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.

“There’s no doubt this has been an incredibly challenging time for The Woodlands, 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,” says Bruce Rieser, Chairman of Visit The Woodlands. “It’s only a matter of time before we all get moving again, and The Woodlands will be more ready than ever to welcome travelers with open arms.”

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) 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.

Travel’s Economic Impact on The Woodlands: *

  • 4,100 people are employed by the travel & tourism industry in The Woodlands
  • $9.2 million in hotel occupancy tax revenue generated for The Woodlands in 2019
  • $370 million of direct spending by visitors to The Woodlands in 2018
  • $13 million in local tax revenue generated for The Woodlands in 2018

*This is the most up-to-date Information, as provided by Dean Runyan for Travel Texas.

“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, Visit The Woodlands is engaging through virtual experiences and unique ways for locals to support the hospitality industry.

2020 National Travel & Tourism Week Activities:

  • Monday, May 4: Enjoy free Zoom backdrops for your virtual meetings, courtesy of Visit The Woodlands. These will be shared on VTW social channels so be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & LinkedIn.
  • Tuesday, May 5: Participate in #TakeoutTuesday and support local restaurants by ordering your favorite meal to go. We also encourage you to join us for U.S. Travel’s virtual road trip on Twitter. With 50 stops in 12 hours, the road trip will be moving quickly across the U.S. going east coast to west coast. The stop for Texas is from 2:15 to 2:30 p.m. so post your travel pics from The Woodlands with #VirtualRoadTrip.
  • Wednesday, May 6: “Visit” The Woodlands through our virtual Shopping & Dining Passport. Download your passport here.  Save this passport to your phone and check off these destinations as you support dining and shopping in The Woodlands.
  • Thursday, May 7: Visit The Woodlands will be sharing our favorite things to do in The Woodlands with you throughout the day and we encourage you to do the same. Be sure to share your Woodlands experiences on social and tag us, #SoWoodlands.
  • Friday, May 8: Visit The Woodlands has created a complete guide to enjoying The Woodlands from the comfort of your home. From coloring pages to digital puzzles and a Pavilion Spotify playlist, we will continue to provide unique ways for you to explore The Woodlands, while practicing social distancing. View the guide here.

Visit ustravel.org/NTTW to learn more about National Travel & Tourism Week.