Albany, NY - The Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau is leading the travel and tourism community during National Travel and Tourism Week (May 7-13), by highlighting who comes to our market.

"Every day, the bureau is connecting with travel leaders, meeting planners, tour operators, and hospitality partners to put Albany in front of more prospective visitors, and increase traveler spending in our area," says Michele Vennard, President and CEO of the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Last year, thanks in part to our ongoing efforts, travelers spent $968 million in Albany County, generating $124 million in state and local taxes."

This week, the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau is participating in the national celebration of what travel means to our community by hosting numerous groups that represent the different segments of our travel market, including conference planners, domestic travelers, and international tourists.

National Travel and Tourism Week Events
April 28 - "Hospitality Gives Back" Community Clean-up at Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, part of the Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region
May 2 - I LOVE NY Chinese Familiarization (FAM) Tour
May 10 - Singme Tour Company Familiarization (FAM) Tour
May 8 - ESSAE Advocacy Day at New York State Capitol
May 11 - "Taking it to New Heights" Event at the Albany Capital Center & Capital Complex
May 11 - Albany Visitor Champion Event at Renaissance Hotel and Capitol Hill

"The Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau works at both the state and regional levels
to communicate the message that travel and tourism is a vital economic partner in the region's growth," says Vennard.

Some of the local numbers:

• 15,400 jobs are supported by travel and tourism in Albany County.
• Travel and tourism generates $124M in state and local taxes. 

These local figures are an important part of travel's economic importance nationwide:

• Travel is a $2.3 trillion industry in the U.S., with $990.3 billion in direct travel-related
spending in the U.S. by domestic and international visitors in 2016.
• These visitors support 15.3 million American jobs-roughly 8.6 million direct travel
jobs, and 6.7 million indirect and induced jobs.
• Travel-related spending generated $157.8 billion in federal, state and local tax
revenues in 2016.

"Our industry is one that relies on human interaction," said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, the umbrella organization representing the U.S. travel industry.

"Whether it's the front desk concierge at a hotel, the tour guide in a city's historic district, or the CEO of a destination marketing organization, our people are what make America a great place to visit, and keep our economy strong. This National Travel and Tourism Week, we're saluting the people behind the travel industry, and calling on our nation's leaders to prioritize travel-friendly legislation, for the sake of millions of American workers."

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