Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau
The Great River Road in Illinois is one of the region s tourist attractions. Many businesses along that highway are struggling to hold on during the pandemic.
Many people who work in the region s tourism industry are gearing up for a post-pandemic world, even though it s expected to be a couple of years before attractions and businesses return to pre-coronavirus lockdown levels.
The U.S. Travel Association points to a recent U.S. Department of Labor report showing about 40% of jobs lost during the COVID-19 outbreak have been in the hospitality and leisure sector. It s been the toughest year I ve experienced, said David Robert, the chief executive officer of St. Louis-based Midas Hospitality, which has hotels in several states including Missouri and Illinois. He s been in the business for more than three decades.
Alton seeks to revive St. Patrick s Day events
Alton seeks to revive St. Patrick’s Day events
David Blanchette For The Telegraph
March 5, 2021
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The Irish flag flies at Morrison’s Irish Pub in downtown Alton as the establishment gears up for St. Patrick’s Day. Show MoreShow Less
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Owner Mary Morrison beside a chalkboard drawing that will welcome St. Patrick’s Day revelers to Morrison’s Irish Pub. Show MoreShow Less
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Henry Williams, Katie Williams and Janis Hopkins receive their orders on Saturday at Morrison’s Irish Pub. Show MoreShow Less
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Erika Castillo and Bill Nicholson from Imperial, Missouri enjoy Saturday afternoon in the outdoor tent at Morrison’s Irish Pub in Alton. Show MoreShow Less
Travel the new All-American Road in Illinois
Great River Road receives prestigious national roadway designation
The Intelligencer
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The Illinois Great River Road, which includes the local Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway, has been designated an “All-American Road” by the Federal Highway Administration. The Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway is a 33-mile stretch included in the Illinois Great River Road, which runs from Hartford to just north of Grafton and parallels the Mississippi River and includes its confluence with the Missouri River and the Illinois River.For the Intelligencer
The Illinois Great River Road, which includes the local Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway, has been designated an “All-American Road” by the Federal Highway Administration.
Great River Road earns federal highway honor
Ron DeBrock, ronald.debrock@thetelegraph.com
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The Great River Road, including the 33-mile Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway between Grafton and Hartford, has been designated an All-American Road by the Federal Highway Administration. Show MoreShow Less
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ALTON The Illinois Great River Road has been designated an “All-American Road” by the Federal Highway Administration.
The route, which includes the local Meeting of the Great Rives National Scenic Byway, is one of 49 roadways in 28 states to receive new roadway designations as part of the America’s Byways collection.
The Great River Road follows the Mississippi River for 3,000 miles through 10 states, from its beginnings at Lake Itasca in Minnesota through Louisiana where it enters the Gulf of Mexico. In Illinois, the byway hugs the western border of the state for more than 550 miles.
Tourism CEO sees brights spots in pandemic-stricken industry
Scott Marion, smarion@hearst.com
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JobeFor The Intelligencer
ALTON The hotel industry has been hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the recovery process may take several years.
Locally, though, there are signs that the turnaround will at least begin in 2021.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association recently released its State of the Hotel Industry 2021 report, examining the economics of recovery after the industry experienced its worst year on record in 2020. The disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic resulted in historically low room occupancy, massive job losses and hotel closures across the nation.