Become a Member

Become a Member

There are a variety of partnership opportunities with the Heritage Corridor Destinations. Below are a few of the initial membership benefits.  Become a member today by contacting Kate Meehan at 815-216-9960.

Travel Guide

Your business will have a listing in each of our three Travel Guides, our signature print pieces.  75,000 Travel Guides are distributed annually in a multi-state territory, including to our local markets as well.  We also feature many of our members in the articles in the three guides (Starved Rock Country, I&M Canal Towns, and The First Hundred Miles of Route 66).  Partners are also able to distribute Travel Guides from their location for free.

Event Marketing

As a member, you are able to submit events for our biannual printed Event Guides and online Event Calendar.  We also feature as many events as possible in our e-newsletters and through social media.

Web Site and Blog Exposure

Your organization will have a listing on HCDestinations.com, as well as potentially different microsites targeted to various different audiences (for example, HeritageCorridorAleTrail.com).  Partners may also receive a personalized listing on the Illinois Bureau of Tourism's website EnjoyIllinois.com and access to 1-800-2CONNECT, Illinois' tourism referral system. We also submit member listings when applicable for inclusion in various state and regional publications.

Social Media Coverage

Heritage Corridor Destinations has a number of different social media accounts to feature your organization.  These different accounts are geared towards different audiences, honing in promotion on those most likely to notice your business: Heritage Corridor Ale Trail, Flock to the Rock, Antiques & Boutiques, etc.

Cooperative Marketing

Benefit from the various different marketing initiatives put on by Heritage Corridor Destinations to drive visitors to the area. We offer opportunities for direct inclusion, and all benefit from those potential visitors viewing the web site. We advertise in international, national and regional media, including AAA Living, Midwest Living, Chicago Magazine, Playbill, Route Magazine, and Comcast.

Partners have the opportunity to participate in special programs, events and tours geared toward attracting visitors to the area. Past promotions have included Starved Rock Wine Fest, LaSalle County's Flock to the Rock, A River Thru History, Lockport's Old Canal Days, Morris' Liberty 5K, Lockport's Summer Arts Series, Joliet Public Library's Star Wars Day and Ottawa Two Rivers Wine Festival.

Leverage the Heritage Corridor's Marketing Buying Power

Heritage Corridor Destinations spends over $2 million dollars each year in marketing on behalf of our partners, and your organization can leverage that buying power by having us act as your media agency.  Whether you're looking at a six-figure campaign or venturing into your very first print or TV ad, we can assist you.  We also do not mark up your purchase 15% as your typical media agency would do.  Click here to read more, including how we can assist you in the world of marketing.

Low or No-Cost Creative Services

Our staff has designed every type of creative messaging out there, from TV ads to billboards to Facebook posts.  We also have access to creative freelancers that can assist in delivering the best message possible.  Click here to learn more about Heritage Corridor Creative Services.

Media Exposure

We also generate editorial coverage of local attractions and businesses through an aggressive media relations strategy aimed at reaching travel writers, editors, publishers, and influencers.

Receptive Services/Sales Department

Our sales department offers comprehensive receptive tour planning to motorcoach companies, tour operators and group tour planners. Partners have the opportunity to be included in overnight, day and specialty packages and itineraries offered to the group travel market. The sales department actively promotes Corridor events and members at various domestic and international trade shows, market places, travel shows, sales missions and through hosting FAM "familiarization" tours throughout the year.

Tax Deductible

Partnership with the Heritage Corridor Destinations is a tax-deductible business expense.

Become a Member Today

For partnership information, please contact Kate Meehan at 815-216-9960 or click to fill out the partnership agreement.