I was recently invited by my counterpart in Irving, Texas, to discuss gaming and destination development as Texas considers legalizing gambling and redeveloping the former Dallas Cowboys stadium site. It was an honor to be part of this conversation, reinforcing the impact of gaming in our own region.
The Quad Cities was the first to introduce riverboat casinos along the Mississippi River, a legacy pioneered by visionary Bernard Goldstein that continues to shape our community for the better.
Bally’s Quad Cities, Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf, and Rhythm City Casino Resort are economic engines, driving growth and prosperity. Their impact extends beyond gaming, creating jobs and fueling regional community development.
With a potential casino in Cedar Rapids on the horizon, we must be proactive in sustaining our competitive edge.
Visit Quad Cities has long advocated for stronger investment in destination marketing, yet we remain underfunded compared to peer communities. The race to attract visitors, talent, and business is hyper-competitive, and we cannot afford complacency. Other communities are making strategic investments, and we must do the same to stay relevant.
We collaborate with industry leaders nationwide, exchanging best practices and identifying opportunities. However, critical community positioning investments discussions are often marginalized. Visit Quad Cities cannot remain at the bottom rung of funding for destination marketing organizations (DMOs) nationally.
We are proud of our partnerships and our role in supporting a $1.37 billion visitor economy. But sustained investment in destination sales, marketing, and promotion is needed from both the public and private sectors to ensure long-term growth.
We have made tangible progress with our public sector partners and for this we are grateful. However, the only way we grow is for increased private/public teamwork. Tourism fuels economic development beyond direct spending, and marketing our region effectively benefits all Quad Citizens. It all starts with a visit.
The Quad Cities has a wealth of assets to sell, market, and promote. To maximize our potential, stakeholders must step up, align resources, and invest in our region’s future.
Our shared goal is to make the Quad Cities the best it can be. The only way forward is through collaboration, strategic thinking, and action.
(Dave Herrell is president and CEO of Visit Quad Cities. He can be reached at [email protected].)
