Galena Country Tourism reports strong metrics; council approves street closure for film shoot

Galena Country Tourism told the Galena City Council on May 12 that visitor metrics and advertising reach were strong in the latest reporting period and that lodging-tax revenues hit a record level for the combined city and county. The tourism representative also sought and received council approval for a street-closure permit for filming on Main Street on June 26.

Terry (last name not specified), presenting the quarterly report for Galena Country Tourism, said the bureau saw “a big boost in earned media” and cited digital metrics including “4,600,000 views” and more than 1.5 million impressions on Google Ads for the period presented. The group also discussed a new visitor guide and a series of campaigns intended to promote midweek stays to raise Sunday-through-Thursday occupancy.

The tourism presenter reported combined city-and-county lodging-tax revenues at about $2 million for 2024 and quoted state research estimating roughly $20 million in direct, visitor-related local tax revenues and a broader annual visitor impact that “researchers put” at about $554 million. The presenter said Galena Country had record lodging-tax revenues in 2024 and that occupancy levels remained near pandemic-era high watermarks.

Council members asked about targeting small conferences and midweek travel to raise occupancy on nonweekend days; the tourism representative said the bureau sells to group and tour planners and will continue to prioritize leisure and tour-bus markets while further exploring meeting and conference business.

Separately, the council approved a street-closure permit requested by Galena Country Tourism to allow filming of three short scenes in Galena on June 26. The bureau said the production plans three scenes across Galena and nearby cities (Dubuque, Iowa City and Quincy) and that the Main Street shoot would run from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., with the Desoto House a planned filming location. The representative said the production carries general liability insurance and will coordinate traffic and business access; the council voted in favor of the permit.

During the permit discussion the tourism representative said the film is a prohibition-brewery–themed production and identified two actors by the names used in the meeting; the bureau said it would issue a full press release with production details when more of the permitting and insurance paperwork is final.

No changes to lodging-tax policy or allocation were proposed at the meeting; the tourism representative said the bureau is preparing its 2026 budget and would return with additional details after committee work and staff discussions.