DANVILLE, IL (Chambana Today) — Rhonda Ellis, a longtime marketing lead, was named as the new Executive Director of the Danville Area Visitors Bureau, where she plans to boost tourism and growth in Danville and surrounding communities.

Ellis has been a familiar face in the region’s tourism market. She has served as Marketing Director and Sales Administrator for the DAVB for 11 years and has worked alongside Jeanie Cooke, who is retiring after 32 years of service.

Some of Ellis’s work has included the NJCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championships, Balloons Over Vermilion and the American Legion State Golf Tournament. Her goal is to lead the organizations mission to help bolster tourism, support local businesses and elevate Danville and Vermilion County as a premiere travel destination in the Midwest.

Gary Hackler, President of the DAVB board, had this to say about Ellis, “We are thrilled to have Rhonda step into this leadership position. Her deep knowledge of our region, her proven passion for promoting local events, and her strategic vision makes her the ideal person to guide the bureau into it’s next chapter.”

Tourism continues to be a powerful economic engine for Vermilion County, with visitor spending reaching $43 million in 2023 and supporting more than 270 local jobs, according to the Illinois Office of Tourism, where under the leadership of Ellis, the DAVB is poised to expand those efforts and promote Danville as a top tier travel destination.

The Danville Area Visitors Bureau is dedicated to promoting tourism, economic development and community pride in Danville and throughout Vermilion County, Illinois. Through strategic marketing, event partnerships and visitors’ services, DAVB helps showcase the regions unique attractions, cultural heritage and small-town hospitality.

For more information about the Danville Area Visitors Bureau, visit here.