Please note: This is a Sole Source Notification. This is a notice of intent to award a contract as a sole to US Travel Association for mandatory annual membership for Tourism offices across the U.S. Specifications include, but are not limited to: Key features of the membership: 1. provides research data that is used to make more efficient and effective decisions by our organization in order to attract consumers to Illinois: • US Travel provides a monthly newsletter which required member log-in. The newsletter provides valuable information including a summary of the latest economic, consumer and travel indicators, trends and analysis. It also includes key highlights from the Recovery and Growth Insights Dashboard. • US Travel Association also provides to its members a Travel Price Index (TPI) which measures both the one-month change and 12- month change. This data is comparable to the Consumer Price Index. • Quarterly consumer insights are also available to members which includes more in-depth look at traveler behavior and shifts in traveler trends • This is the only entity representing the entire US travel industry both with legislative issues impacting the travel industry as well as making sure members have access to data to carry out their responsibilities to promote visitation. • As the national organization representing the entire travel industry, they have access to other government-related information that they provide to all their members such as economic impact, visitation, etc. 2. provides us with complimentary registrations to multiple industry events that we attend on an annual basis as well as post pandemic recovery events: • The National Council of State Tourism Directors is represented by U.S.Travel Association. This council represents all 50 states, five U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. It provides leadership and a forum for information sharing on issues impacting tourism. • While we are recovering from the pandemic, data is still be evaluated on the impact the pandemic had on tourism and the effectiveness of the recovery plans put in place, even today. • Event that are organized by U.S. Travel Association include the U.S. Travel Fall Engagement Week, the Future of Travel Mobility, Destination Capitol Hill, Global Meetings Industry Day, National Travel and Tourism Week, IPW, ESTO (Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations) • IPW will be held in the summer of 2026 and you must be a member of US Travel to attend. As the host state, it is critical that we have a large presence at the show. This is the only international trade show held in the US where all international buyers attend to purchase product to sell to their clients. Also, international media attend to generate stories about the destination and as host state, we will host trips around the state for buyers and media.
