U.S. Travel Association's "Vote Travel" Bus Visits Salt Lake City

Published: 5 April, 2012

Media Advisory
Clayton Scrivner
Utah Office of Tourism
cscrivner@utah.gov
Work (801) 538-1759
Cell (801) 657-2066

April 5, 2012

U.S. Travel Association's "Vote Travel" Bus Visits Salt Lake City
Lieutenant Governor Greg Bell and Tourism Officials to Attend

Salt Lake City -The U.S. Travel Association's "Vote Travel" Bus Tour will stop in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 9th at 10 AM for a photo opportunity in front of the Utah State Capitol Building. Lieutenant Governor Greg Bell and Utah Tourism Officials will be present to welcome the bus to Salt Lake City, and discuss the importance of tourism promotion.

U.S. Travel launched the national bus tour in Washington, DC on March 21, and will travel more than 20,000 miles, making 37 stops in destinations such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas and others. The bus tour aims to boost the visibility of the travel industry during the 2012 election year. Vote Travel is powered by the U.S. Travel Association and its Power of Travel Coalition.

The U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the $1.9 trillion travel industry. U.S. Travel's mission is to increase travel to and within the U.S. The Power of Travel Coalition is the grassroots army of the American travel community. The Coalition seeks to unite and amplify the voices of the 14.4 million travel employees. Learn more about the Vote Travel campaign at www.votetravel.org

Tourism is vital to Utah's overall economic health. Total spending by travelers in Utah was $6.5 billion in 2010, up 4.7% from the previous year. Total state and local taxes generated by traveler spending in 2010 were $842 million, an increase of 4.4% compared to 2009. In 2010, 20.2 million international and domestic travelers visited Utah, up 4.2% from 19.4 million in 2009. According to the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, tax relief per household due to tourism revenue was $1,012.27, up from $948.41 in 2009.

Agenda of U.S. Travel Association's "Vote Travel" Bus Event:

Monday, April 9

10:00 - 10:30 AM Bus parked at the front stairs of the Capitol

Lieutenant Governor Greg Bell, U.S. Travel officials, and Leigh von der Esch, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism, to be available for media

10:30 AM Estimated departure for City Creek Center, media welcome to hop on board

Bus visits City Creek Center - 51 South Main Street, east side of the street

11:00 AM Quick drive through Salt Lake - City and County Building, Temple Square, Visit Salt Lake

11:30 AM Bus departs for Grand Canyon