FOR IMMEDIATE USE October 8, 2020 Contact: Mary Priller Marketing Manager, Visit Lake County 847-662-2700 (cellphone 847-309-7051) mary@lakecounty.org
VISITOR SPENDING RANKS HIGH IN LAKE COUNTY Pre-COVID growth in expenditures, employment and tax receipts GURNEE, Ill.– At its annual meeting last week, “Rally for Lake County,” Visit Lake County, the official destination marketing organization for Lake County, Illinois, provided an update on travel and recovery, a look at travel sentiment, and a “rallying” for communities, businesses, travelers and visitors. The meeting was shared from Gurnee’s Great Wolf Lodge, the host location virtually connecting members of the more than 200+ partner-based organization with the backdrop of the 8,000-square foot water park open for hotel guests. Prior to the impact of COVID-19, Illinois achieved its ninth consecutive year of record tourism growth. In Lake County, visitor spending topped $1.509 billion in 2019 which is a 5.6 % increase from 2018. Tourism-related employment increased 2.9% from 11,350 to 11,680. Local tax receipts rose to $34.59 million, a 6.7% increase from 2018’s $32.42 million. Visitors generated nearly $100.4 million in state tax receipts in the county—an increase of 10.6%. Lake County continues to rank as one of the top three counties for visitor expenditures behind Cook County and DuPage County.