• John Groh Awarded 2016 Certified Destination Management Executive Designation

     
    POSTED September 11, 2016
     

On Aug. 3 2016, the Certified Destination Management Executive designation was awarded to John Groh, the president of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau in Illinois. Groh received his CDME recognition at the Destination Marketing Association International 2016 Annual Convention in Minneapolis. As well, Groh was elected to the Destination & Travel Foundation Board of Directors Executive Committee for one year. This committee pushes industry leaders and experts, in their respective fields, to find new strategies in the wake of a growing business environment.

The CDME designation is an executive program that focuses on educating its members. The focus of the CDME program is to assist senior destination marketing and management organization executive and managers in a changing and competitive industry and help DMO leaders become more effective leaders. In addition, the program refines and ensures continued learning for all members.  

Cook County Hospital To Be Restored as Hotel, Museum, Food Hall and More

After almost 20 years of vacancy, the Cook County Hospital in Chicago will be put to use once again. A $150 million adaptive reuse project restored the historic, 106-year-old hospital, which has become a combined Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotel, as well as medical offices, a museum, a food hall and more. While the opening is multi-phased, the hotels are scheduled to open in late July.  

 
More Than 250 Businesses Join Choose Chicago's Tourism Initiative

Jumpstarting tourism in cities across the country will be more complicated than simply opening doors again – especially in cities with large populations like Chicago. However, working together proves more effective, and in Chicago, more than 250 businesses are banding together to join Choose Chicago’s new initiative, Tourism & Hospitality Forward. It bolsters a safe reopening that encourages tourism as well as meetings and events in

 
AHLA Launches #TakeMeBack Campaign To Create Nostalgia Around Travel

Due to COVID-19, non-essential travel was, or has been, banned for months. Long anticipated trips and in-person gatherings were canceled and people have adjusted to the new normal: staying at home and meeting over Zoom. However, states have been slowly lifting restrictions, and non-essential travel will soon be happening across the country again. However, some may not be as comfortable with the thought of traveling as they were before the pandemic.