Across the country this week, cities will unite to observe National Travel & Tourism Week, an annual tradition that was established by a Congressional resolution in 1983 to celebrate the impactful contributions travel markets and organizations make to the U.S. economy.
In Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), the primary sales and marketing agency for the Pennsylvania Convention Center (PCC), is observing the occasion by highlighting the economic impact of meetings and conventions in a revealing infographic. Meeting and convention attendees make up the largest segment of overnight visitors staying in the city’s hotels.
“At the Convention & Visitors Bureau, we promote Philadelphia’s assets to overseas visitors, travel and tour operators, as well as to meeting planners. The impact of these visitors on our local economy is staggering, helping to support more than 65,000 hospitality jobs in Philadelphia,” said Jack Ferguson, president & CEO, PHLCVB. “National Travel & Tourism Week is a time for us to showcase the power of these visitors and conventions, and this infographic tells that story in an entertaining way.”
“This week marks one year since the signing of an agreement modernizing work rules and expanding exhibitor rights at the Pennsylvania Convention Center to improve the customer experience at the building, and so it seems fitting that this anniversary falls during National Travel & Tourism Week,” said John McNichol, president & CEO, PCC. “The Pennsylvania Convention Center is now in a position to make good on the promise to Pennsylvania taxpayer and serve as an economic engine for our region.”
The travel and tourism industry is more than fun; it’s big business. Here are some national travel and tourism figures:
- $2.1 trillion in economic output and $927.9 billion in direct travel-related spending in the U.S. by domestic and international travelers in 2014
- $141.5 billion generated in federal, state and local tax revenues in 2014
- 15 million American jobs supported-8 million direct tourism jobs and 7 million indirect and induced jobs
“Travel contributes to the fabric of America and continues to do wonders for our businesses and personal lives,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO, U.S. Travel Association, the umbrella organization representing the travel industry in the U.S. “This weeklong celebration should extend to every day of the week to strengthen further our dynamic industry.”
For more information about National Travel & Tourism Week, visit www.ustravel.org/marketing/national-travel-and-tourism-week.
To view tweets from the event, use the hashtag #NTTW2015.
