Tourism workers rally in several US cities to promote tourism
On Tuesday morning approximately 250 travel industry reps headed to Navy Pier’s Lakeview Rooftop Terrace for a travel and tourism rally, where they found upbeat tunes "Celebrate Good Times" made the play list, a spread of Chicago-style fare such as pizza and hot dogs, and the Brookfield Zoo’s mascot, BZ Bear.
The first rally of its kind, the event was held in conjunction with National Travel and Tourism Week and sponsored by the U.S. Travel Association. "Because of what has happened with those companies who may have misused government funding, and in a response to president Obama’s remarks that you can’t take TARP funding and go on a junket to Vegas, the meetings and event industry has been hit very hard," said Meghan Risch, director of public relations for the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau
"So the C.C.T.B. has been working very closely with the U.S. Travel Association—as have may other C.T.B.s around the country—to reiterate the importance of travel and tourism not only to our local economy, but also to our national economy as a whole."
The rally took place in 36 cities across the country. Hundreds of casino and resort employees gathered at the Las Vegas Convention Center to call attention to Americans whose jobs depend on travel.
Las Vegas Hilton personnel supervisor Bennie Oxford says she’s optimistic, even with a drop in tourism hurting the local economy
The rally organized by the U.S. Travel Association was part of a national campaign aimed at places like Beaumont, Texas, New York, Cincinnati, Phoenix and Orlando, Fla.
The rallies come as a recent AP poll shows Americans plan to travel less this summer.
Source:AP
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