Director of the Galesburg Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Michelle Kim described Galesburg’s hosting of the One State Together in the Arts Conference in October as a major success.The bureau got some confirmation of their success when they were given an Illinois Excellence in Tourism Award for their collaborative effort on Monday.
Over 250 attendees who all have some connection to arts education came to Galesburg for a three-day symposium that spanned several Galesburg hallmarks like Prairie Players, Knox College and The Orpheum.
Throwing in the collaboration with local restaurants and hotels, Galesburg Area Hospital Association President Phil Dickinson called it a “Best of the Burg” experience.
Kim says the conference had no pre-set template and was largely experimental in its planning.
“In the months leading up to it we tried to get as many businesses, individuals and not profits and everyone in the community as involved as possible and I guess that’s what made it the most cooperative partnership,” Kim says.
The awards were chosen by a panel of at least eight tourism professionals and the GCVB won among five nominees.
Kim believes the success of the arts conference could lead to more meetings and small to midsized conventions coming to Galesburg.
