52 178 Utica 29 linois River 71 23 Streator 18 39 6 OTTAWA Marseilles 6


Fox River


Vermilion River


• Prepare an attractions inventory - Have a handy list of interesting things to see or do; places to eat and places to shop that you can give visitors. Be specific!


- Involve your staff so they are prepared to answer the question with pride and enthusiasm for your community and the Illinois River Road region.


- Explore area websites to familiarize yourself and your staff with the area – Illinois River Road.org, Chambers of Commerce, and tourism websites have a plethora of information your visitors are looking for.


“It’s easy to let visitors know everything they can do on our property – fishing, hiking, dining, bird watching, canoeing and more. But we also have a large rack of brochures about attractions within 1½ hours and include a page on our website with similar ideas. We’re always asking if guests need any suggestions for things to do - we want them to feel like they didn’t get to see or do everything, so they want to come back.”


- Denny & Jan Reed, Mission Oak Inn, Henry, IL


KEEP AREA INFORMATION ON HAND Cross-promotion raises the tide for all! • A great way to become an ambassador for your community is to promote its businesses, attractions and appeal. - Tell visitors about the Illinois River Road’s mobile site, which will easily point them to attractions, shopping, dining and lodging throughout the Illinois River Valley. The mobile site will do much of the work for you!


- Have printed materials, such as Illinois River Road guides, area visitor guides or other business brochures, on hand for visitors. They will do a lot of the talking for you!


“We use a local potter to make our coffee mugs, piggy banks, and other pottery. We partner with Tanner’s Orchard by distributing each other’s brochures and by personally telling people about each other’s businesses. Some of our packages include homemade fudge from Julie’s Corner Store or the services of a local massage therapist. This type of cross promotion benefits everyone by adding revenue for each business and adding to the experience of our visitors.”


- Denny & Jan Reed, Mission Oak Inn, Henry, IL IRR visitor handbook.indd 7 1/8/2015 12:42:54 PM


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