Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

Bloomington native Melissa Chrisman moved back to her hometown to lead the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Planning for the Route 66 Centennial in 2026 is her biggest project so far.

Bloomington Gold, the country's oldest Corvette show, came back to Bloomington-Normal in 2022. The event will be held in Madison, Illinois in 2025.

Melissa Chrisman succeeds Crystal Howard, who led Bloomington-Normal tourism for two decades. Chrisman will join the agency in February, as preparations ramp up for the Route 66 centennial.

Crystal Howard has resigned after 20-plus years as executive director of the Bloomington-Normal Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau received $180,400 from an additional $3.3 million in grants awarded for Route 66 projects throughout the state, ahead of the Mother Road's centennial anniversary in 2026.

The grant is part of 58 awards totaling $6.6 million through the Route 66 ($3.7 million) and Tourism Marketing Grant Programs ($2.9 million) to boost local tourism efforts and attract visitors to drive along the historic highway.

Vice President of Sports and Events Matt Hawkins said the revenue boost expected in November 2023 will come at time when hospitality revenue typically takes a downturn.

Illinois High School Association football playoff title games will come back to Bloomington-Normal in 2023.

The Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau announced Bloomington Gold’s homecoming on Tuesday during a news conference outside Hancock Stadium.

Bloomington-Normal’s tourism chief says she hopes to attract a lot of road trippers this summer, as vaccinated Americans venture back out again after spending last year cooped up.