Chicago's North Shore Convention & Visitors Bureau

What Chicago's North Shore Convention & Visitors Bureau does

Chicago's North Shore Convention & Visitors Bureau (CNS CVB) is a private non-profit destination marketing organization founded in 2002 and headquartered in Skokie, Illinois. It serves as the official tourism promotion entity for 10 North Shore communities along Lake Michigan: Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Lincolnwood, Northbrook, Prospect Heights, Skokie, Wheeling, Wilmette, and Winnetka. The organization operates with a small staff of approximately 10 employees and is governed as a non-profit under an Illinois jurisdiction.

The CVB's core product is a comprehensive destination marketing website (visitchicagonorthshore.com) that functions as a centralized information hub for visitors, meeting planners, media, and local businesses. The platform includes a searchable events calendar covering local festivals, concerts, performing arts, and sporting events; structured directories of attractions, hotels, restaurants, museums, parks, beaches, golf courses, and transportation options; meeting and group event planning resources; press and media tools; and seasonal content hubs. The technology underlying the platform is described as a conventional website-based destination marketing system with an event calendar backbone and 360-degree virtual tours for attractions, with no disclosed AI/ML components, mobile apps, or proprietary API offerings.

Revenue is derived from three primary streams: membership fees paid by local businesses (hotels, restaurants, attractions) on a recurring subscription basis, online and print advertising sales to member and non-member businesses, and press/media service fees. Visitor-facing content is provided free of charge (freemium model), supported by the membership and advertising revenue. The CVB pursues a community-led go-to-market motion through digital marketing, social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), email newsletters via Constant Contact, print visitor guides, and partnerships with regional and state tourism bodies including Choose Chicago, Enjoy Illinois, and the Illinois Destinations Association.

Name

Chicago's North Shore Convention & Visitors Bureau

Legal name

Chicago's North Shore Convention & Visitors Bureau

Website

https://visitchicagonorthshore.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Destination Marketing Services

NAICS

Convention and Visitors Bureaus (561591)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Permitting, Reservations & Visitor Information Services (Passes, Booking, Visitor Centers) (THAAAGAD)

Keywords

• Destination marketing services
• Convention bureau services
• Tourism promotion services
• Visitor information services
• Meeting planning services

Headquarters

HQ city

Skokie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Local businesses pay membership fees to be part of the CVB network, gaining networking opportunities and promotional benefits
2. Advertising Services: Online and print advertising opportunities for member businesses
3. Press & Media Services: Assistance with copy, photos, and promotion support for media covering the North Shore region

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Chicago's North Shore Convention & Visitors Bureau provides centralized destination marketing and visitor information services for 10 communities bordering Chicago along Lake Michigan (Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Lincolnwood, Northbrook, Prospect Heights, Skokie, Wheeling, Wilmette, Winnetka). The organization operates an official tourism website, event calendar, attractions directory, transportation guide, and free visitors guide, while also offering meeting and group event planning services, press/media resources, and a member-based advertising and promotional program for local businesses.

Product overview

Chicago's North Shore Convention & Visitors Bureau operates a comprehensive destination marketing website that serves as the primary tourism information hub for the Chicago North Shore region. The platform consists of multiple integrated content modules including an events calendar, attractions directory, transportation guide, and specialized planning tools for meetings, groups, and weddings. The site aggregates visitor information across diverse categories including dining, shopping, outdoor recreation, arts and entertainment, sports, and wellness services across communities including Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Lincolnwood, Northbrook, Prospect Heights, Skokie, Wheeling, Wilmette, and Winnetka. The organization functions as a marketing bureau rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Official Visitor Information Website Centralized destination marketing platform providing comprehensive visitor information including attractions, events, hotels, dining, transportation, and planning tools across 10 North Shore communities. Free resource for individual tourists and visitors.
• Events Calendar Searchable events calendar featuring local festivals, concerts, performing arts, sporting events, and community activities across Chicago's North Shore communities, with filtering by date, interest, and keyword.
• Meeting & Group Events Planning Service Resources for meeting planners and group event organizers including venue listings, meeting space availability, event services, wedding venues, and RFP submission tools for corporate meetings, conferences, and group events on the North Shore.
• Press & Media Resources Media resources for journalists, bloggers, and media professionals covering North Shore destinations, including photo library, newsletter access, visitor guide requests, and a dedicated press contact ([email protected]).
• Membership Program Membership-based program for local hospitality businesses including hotels, restaurants, attractions, and retailers, providing networking opportunities, promotional benefits, and access to CVB marketing channels.
• Advertising Services Online and print advertising opportunities for member businesses and local companies seeking to promote to North Shore visitors, including ad placements on the CVB website, newsletter, and visitor guide.
• Free Visitors Guide Print and downloadable visitors guide with comprehensive area information including attractions, events, hotels, dining, and transportation for Chicago's North Shore. Requested free by visitors.
• Email Newsletter Monthly email newsletter delivered via Constant Contact keeping subscribers informed about North Shore happenings, events, and seasonal content.

