Springfield,
IL (May 3, 2023)—Visit Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau will celebrate
National Travel & Tourism week beginning early this year on Friday May 5
with the official NTTW week running May 7-13.
- Visit Springfield
will host the Neuhoff A.M Springfield Morning Show with Sam Madonia at the Springfield
Visitors Center inside the historic Lincoln-Herndon Law Office on Friday, May 5
from 6:00am-9:00am to emphasize the important role travel & tourism plays
in our community as well as highlight all things Route 66 in Springfield.
- For the first time in more than 50 years, the iconic giant slide opens May 6 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, 12:00pm – 6:00pm. SLIDE DOWN 66! Soar down the 40’ high iconic, giant slide Saturday’s May-Illinois State Fair.
- Visit Springfield
is partnering with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, City of Springfield
Municipal Center West and Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon & Springfield Park
District to “light up the city in red” as part
of the NTTW national effort to show support of the importance of tourism
through the color red. The week of May 8 all locations will be up lit in RED and the MCW fountains will flow RED as well.
- Tuesday, May
9 at 10:00am the Visit Springfield team will take time for a photo op of the
team in red, showing support and celebrating tourism.
- Friday, May
12 the Central IL Customer Service Association presented by Visit Springfield
will host Stephanie Stuckey, CEO of the Stuckey Family Brands Company. The event will take place at Motorheads in
the Motordome. Formerly a Stuckey’s
location, this backdrop is the perfect fit for both the connection to the
company and the celebration of tourism.
Networking at 7:30am, Keynote Speaker at 8:00am-9:00am with Q&A to
follow until 9:30am.
- Visit Springfield
will be featured on WICS-TV 20 Marketplace segment on May 4, highlighting the
importance of tourism, NTTW week and the opening of the giant slide seasonally.
The
events are part of the 40th Annual National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW),
which unites communities across the country to celebrate how travel matters to
American jobs, economic growth and personal well-being.
“The
travel industry fuels every industry—our industry’s success is the nation’s
success,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman. “This
week is a prime opportunity to elevate the message that travel is essential to
moving America’s economy forward.”
“The
numbers speak for themselves. Travel supports one in nine American jobs,
including 3,500 right here in Sangamon County,” said Scott Dahl, Director
Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau. “This week, we are celebrating
travel’s $483 million impact on our community and hoping to communicate on the
overall value and contribution tourism makes to our quality of life in
Springfield. We’re calling on everyone—from elected officials to all of our
local friends and neighbors—to join us in RED
and in saluting this important industry, and to support pro-travel and tourism
efforts and legislation at the local, state and national level.”
Together,
as we continue to return to levels above 2019, the importance of travel is
clearer than ever before. As we shift our focus forward, together, we are
defining more innovative, inclusive and globally competitive ways to move the
tourism industry into the future.
From
each locally owned business to the largest of sites and attractions, travel
employs a diverse workforce in Springfield and Sangamon County:
- $483 million
economic impact for Sangamon County
- 3,500 jobs
are supported by travel and tourism in Sangamon County.
- Approximately $110
million in payroll
- Travel and tourism
generates $10 million in local tax revenue for Springfield, IL.
The
above local figures are an important part of travel’s economic importance
nationwide.- Travel is
a $2.6 trillion economic output in the U.S.
- Visitors support
15 million American jobs
Travel serves
as a catalyst for a productive U.S. economy and helps power the success of other
industries, fueling communities, small businesses and working families across
the country.
We see daily how much travel & tourism matters to our community and are
eager to welcome even more visitors, both domestic and international, here to
show them what makes Springfield, IL a unique, affordable, walkable and
friendly place to visit.
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For
more information or an interview, please contact Scott Dahl, Director, at 217-341-9802
or via e-mail at scott.dahl@springfield.il.us.