For the first time since 2007, Visit Quad Cities will create a long term plan to make this area a better tourist destination. It's partnering with Resonance Consultancy, a global tourism group that will develop a long-range strategic plan.
Dave Herrell, president of Visit Quad Cities, says Resonance has done transformative work for other major cities.
"They're really one of the leading organizations that's driving futurism. So, they're really experts at looking at kind of a long-range picture of where a community can go, and kind of giving you the guide and the road map to get there."
Resonance will help Visit Quad Cities with customer research, community surveys, consumer trends, and helping to define priorities of the region.
"Tourism is economic development. And tourism is about building a brand; it's about trying to drive attention and awareness on a regional destination. So, you need to make sure you've got a real comprehensive plan that has consensus in the community that can kind of be the catalyst for where we need to go."
Herrell says all the research for the new plan should take about 6 to 8 months to complete. Resonance has worked on tourism plans ranging from China and Hong Kong to South Carolina, the former Soviet Union, and Caribbean.