Visit Albuquerque Celebrates National Travel & Tourism Week and the #SpiritOfTravel

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., May 7, 2020  In conjunction with the 37th Annual National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) spearheaded by the U.S. Travel Association, Visit Albuquerque is joining destinations and communities across the country to celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of the U.S. travel industry, and will spotlight resilience and hope in the face of the coronavirus pandemic in alignment 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, held 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.

"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."

Because in-person rallies and events that have been hallmarks of NTTW in years past are not an option this year, Visit Albuquerque is engaging in a dedicated social media campaign to support the local hospitality industry and highlight the joy that travel brings to our lives through memorable and cherished experiences. In addition to aligning with the overarching #NTTW and #SpiritOfTravel hashtags, Visit Albuquerque will post a specific hashtag each day of NTTW, following the schedule below, to encourage the local community to both participate and recognize the impact that travel and tourism has on Albuquerque.

• Monday, May 4: #MuseumMondayABQ - Favorite local museums/attractions
• Tuesday, May 5: #TakeOutTuesdayABQ - Favorite local take-out
• Wednesday, May 6: #WakeUpWednesdayABQ - Favorite local coffee
• Thursday, May 7: #RetailThursdayABQ - Favorite local retail product
• Friday, May 8: #FlashbackFridayABQ - Favorite memories at local places
• Saturday, May 9: #SunnySaturdayABQ - Favorite local outdoor spot

To participate, follow @VisitABQ on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and learn more about NTTW by visiting the U.S. Travel Association's website.

"The travel and tourism industry has been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, and 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 local hospitality community," said Tania Armenta, President & CEO of Visit Albuquerque. "The industry is currently engaged in significant preparation and planning efforts to ensure that when the time is right, Albuquerque will be ready to welcome travelers back with confidence, along with the warm and authentic hospitality for which we are known and which will ultimately put our community back to work."

To further support the local hospitality industry and the Albuquerque community during these unprecedented times, Visit Albuquerque repurposed its main brand hashtag, #TrueABQ, in order to elevate acts of positivity and innovation taking place within the city. This campaign has since highlighted over 60 impactful stories and continues to gain traction.

The organization is also working to gather up-to-date local business information and virtual experiences to share with the local community and future travelers. The most recent addition to this information is a Give Back page featuring a roundup of funds and initiatives dedicated to providing COVID-19 relief to various local communities. In supporting local businesses and organizations that have been impacted, residents are playing an important role in helping to rebuild the community.

About Visit Albuquerque
Visit Albuquerque is an accredited destination marketing organization (DMO), and a private, not-for-profit organization [501(c)(6)]. The mission of Visit Albuquerque is to stimulate economic growth by marketing Albuquerque as a convention, sports and visitor destination. For more information, go to VisitABQ.org.

SOURCE Visit Albuquerque