National Travel and Tourism Week

Distribute a press release highlighting the value of tourism within your destination: 

• Use the Partner Press Release Template (Google Doc) as a guide or create your own.
• Make sure your distribution list includes local media contacts, key industry partners and community stakeholders and leaders.
• Encourage your staff to post your press release to their LinkedIn pages to amplify the reach.
• Encourage your community partners to distribute their own press releases.

Get social and get sharing

Your social channels are powerful tools for helping celebrate NTTW! Create a social media plan that offers a NTTW-focused post or content highlight each day during May 3-9.

How to Engage on Social:

• Tag: U.S. Travel Association:
  • U.S. Travel Association X
  • U.S. Travel Association LinkedIn
  • U.S. Travel Association Instagram
  • U.S. Travel Association Facebook
• Tag: Colorado Tourism
  • Colorado Tourism Facebook
  • Colorado Tourism Instagram
  • Colorado Tourism TikTok

Use hashtags:

• #VisitColorado
• #NTTW26

Sample social media posts:

It’s National Travel and Tourism Week! 🎉✈️ We’re celebrating the travel industry’s powerful role in driving economies, strengthening communities and connecting people. Together, let’s highlight travel’s impact in every corner of the country. #NTTW26 #VisitColorado

Travel is essential to every state and destination across the nation—just like here in [Insert Destination] 🌎❤️ It fuels our economy by supporting local businesses and brings people together. #NTTW26 #VisitColorado

This #NTTW26, let’s celebrate how travel powers our economy, connects communities, creates jobs and inspires meaningful experiences ✨ Travel is essential to America’s success. #VisitColorado

We’re celebrating #NTTW26 and what travel means to [Insert Destination]—by supporting local jobs that strengthen our communities and economy, travel makes a difference every day 💼🏔️ #VisitColorado

Happy National Travel and Tourism Week! 🎊 The travel industry plays a vital role in our economy, our communities and the connections that bring us together. #NTTW26 #VisitColorado

Join us May 3–9 in celebrating National Travel and Tourism Week 🗓️ and help shine a light on travel’s incredible impact! Travel matters to [Insert Destination/Organization] 💙 #NTTW26 #VisitColorado

Social media images:

Access U.S. Travel's images for these social media posts. 

Newsletter activation:

If you have a weekly or monthly newsletter, spread the news about NTTW through those channels and encourage your community to join in the celebration!

Don’t stop at communications and social media planning! There are additional ways to engage including celebrating your local community.

• Partner with local businesses within your community to offer special discounts to raise awareness for NTTW.
• Incentivize participation by hosting a NTTW themed event, rally or contest.
• Host an appreciation event for your travel workforce.
• Share information about NTTW in community groups.
• Issue a proclamation alongside a local official.

National numbers 

• In 2025, direct travel spending in the United States reached $1.4 trillion, reflecting the industry’s continued strength and resilience.
• Travel generated nearly $3 trillion in total economic output, serving as a key driver of economic activity, innovation and connection across industries nationwide.
• The travel industry directly employed 8.5 million workers across the United States, supporting jobs in every state and community.
• Travel spending generated approximately $197 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenue.
• Domestic leisure travel spending reached approximately $900 billion in 2025, underscoring the continued importance of U.S. travelers.

Colorado numbers 

• In 2024, total tourism spending in Colorado reached a record $28.5 billion, continuing the industry’s strong growth.
• Travel-supported employment grew to 188,210 jobs, an increase of approximately 3,700 jobs over 2023.
• Direct travel-generated earnings rose to $10.4 billion, highlighting the industry’s significant contribution to Colorado’s workforce and economy.
• State and local tax revenues generated by tourism totaled $1.9 billion, providing critical funding for public services.
• Visitor spending helped save the average Colorado household approximately $800 annually in taxes.
• The top out-of-state markets for overnight visitors to Colorado remained California, Texas, Florida and New York.
• Domestic overnight visitation reached approximately 40 million trips, continuing to exceed pre-pandemic levels.
• Colorado continues to see strong visitor loyalty, with approximately 85% of overnight travelers returning to the state.
   

Finding county tourism stats

Access the 2024 Colorado Economic Impact of Travel Report (PDF).
Impact Data broken down by county can be found on page 43-59 with counties listed in alphabetical order.

Access the Dean Runyan County Specific Dashboard.
Which highlights economic impact spending, employment, earnings and tax receipts by county.
 
*Please note that the most recent annual reports the CTO has is for 2024. Dean Runyan and Longwoods 2025 reports are expected to be published in Summer 2026.

Follow this link to access CTO Research Page for more information and resources. 

Each year U.S. Travel provides a free toolkit to encourage tourism partners to get involved with NTTW and communicate the economic, social and community-wide benefits of travel. You'll find shareable assets such as logos, social media graphics, messaging guide and more.

Explore the National Travel and Tourism Week tookit.