The U.S. Travel Association’s “Travel Works for America” Roadshow arrived in Charlotte on May 29-30, bringing a message of travel’s value to the success of North Carolina and the nation. U.S. Travel’s roadshow tour spotlights how travel powers nearly every industry and community across America.

An anchor event, held on Thursday at the Charlotte Convention Center, included remarks by United States Senator Ted Budd, a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, as well as comments by Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Dante Anderson.

“The travel industry is a powerful driver of the U.S. economy, and its impact fuels the growth of cities such as Charlotte and destinations across the nation,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman. “U.S. Travel thanks Senator Budd, Mayor Pro Tem Anderson, and the Charlotte community for partnering with us to spotlight the value of travel in North Carolina.”

“Thank you to the U.S. Travel Association for bringing their road show to North Carolina,” said U.S. Senator Ted Budd. “Our state brought in record visitor spending in recent years, and tourism supports thousands of good-paying jobs. The Old North State has so much to offer. North Carolina boasts a rich cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and vibrant communities that attract visitors from around the world. I believe that through collaboration, we can harness the potential of our unique destinations and vibrant tourism economy, so we can ensure that our state and our country remain a premier travel and tourism destination.”

The anchor program also featured remarks on travel’s positive impact to the city of Charlotte and the state of North Carolina by: Steve Bagwell, CEO, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority; Steve Neuman, Vice President, Global Government Affairs at American Airlines; Pete Jung, Chief Marketing Officer, NASCAR; Johnson & Wales University Charlotte Campus President Richard G. Mathieu; Scott Peacock of Visit North Carolina; and Geoff Freeman, President & CEO, and Tori Barnes, Executive Vice President, Public Affairs and Policy at the U.S. Travel Association.

“In Charlotte, hospitality is more than just an industry; it’s a way of life that deeply influences how we live, work, and play. So it was an honor to host the U.S. Travel Association’s Travel Works for America Roadshow, which underscored the essential role of the travel industry in our local community and across North Carolina,” said Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority CEO Steve Bagwell. “It was a great opportunity to highlight the halo effect of tourism and how it serves as the front door for economic development in the region.”

The roadshow included a tour of the Charlotte Convention Center and NASCAR Hall of Fame, a luncheon with Charlotte hospitality and business leaders at the JW Marriott hotel, and a visit to American Airlines’ hub control operations center at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

A Wednesday evening visit to the opening of the Sullenberger Aviation Museum kicked off the roadshow in the Queen City.

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In 2023, travel spending generated $2.8 trillion in economic output and supported jobs for over 15 million American workers—including nearly 138,000 local workers in Charlotte. In the state of North Carolina, domestic and international travelers directly spent $35.6 billion last year, generating over 227,000 jobs throughout the state’s 100 counties.

The Travel Works for America roadshow has made recent stops in the Washington, DC, region; Savannah, Georgia; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; and Detroit, Michigan. Future Travel Works stops are headed to Atlanta and Arkansas.