Springfield, IL Celebrates National Travel and Tourism’s 40th Anniversary Year | Springfield, Illinois | Visit Springfield

  • 5/3/2023


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.