Quantifiable outcome

• Comprehensive coverage of 10 North Shore communities with one centralized resource

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Illinois Destinations AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe CVB is IDA-certified, demonstrating compliance with Illinois tourism industry standards and participation in statewide destination marketing efforts
• Enjoy IllinoiscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of the Illinois state tourism organization, promoting Chicago's North Shore as part of statewide travel initiatives
• Choose ChicagocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of Chicago's primary tourism marketing organization, coordinating regional tourism promotion
• Visit USAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational tourism partnership promoting U.S. travel destinations including Chicago's North Shore
• Cities of the Big TenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Big Ten university cities organization, leveraging Northwestern University's presence in Evanston
• Wheel the WorldminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAccessible travel partnership providing verified accessibility information for travelers with disabilities

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Visit Denver: Visit Denver is a comparable metro-area convention and visitors bureau performing destination promotion, meeting planner support, and visitor information services. Its structure and non-profit DMO model closely mirror Chicago's North Shore CVB at a larger metropolitan scale.
• NYC & Company: NYC & Company (now NYC Tourism + Conventions) is the official DMO for New York City, performing destination promotion, meeting/convention sales, and visitor information services. Highly comparable DMO structure and value proposition at a much larger scale.
• Destination DC: Destination DC is the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC, providing visitor information, convention sales, and member services. Its CVB operating model and content platforms are directly comparable to Chicago's North Shore CVB.
• Visit Pittsburgh: Visit Pittsburgh is the official DMO for Pittsburgh, performing destination marketing, convention sales, and visitor information services. Its non-profit CVB structure and integrated events/attractions platform are directly comparable to Chicago's North Shore CVB.
• Choose Chicago: Choose Chicago is the official destination marketing organization for Chicago proper and a listed strategic partner of Chicago's North Shore CVB. Both organizations perform destination promotion, meeting planner services, and visitor information for overlapping but adjacent geographies in the Chicago metropolitan area.
• Meet Minneapolis: Meet Minneapolis is a convention and visitors bureau operating destination promotion, meeting sales, and visitor services for the Minneapolis metro area. Its CVB operating model, membership dues structure, and convention sales focus are highly comparable.
• Visit Atlanta: Visit Atlanta is a non-profit DMO that promotes metro Atlanta through similar channels including events calendars, attraction directories, and meeting planner tools. Comparable in mission and operating model to Chicago's North Shore CVB.
• Enjoy Illinois (Illinois Office of Tourism): Enjoy Illinois is the state's official tourism marketing organization and a listed partner of the CVB. Both entities coordinate destination promotion, share marketing channels, and operate membership/advertising programs for tourism stakeholders within Illinois.
• Illinois Destinations Association: IDA is the statewide association of Illinois DMOs that certifies the CVB. Both are membership-based destination marketing bodies serving Illinois tourism, with overlapping governance standards and joint marketing initiatives.

Regional players

• Discover Long Island: Discover Long Island is a suburban/regional DMO covering Long Island outside NYC. Its suburban destination focus, multi-community coordination, and reliance on anchor attractions mirror the Chicago's North Shore CVB's positioning as a regional alternative to a major city.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtiktok.com/@chicagosnorthshore
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChicagoNorthShore
• Instagraminstagram.com/chicagonorthshore
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chicago's-north-shore-convention-&-visitors-bureau

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chicago's North Shore Convention & Visitors Bureau