Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau to use occasion to look ahead to recovery
by Katie Arvia
LANSING, Ill. (May 8, 2020) – National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), the annual celebration of the contributions and accomplishments of the U.S. travel industry, will spotlight resilience and hope in the face of the coronavirus pandemic with this year’s theme: the Spirit of Travel.
Celebrated annually the first full week in May, NTTW was created by Congress in 1983 to underscore the economic power of travel in the U.S. The 37th NTTW (May 3-9, 2020) arrives at an opportune moment to unite the industry, celebrate its indomitable spirit, and elevate the role it will play in America’s economic recovery.
“Through every hardship, I find myself in awe of the travel industry’s ability to join together, adapt, and emerge stronger than before,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow. “This is our toughest challenge yet, but what I’ve seen is that the spirit of travel has not been shattered.”
Since in-person rallies and events that have been hallmarks of NTTW in years past are not an option this year, the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau (CSCVB) is participating in the US Travel Association’s week-long celebration on social media, including a virtual road trip, which took place on Tuesday, May 5. Additionally, the CSCVB is providing daily social media posts that coincide with the Illinois Office of Tourism’s daily themes, including culinary, arts & culture, and the great outdoors.
Said Jim Garrett, CSCVB President/CEO: “There’s no doubt this has been an incredibly challenging time for the Chicago Southland, but we see National Travel and Tourism Week as an opportunity to remind our visitors and our residents of the incredible spirit and resiliency of the travel industry and our workforce. It’s only a matter of time before we all get moving again, and the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau will be more ready than ever to welcome travelers with open arms.”
The CSCVB encourages residents to become “Tourists in Your Own Town” and plan “stay-cations” to discover something new. Residents are urged to visit the CSCVB’s website, VisitChicagoSouthland.com, to learn what the Chicago Southland has to offer. Chicago Southland residents are all Tourism Ambassadors, and the CSCVB can provide of the necessary resources. Visitors can download the CSCVB’s app today by searching “Chicago Southland” in the App Store or Google Play store and start planning new experiences for the future.
About CSCVB
The Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau is the official destination management and marketing organization for Chicago’s 63 south and southwest suburbs. The Chicago Southland CVB markets the Chicago Southland region as a destination for meetings and conventions, group tour, sports events and leisure. For more information, go to VisitChicagoSouthland.com.
