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DuPage committee signals increase in hotel transportation grant to $75,000 for FY2026
Summary
After testimony from hoteliers and transportation suppliers, the DuPage County Economic Development Committee agreed by consensus to raise the hotel transportation grant for fiscal year 2026 from $50,000 to $75,000 to help hotels attract meetings to the county.
The DuPage County Economic Development Committee indicated consensus to increase the county’s hotel transportation grant from $50,000 to $75,000 for fiscal year 2026 after presentations from hoteliers and transportation providers.
Public commenters and industry representatives told the committee the program helps DuPage hotels win meetings and keep related spending in the county. Nathan Carson, executive director of the Marriott Naperville, thanked the committee for the grant program and said it helped the hotel win association and church group business that brought attendees to DuPage County. James Staley of Midwest Transit, a transportation supplier for the Chicago-area hotel community, said the program helped persuade groups to move meetings to DuPage hotels by offering convenient ground transportation from O'Hare.
Committee discussion and staff comments established these details about the hotel transportation grant program: - The county-funded program began in March 2025 with a $50,000 allocation; committee members were told the grant funds were nearly expended and that roughly $3,700 remained as of the meeting. - The current contract term for the program runs through March 2026; staff noted the remaining ARPA interest funds are being used to support the program and that those funds will be exhausted if not replenished. - Hotels that receive grant support are required to report what they contribute (for example, bonus points, free AV or other perks) and some hotels share in transportation costs or provide incentives to meeting attendees.
Committee members questioned program metrics and sustainability. Member Echoff asked whether the county funded 100% of transportation costs; staff replied hotels and, in some cases, municipalities also contribute or provide perks. Member Petusky suggested the committee provide information to municipalities about their own hotel tax reserves and encourage municipal participation; staff noted DuPage County does not levy a county hotel tax and that many municipalities (home-rule and non–home-rule) have local hotel-tax funds that can be used for tourism programs.
At the meeting’s close the chair asked for consensus to increase the hotel transportation grant to $75,000 for fiscal year 2026; members expressed support and no formal roll-call vote was taken. Staff said they will move the proposal forward for the committee’s next steps.
No ordinance or formal budget amendment was recorded at the meeting; the committee recorded a consensus direction to increase grant funding for FY2026.
