ST. LOUIS - May 5, 2008 -- St. Louis will celebrate National Tourism Week (NTW), May 10 - 18, and the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission (CVC) will be a part of a number of activities and special events taking place throughout the week. NTW, established in 1983 by the U.S. Congress, is a collective effort to promote the power of travel through customized events in communities nationwide. Created by the Tourism Industry Association of America (TIA), the goal of the nationwide event is to enhance the country's economy, security and perception, and recognize the cultural and social benefits created by travel and tourism.
"This year, we've taken an even more active role than ever before," said Kathleen "Kitty" Ratcliffe, CVC President. "In addition to hosting our annual tradeshow and the hospitality industry luncheon, the CVC is incorporating community outreach projects and extending our impact in the area through a number of year-round events and activities that benefit the region and the next generation of hospitality employees."
In addition to staffing informational booths at St. Louis' Cinco de Mayo celebration (May 3) on Cherokee Street and assisting Operation Brightside by planting "Flowers for Downtown" along Market Street and Tucker Boulevard (May 9), the CVC will be very visible throughout NTW.
Students at Bush AAA Elementary School are getting into the act as well, with 30 children completing assignments on how to be tourists in their own town. Their efforts will be presented to the CVC's public relations department during a speaking engagement at the school on May 12.
On May 14, the annual National Tourism Week luncheon will be held at America's Center®, and the program will be videotaped and shown at a later date on STL TV's "Best of the STL." And, taking advantage of a lively crowd that will converge on downtown for the Cardinals/Pirates game, the CVC and some of the region's most popular attractions will be at Kiener Plaza for "Be a Tourist in Your Own Town," on May 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will feature free refreshments, music, and prizes. Current St. Louis CVC chairman and former St. Louis Football Cardinal Dan Dierdorf will be on the mound at Busch Stadium to throw out the first pitch at the Cardinals' game at 12:15 p.m. On Sunday, May 18, the CVC will wrap up the week by participating in the annual Annie Malone Children & Family Service Center's May Day Parade, passing out 2008 Visitor Guides and candy to the downtown crowd.
Another event related to National Tourism Week, was a cook-off between two area high schools that was held on May 1. Students from Clyde C. Miller Career Academy and North Technical High School squared off in the First Annual High School Culinary Cook-Off, a competition similar to The Food Network's "Iron Chef" competition. Both schools have established culinary arts programs and a supply of skilled and eager students. The CVC's High School Cook Off will become a permanent event to help celebrate National Tourism Week.
Each year, the St. Louis region welcomes more than 22 million people for business, leisure travel, meetings and conventions, and these visitors leave behind about $4.07 billion. This creates jobs for nearly 83,000 area residents, industry wages of $2.35 billion, and adds an additional $811 million to federal, state and local tax coffers. In 2006, leisure travelers spent $656 million in St. Louis and in 2007 the CVC booked more than 523,400 hotel rooms for future meetings and conventions.
The St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission is the official destination marketing organization for St. Louis City and St. Louis County for visitors of all types. The CVC also operates the America's Center® convention complex and the Edward Jones Dome.
###
