward to working together to ensure this has a positive impact on the beautiful Rend Lake region we call home.”
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