In Dutchess County, the tourism community is gearing up for the upcoming travel season. Dutchess Tourism recently hosted its annual brochure exchange event, where they released the new 2024 Discover Dutchess Destination Guide. The event brought together forty tourism-related businesses to network and collaborate. Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino and Dutchess Tourism President & CEO Melaine Rottkamp recognized Dutchess Tourism Ambassadors and shared their outlook for the travel season [d7b235a2].
National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) is scheduled to take place from May 15 to 25, 2024. The Clearfield County Commissioners have proclaimed May 15-25, 2024 as National Travel and Tourism Week. In Clearfield County, the travel industry drives $33.1 million in lodging, $72.1 million in food & beverage, $55.3 million in retail, $57.9 million in recreation, and $104.8 million in transportation for a total of $323.2 million in visitor spending. This resulted in $60.8 million generated in income, $15.0 million in state/local taxes, and $15.6 million in federal. Travel is essential to every state and countless destinations across the nation, including Clearfield County. Travel powers the economy, connects people, creates job opportunities, and supports communities. Visit Clearfield County is celebrating the industry's critical role in powering economies, communities, and connections. Travel matters to Clearfield County [8b9474b2].
During this week, Dutchess Tourism will visit businesses to promote tourism initiatives and establish partnerships. Last year, visitors to Dutchess County spent an average of $1.9 million per day, highlighting the significant economic impact of tourism in the region. To further support the tourism industry, Dutchess Tourism offers workforce development initiatives such as the Certified Tourism Ambassadorā¢ (CTA) course and the Guest Service Gold TourismĀ® (GSGT) program [d7b235a2].
In addition to NTTW, Dutchess Tourism and the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association (NYSHTA) will host a Legislative Networking Reception on May 23, 2024. This event provides an opportunity for industry professionals to connect and discuss important issues related to the tourism sector [d7b235a2].
Dutchess County is also hosting Rev250 celebrations, including RevCon 2024 on June 8. These events commemorate the county's rich history and offer unique experiences for visitors. The tourism industry plays a vital role in promoting economic growth and development in Dutchess County, and these initiatives aim to attract more visitors and further enhance the region's reputation as a tourist destination [d7b235a2].
Visit SLO CAL, the official destination marketing and management organization for San Luis Obispo County, announced that tourism has reached $2.32 billion in direct travel spending in SLO CAL, marking a consistent performance from the previous year. In 2023, tourism in SLO CAL generated $60.1 million in transient occupancy tax revenue and put 22,830 residents to work each day. Tourism also contributed $110 million in local tax revenue and without it, each local household would need to pay an additional $21,415 to create the same economic benefit for the community. Other notable metrics achieved in 2023 include $207 million in state and local taxes generated by tourism and tourism comprising 10.66% of countywide GDP. The announcement coincides with the U.S. Travel Association's National Travel and Tourism Week celebrated from May 19-25, 2024 [6ce7c165].
The preparations and initiatives undertaken by Dutchess Tourism and the tourism community in Dutchess County demonstrate their commitment to promoting the region as a desirable travel destination. Through collaboration, workforce development, and engaging events, they aim to attract visitors, boost the local economy, and showcase the unique offerings of Dutchess County.