Travel is far more than a means to reach destinations; it's a dynamic force that powers economies and nearly every industry and community across the United States.
In 2024, travel spending generated $2.9 trillion in economic output and supported jobs for nearly 15 million American workers. To shine a spotlight on the profound economic impact of travel, U.S. Travel has been hitting the road for a nationwide “Travel Works for America” advocacy tour, with stops designed to demonstrate first-hand how travel works for America by spotlighting its extensive impact at the local level.
Our latest Travel Works destination was Miami, Florida—one of the country’s most important global gateways and the site of several major upcoming events.
Each visit on our Miami tour highlighted how travel investment, infrastructure, workforce development and strong leadership are preparing the city for the mega- decade of events. Miami is set to host the F1 Miami Grand Prix, the 2025 Club World Cup, and the 2026 World Cup—the 2026 World Cup alone could bring in $1.5 billion, more than double the 2020 Super Bowl.
Stops Along the Miami Roadshow
The roadshow began at the City of Miami Beach Commission meeting, where U.S. Travel Association President & CEO Geoff Freeman addressed local leaders about Miami’s upcoming opportunities and the need for seamless, secure travel systems to accommodate growing global visitation.
Next, the Travel Works team toured the new MSC Cruises terminal at PortMiami—now the largest cruise terminal in the world. The facility can host three ships at once and process up to 36,000 passengers per day. It is the first cruise terminal to offer a full biometric journey, enhancing security and efficiency across the entire check-in and boarding experience.
The team also visited Miami Dade College, where President Madeline Pumariega shared details of the school’s partnership with FIFA to offer internships tied to the 2026 World Cup. The college’s hospitality center of excellence supports Miami’s growing travel workforce.
Coordinated Leadership
During the visit, we met with Congressman Carlos Giménez (FL-28), FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee CEO Alina Hudak, and representatives from the City of Miami, City of Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County , and the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.
These meetings demonstrated the level of coordination already underway across government and travel stakeholders to ensure successful execution of these global events.
The Importance of International Travel
Miami welcomed 6 million international visitors in 2023, accounting for nearly 50% of the city’s $21 billion in visitor spending. However, international travel to the U.S. overall remains below pre-pandemic levels and declined in March. U.S. Travel continues to advocate for solutions to reduce visa wait times and improve the international entry process.
“We must ensure the world knows that America is open—and ready to welcome them,” said Freeman.
This Roadshow would not have been possible without the support of our Miami partners: the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, PortMiami, MSC Cruises, Miami Dade College and the FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee. Thank you for showing us how Travel Works in Miami.
In This The Itinerary
U.S. Travel Association
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