Americans asked to take a vacation:
Las Vegas joins nationwide rallies for 26th annual National Tourism Week
LAS VEGAS — Hundreds of Las Vegas casino and hospitality industry employees gathered outside the Las Vegas Convention Center in support of the tourism industry held on May 12.
Las Vegas joined the hundreds of cities, states and businesses nationwide in the annual salute to travel and tourism in America. National Travel and Tourism Week is a collective effort to promote the power of travel through customized events in communities nationwide. The goal is to enhance the country's economy, security and perception, and recognize the cultural and social benefits created by travel and tourism.
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Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is flanked by two showgirls at the Las Vegas Convention Center during a rally in support of tourism. / Vincent Hernandez |
In 2009, the first-ever U.S. Travel Rally Day will be staged in communities nationwide on May 12, with convention and visitors bureau leaders uniting with local government and business leaders to promote the message that “Travel Matters.”
Among the dignitaries in attendance was Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman who did not miss a chance to promote his favorite city while honoring the many employees who took the time to show up for the event.
"You folks here are at the front line and you're the first responders," Mayor Goodman told the crowd. "You're our ambassadors. You're the ones that make those folks who visit us in Las Vegas feel as though they've been to the greatest tourist destination ever dreamed of by mankind with the greatest hotels. Now we have the greatest rates, the best food, the best entertainment, the most beautiful women and the greatest mayor."
Las Vegas organizers estimated about 500 people participated, including Mayor Goodman and three performers from the Luxor hotel-casino's topless show Fantasy and performers from Mystére Cirque du Soleil at Treasure Island.
The rally was part of a national campaign organized by the U.S. Travel Association aimed to boost such destinations as Beaumont, Texas; Louisville, Ky.; Cincinnati; Park City, Utah, New Orleans; and Santa Monica, Calif.
In the nation's capital, the organization's president stood on the steps of the Smithsonian American Art Museum flanked by supporters dressed in their work uniforms or in red, one of the colors of the District of Columbia flag.
In New Orleans, housekeepers, chefs and other hospitality industry employees paraded down Canal Street with a high school marching band and a streetcar. Organizers estimated more than 1,000 people participated.
"People just aren't spending as much money because of their concern with the economy itself and then the unemployment numbers that are out there," said Rossi Ralenkotter, chief executive of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Ralenkotter said the nationwide rallies are meant to remind people that vacationing is normal and vital for destinations.
"For all of us it's to say 'OK, we see what's happening, but let's talk about getting back to some of the things that we do in our daily course of life,'" he said.
In Las Vegas, hotel-casinos are hoping for a turnaround after months of declining visitation and revenues, which have cost jobs and left companies with debt problems.
Travel to Las Vegas was down 8.7 percent for the first three months of 2009 compared with 2008, even as hotels slashed room rates more than 25 percent, according to the latest figures from the visitors authority. The decline is even more pronounced during weekdays, when conventions and corporate meetings are typically held.
New Orleans employees parade down
Canal Street to declare power of tourism
 NEW ORLEANS — Creating a celebratory New Orleans scene reminiscent of Mardi Gras, more than 1,000 employees of the hospitality community, elected officials, city leaders, musicians and visitors paraded down Canal Street during a half-hour rally to officially declare May 12th THE POWER OF TOURISM IN NEW ORLEANS DAY. This collaborative effort demonstrates the city's celebration of its hospitality employees, cultural heritage and the significant impact tourism has on New Orleans' economy.
Tourism is the most important economic driver in New Orleans, employing 78,000 people and generating billions of dollars annually. One in every 12 people in Louisiana is employed as a result of the tourism industry.
The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau was able to gather frontline workers such as chefs, bellhops and housekeepers to rally with city leaders in recognition of National Travel and Tourism Week sponsored by the U.S. Travel Association. Joining 40 other U.S. cities, together they proclaimed the importance of tourism.
New Orleans' unique rally featured musicians, Mardi Gras Indians, floats, second line umbrellas and colorful signs proclaiming, "I am the Face of Travel! ** Tourism Matters! ** Meetings Mean Business! **and Travel Means Jobs."
