In southwest Illinois, tourism bureau is keen to build next-generation destination

Friday, January 28, 2022

On Thursday, the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau organized its annual summit at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville. Over 240 people took part in the summit. The participants in the summit comprised elected officials, community partners and regional business leaders. Collinsville Mayor John Miller opened the summit with his comment.

“We’re here to promote regionalism and us all working together to bring people from other areas to our area,” Miller said.

Cory Jobe, President and CEO of Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, observed that the summit in 2021 was pre-recorded and he failed to congratulate everyone who helped him. One of them, former tourism board chairman John Hopkins, was “instrumental” in assisting the bureau to get bigger to a regional level, Jobe said.

“At the end of the day, John is committed to the region,” Jobe said. Also, he praised the entire tourism bureau board. He said that it was an honor to work on their behalf for the communities they represent.

Jobe explained how, the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau in March 2021, was recognized as the official certified tourism bureau for Madison County. He said, in 2021, the bureau also welcomed Pontoon Beach, Granite City and East St. Louis.

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