Springfield, IL (May 1, 2024)—Visit Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau will celebrate National Travel & Tourism week all throughout the month of May!  The official NTTW week runs May 19-25, 2024. 

 

Visit Springfield will host the Neuhoff A.M Springfield Morning Show with Sam Madonia at Shea’s Gas Station and Museum on Peoria Road. The live show will broadcast on May 20 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, including the reopening of this iconic Springfield treasure. 

An official Grand Opening event will take place at this location at 4pm on May 20, press welcome and encouraged to attend.

 

Celebrating the kickoff of tourism season, again this season, the iconic giant slide opens May 4 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. 

For a full list of dates and hours, visit: https://www.visitspringfieldillinois.com/LocationDetails/?id=Slide-Down-66

 

Visit Springfield will be highlighting the Route History Metaverse experience for NTTW week. The Metaverse journey allows travelers to immerse themselves in a one-of-a-kind experience to learn about Black history, people, events and businesses along Route 66 during the Civil Rights ear.

 

Tuesday, May 7, 7:30am-9:30am, the Central IL Customer Service Association presented by Visit Springfield, will host national, keynote speaker David Jones at the UIS Student Union for a customer service keynote event focused on helping organizations and individuals achiever customer service through peak operating performance. Learn more or register for the event here: https://www.cilcsa.org/event-details/david-jones-less-stress-more-customer-service-success-through-peak-operational-performance 

 

Visit Springfield will be featuring the NEW Horseshoe Trail culinary adventure during NTTW week in anticipation of the summer season. Information shows that culinary tourism, allowing travelers to experience a destination's culture through the sensory, artistic medium of food, can be a significant driving factor to where people choose to travel to.  The Springfield Horseshoe is the perfect calling card for foodies from across the country and the world. 

Learn more about the Horseshoe Trail here: https://www.visitspringfieldillinois.com/Landing/SpringfieldHorseshoeTrail.aspx

 

All of these special events are part of the 41st 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 4,700 right here in Sangamon County,” said Scott Dahl, Director Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau. “This week, we are celebrating travel’s $536.8 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 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 produce above pre-pandemic levels, 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:

$536.8 million economic impact for Sangamon County

4,700 jobs are supported by travel and tourism in Sangamon County.

Approximately $147 million in payroll

Travel and tourism generates $17.2 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.

 

About Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau - 

The Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCVB) is the official destination marketing organization for the City of Springfield, Illinois.  The SCVB markets the capital city as a unique convention, meeting and leisure destination in support of our City, our community and our hospitality partners.

 

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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