For the third straight year, newly released Illinois tourism figures show DuPage County posting historic highs in annual revenues while helping boost the county’s economy. The DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is pleased to announce that DuPage County tourism expenditures continue to rise, with 2014’s revenues and tax contributions at all-time highs for the third straight year. According to the State of Illinois Office of Tourism (IOT), visitors to DuPage County contributed $2.428 billion to the state’s economy in 2014, representing a 4.8% increase over 2013. In comparison, 2013 experienced a 3.1% increase over 2012.DuPage County continues to rank second only to Cook County for overall tourism expenditures, tourism industry payrolls, employment figures, and state and local tax revenues. Payrolls for DuPage County tourism reached $605.73 million, an increase of 3.7% over last year, while the number of tourism-related jobs increased to 21,550, up 1.2%. Tourism in DuPage County was responsible for a 5.1% increase, to $146.1 million, in state tax receipts over the previous year. Local tax receipts reached $40.04 million, a 4.6% increase. “Not only were these record-breaking numbers, but the percentage increases were all noticeably higher than the already-impressive percentage increases from 2012 to 2013,” stated DuPage CVB Executive Director Beth Marchetti. “It’s evident that more and more visitors to the Chicago area are recognizing the value and hospitality that DuPage County offers both the business and leisure traveler.” “Being just 20 miles west of Chicago, DuPage County offers a central location and so much more to both leisure and business travelers,” Marchetti continued. “Over 100 hotels, 16,000+ guest rooms and nearly 2 million square feet of meeting space. World-class dining shopping and entertainment. Easy access to O’Hare and Midway international airports, major interstates and commuter rail lines. It’s not hard to see why so many people consider Chicago’s western suburbs to be an attractive and affordable alternative to staying in the city.” For more information about tourism’s economic impact on DuPage County, contact the bureau at 800.232.0502 or visit DiscoverDuPage.com.