Published: June 21, 2009 09:16 pm      

Regional event to benefit Mt. Vernon

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — A new event which will be held in Salem this fall will mean big tourist dollars for Mt. Vernon.

“It’s part of our push toward regionalism,” Mayor Mary Jane Chesley said. “It helps everyone.”

The World Coon Dog Championship will be held at the Marion County Fairgrounds in October, but the city of Salem doesn’t have enough hotel rooms for the competitors and spectators expected to attend the event, according to Mt. Vernon Tourism Director Bonnie Jerdon.

“They said there will be 1,800 dogs and more than 5,000 people,” Jerdon explained. “Their hotels are already booked.”

Jerdon and organizers of the event worked together to “actively pursue blocks of rooms for the event.”

“We have about 400 rooms now booked in Mt. Vernon,” Jerdon said. “They are committed to those rooms for all 10 days of the event. ... Several hotels are participating, and there are more rooms available as the event gets closer.”

Jerdon said the 400 rooms already booked mean a conservative estimate of $544,000 in revenue coming into the King City during the championships.

“That’s not including shopping and visits to attractions where money is spent,” Jerdon said. “We’re working on conservative estimates at this time.”

Jerdon said the cities of Centralia, Vandalia and Effingham are also working to be sure there are accommodations for the event attendees to keep the championships in the area. She said partnerships will ensure large events continue to return to Southern Illinois.

“We hope to keep it year after year,” Jerdon said. “If we can make a good impression they’ll come back again and again.”