Empire State Building lit up red.

National Travel and Tourism Week 2018 (NTTW) kicked off on May 6, with cities and destinations across the country organizing hundreds of events and celebrations during the week.

This year’s theme, “Travel Then and Now,” recognizes the contributions and accomplishments of the U.S. travel industry over the past decades, while also serving as an opportunity to celebrate the industry’s enduring ethos: welcoming visitors from around the world to experience what makes this country the best place to visit.

The industry has embraced the theme by sharing “throwback” photos with the hashtag #TBTravel, showcasing just how much some destinations, attractions and businesses have changed and grown over the years:

 

 

While many will be hosting live rallies on Travel Rally Day (May 8), destinations, businesses and individuals are also encouraged to take part in U.S. Travel’s first-ever Social Travel Rally and share their welcome message to visitors using the hashtag #TravelsWelcome. More information on how to take part in the rally is available on the social travel rally tip sheet.

The week will also be packed with proclamations, events, press conferences, luncheons and award ceremonies nationwide. Use the interactive NTTW event map to find a celebration nearest you.  

Highlights from the Week:

Final days:

More than 100 members of the hospitality community attended Savannah’s city council meeting to bring awareness to the impact tourism has on the local economy.

 

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Thursday:

Dave Krupinski, COO of Visit San Antonio, celebrated NTTW by offering a “thank you” morning salute to local firefighters and paramedics.

 

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Wednesday:

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) gave a special shout out to NTTW, while destinations around the country continued to show off their creative sides.

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday:

Destinations and attractions from around the country got into the #TravelsWelcome spirit for the Social Travel Rally.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday:

Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) recognized NTTW and the importance of travel in her state on the House floor. And one destination had a very clever way of sharing the impact of travel with its visitors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday's NTTW kickoff:

Destinations and groups got creative for the kickoff of NTTW on Sunday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And once again, the Empire State Building in New York City lit up red—the official color of the travel industry—on May 8 to celebrate Travel Rally Day. 

 

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We will be updating this post throughout the week. Check back to see if we feature a celebration from your city or submit your celebration to Brittany Kemp ([email protected]) for a chance to be featured on the blog or in the wrap-up video. And don’t forget to include #nttw18, #TBTravel or #TravelsWelcome in all of your social posts! 

 


U.S. Travel Association

For more information about this blog, please contact us at:

202.408.8422

@ustravel