Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Office of Tourism has launched a new website powered by AI and “Middle of Everything” campaign spots, featuring iconic locations across the state as a part of its summer campaign.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Office of Tourism, has announced the launch of its new seasonal advertising campaign and redesigned Enjoy Illinois website, in preparation for the spring-summer travel season.

According to a press statement by Illinois DCEO, the refreshed website now offers cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities through its AI chatbot,  powered by GuideGeek, referred to as BIG Lincoln, which it says will revolutionise trip planning for visitors and Illinois residents.

The statement adds that Illinois will be the first US State Destination Marketing Organisation with this GuideGeek AI function on their tourism website for trip-planning purposes.

The Illinois Office of Tourism has also launched its new spring-summer Middle of Everything campaign spots, featuring iconic locations across the state. From the towering bluffs of Giant City State Park in Makanda to breathtaking views of the Mississippi River aboard a hot air balloon in Galena, visitors can immerse themselves in Illinois’ diverse landscapes and attractions, according to the statement.

“The Illinois Office of Tourism is dedicated to providing innovative tools and resources to enhance the travel experience in our state. The introduction of the BIG Lincoln AI chatbot will offer intuitive assistance and enhance accessibility for all visitors using personalised recommendations to help effortlessly plan their next Illinois trip,” says DCEO Director Kristin Richards.

 

“Travellers’ needs have continued to change and we are excited to trailblaze using new technology to amplify our dreaming and planning phase of the visitor journey, a critical step to enhancing the Illinois travel experience. Our AI chatbot, along with our additional website updates, improves the overall user experience while also helping us keep a finger on the pulse of what visitors are looking for when planning a trip to and around Illinois,” says Daniel Thomas, Deputy Director of DCEO, Office of Tourism.

“Implementing GuideGeek’s AI Travel Assistant to the new Enjoy Illinois website was especially exciting for us because the team at Illinois Tourism has done an incredible job creating rich traveller itineraries and trip planning content for their website,” says Ross Borden, CEO of travel publisher Matador Network which launched GuideGeek last year.

“GuideGeek scans the website daily and prioritises Enjoy Illinois’ own content within the answers it gives to potential visitors to the state, but unlike a glorified ‘site search’, our tech still comes with the full conversational intelligence of OpenAI, including perfect fluency in 50 languages,” Borden adds.

The statement adds that new website now boasts several other features, such as a revamped outdoor landing pages dedicated to showcasing Illinois’ diverse natural landscapes including 70 state parks and recreation areas, 2,900 lakes and seven national scenic byways.

The tourism board says that the new website will also have distinct regional profiles highlighting the unique attractions and experiences of the state’s four regions which include Chicago and Beyond or Northern Illinois, Land of Lincoln or Central Illinois, Great Rivers Country or Western Illinois and Trails to Adventure or Southern Illinois.

“These new ads shine a light on the state’s one-of-a-kind destinations, highlighting the unforgettable adventures awaiting visitors in every region of Illinois. Whether it is exploring the culturally rich Historic Route 66, hiking across the scenic Pomona Natural Bridge in Pomona or indulging in the thrills of Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, these new spring/summer ads showcase the best of Illinois, inviting travellers to embark on unforgettable journeys in all corners of the state,” says Thomas.