The travel & tourism industry is a vital part of the Quad Cities regional economy.  Visitors and non-resident revenues generate significant economic benefits to households, businesses, and the public sector and represent a critical driver of the Quad Cities’ future.  How critical?  Even in 2020, tourism supported 8,000 jobs and produced a $958.76M total impact in the QC.  This was down 21.5% year-over-year which underscores the value of tourism and its need for recovery. “Tourism and non-resident revenues produce positive bottom-line results for our regional economy,” said Dave Herrell,... Read More

Arts and culture mean business, and help create thriving communities. One of the main reasons I love the Quad-Cities (and have made it my home since fall 1995) is because of its outstanding, vibrant and growing arts scene – more than a dozen theater companies, a world-class symphony orchestra, exquisite professional ballet, top-quality art museum, a Smithsonian-affiliate museum of natural history and science, many live music venues of all sizes, gorgeous art galleries, a breathtaking botanical center and gardens, a variety of other fascinating museums, and on and on. But unfortunately, very little... Read More

Quad Cities – The National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) will host a series of scholastic LAN events throughout the 2021-22 academic year called the Hometown Series.  A LAN event stands for Local Area Network event where players connect computers together for multiplayer video games played simultaneously. In conjunction with St. Ambrose University, the NECC’s Hometown Series will head to Davenport, Iowa, on Saturday, October 23 and Sunday, October 24.  Visit Quad Cities is also serving as a presenting partner in the event.  The state-of-the-art Rhythm City Casino will serve as the... Read More

Visit Quad Cities, the region’s official destination management and marketing organization, announces the launch of the new QC Pro. This fun and interactive program leads Quad Citizens on a journey of discovery about all things Quad Cities. To get started, people can register at QuadCitiesPro.com. Once registered, Visit Quad Cities will send three videos emailed in succession to view and answer interactive questions about the QC right within each video, according to a Wednesday release. After the three videos are completed correctly, a QC Pro digital badge, toolkit, and certificate will be... Read More

The Illinois Council of Convention & Visitor Bureaus (ICCVB) has named Dave Herrell, President and CEO, Visit Quad Cities, as their new chairman. This industry-led group works together with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Tourism to enable its members to be more effective and efficient in attracting visitors to their communities. “I am humbled to join alongside my peers and serve this extremely valuable organization, said Herrell in a Tuesday news release. “ICCVB and its 38 member destinations throughout the State of Illinois are critically important... Read More

The Bass Federation Inc. (TBF) will be bringing the 2021 TBF Junior World Championship (JWC) to the Quad-Cities! The event is set for July 28-30 on the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities bi-state regional destination in Illinois and Iowa. The 2021 JWC includes a two-person team format and three days of competition, launching from Rapids City, Illinois. The TBF Junior program includes all anglers 8th grade and under at the time they qualified through their home state’s Junior program. Only the top Junior angler teams from each state’s sanctioned program are invited to attend and compete for... Read More

Quad City Arts has wrapped up another round of exciting new projects in the annual Metro Arts youth apprenticeship program, and held a virtual showcase for 2021 on July 8. Since the summer of 2000, Metro Arts has provided area youth 15-21 years old with paid summer apprenticeships in various arts disciplines. The program provides opportunities for youth and enhances the community through the arts. For five weeks, area youth work together in groups to complete art projects under the supervision and mentorship of professional artists. Participants learn the artistic techniques and applications of... Read More

Visit Quad Cities on Tuesday announced a new collaboration with local attractions for their new QC Family Pass. The pass provides a fun and interactive experience for visitors and Quad Citizens to spend time with family and friends. The QC Family Pass uses mobile-based code check-ins, discounts, special offers, and gamification to engage participants. Anyone can sign up for the free pass at www.qcfamilypass.com. As you visit attractions, you will access codes from each location to check and track your progress. Participants are entered into drawings for chances to win Visa Gift Cards and a Quad... Read More

The Echo – at TheEchoQC.com – is a new online music publication that is partnering with Visit Quad Cities, the official destination management and marketing organization for the Q-C, to expand its digital platform experience and to continue to serve as an important community resource. By implementing a shared online calendar, the two organizations are making it easier for Quad Citizens and visitors to find live music experiences in the region. “Partnering with The Echo is another way to add depth and create value for the Quad-Cities regional destination,” said Dave Herrell, President and... Read More

Visit Quad Cities, the region’s official destination management and marketing organization, was honored with two awards on Wednesday during the 2021 Iowa Tourism Conference in Des Moines. One was for Outstanding Website (Metro) and the other for Outstanding Niche Market Initiative for the Visit Quad Cities Stir Crazy campaign. According to the Iowa Tourism Office, this year’s awards recognize the amazing work and innovation by Iowa’s outstanding tourism organizations during a year filled with challenges and change. “On behalf of the Visit Quad Cities Board of Directors, our team, and... Read More