PEORIA, Ill. — The Peoria area has so much to offer its visitors.
JD Dalfanso, President and CEO of the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, says he’s seeing a trend of more people making the drive down from Chicago to “Play in Peoria”.
“They’re bypassing Starved Rock State Park because there’s been more traffic through there, because of a shift in tourism. So, they’re coming further down here to Robinson Park, Sankoty Lakes, even Forest Park Nature Preserve,” Dalfanso said.
Peoria also offers concerts, shows and theater at the Peoria Civic Center, family-friendly museums and numerous festivals year-round.
Dalfanso told WMBD’s “The Greg and Dan Show”, it’s his job to tout the benefits of having conventions here too.
He’s been traveling the nation talking about venues like the Peoria Civic Center, the Scottish Rite Theater…even Sankoty Lakes in Spring Bay.
“All these things that we have in our own backyard, now more people are coming down (for events). When they come down here, they’re then going to grab a pitcher of beer, they’re grabbing a bite to eat, or staying over the night before going back home the next day,” Dalfanso said.
Some of the area’s draws are numerous dining and entertainment options for conventioners within blocks or just a few miles of their event, Dalfanso said.
Dalfanso adds, PACVB is constantly working to expand the Peoria area’s reach for tourism, conventions and other events beyond the Midwest…talking it up to other convention and visitors bureaus nationally.
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