The rally culminated in a press conference at Spanish Plaza on the riverfront and luncheon and business expo at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center, where Stephen Perry, President and CEO of the New Orleans CVB, and other leaders discussed the importance of travel to the city's brand, economy, job creation, cultural heritage and an enhanced quality of life for every New Orleans citizen.
Travel and tourism is one of America's largest industries, with $740 billion in direct travel expenditures. Cities and towns across the country, particularly New Orleans, rely on the wages and taxes generated by business and leisure visitors. But, the industry is facing tough times.
Pittsburgh hospitality rallies in Station Square
 PITTSBURGH — Hundreds of business leaders and hospitality employees joined together at a "Travel Matters Rally" in Pittsburgh on May 12. The rally was organized to raise awareness about proposed state funding cuts to the travel and tourism industry that will have broad implications for the Pittsburgh region's job market and economy.
"Travel is a critical economic driver for Pennsylvania and restoring funding will enable tourism and travel to continue to be part of the solution," said Craig Davis, vice president of sales and marketing for VisitPittsburgh. He noted that relatively modest investments from the state yield economic growth, additional tax revenues and help maintain good jobs.
In addition to Davis, other Travel Matters Rally speakers included: Pennsylvania State Senator Wayne Fontana; Sheraton Station Square General Manager Tom Hardy; Bill Flanagan, Executive Vice President and Chief Public Affairs Officer of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and Joey DiSalvo, owner of DiSalvo Station restaurant, immediate past chair of the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association and incoming chairman of Distinguished Restaurants of North America. In addition, two long-time employees from area hotels — Mary Alice Cypher and Mary Carter — spoke about what the travel and tourism industry meant to them personally. Pittsburgh Penguins play-by-play television announcer, Paul Steigerwald, served as emcee. Sounds of Steel, a steel pan band from the Northside Urban Pathways Charter School in Pittsburgh, performed.
Hundreds workers, representing hotels, meeting facilities, transportation providers, attractions, restaurants, vendors and tourism promotion agencies from southwestern Pennsylvania, attended the "Travel Matters Rally" to urge state legislators and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell to restore funding to travel and tourism.
 Rally attendees were asked to fill out postcards addressing why the travel and tourism industry is important to them. VisitPittsburgh will send the hundreds of postcards collected to Pennsylvania state legislators.
The travel and tourism industry, which is the second-largest industry in Pennsylvania, employs 77,000 in the Pittsburgh region — 44,000 of them in Allegheny County. And, under the proposed budget, funding for tourism promotion agencies across the state could decrease over 50 percent.
Statewide, the travel and tourism industry generated $28 billion in new revenue in 2007. That same year, travelers to southwestern Pennsylvania brought in $5.4 billion -- $3 billion into Allegheny County alone.
In the Greater Pittsburgh area, the travel and tourism industry generated $530 million in state and local tax revenue in 2007. Estimates indicate that without the tax revenue provided by the travel sector, Pennsylvania households would need to pay an additional $575 in taxes just to maintain the current level of government services.
Industry experts report that reducing tourism funding is not a solution to economic problems. According to a February 2009 report prepared by HIS Global Insight and D.K. Shifflet & Associates, "Cutting public tourism promotion is at best a risky proposition... resulting in a significant increase in state budget deficits, clearly a self-defeating policy decision." Projected loss in tax receipts from reduced visitor spending outweighs the budget savings from reduced promotion, according to the report.
"Travel and tourism is part of the solution to our budget problems because it generates tax revenue and creates jobs," Davis said. "Through taxes, travel funds some of our most essential public service, like law enforcement and social services."
Travel and tourism is one of America's largest industries, with $740 billion in direct travel expenditures by domestic and international travelers. The industry represents one of America's largest employers with 7.7 million direct travel-generated jobs and $189 billion in travel-generated payroll. According to U.S. Labor Department data, however, the U.S. Travel Association reported a loss of nearly 200,000 travel-related jobs in 2008 and predicts a loss of an additional 247,000 travel-generated jobs in 2009.
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