We are excited to celebrate National Travel & Tourism Week (NTTW), May 2-8, 2021. This year, NTTW recognizes the “Power of Travel” and the industry’s role in bringing back our vibrant communities, restoring the U.S. economy, rebuilding our workforce and reconnecting America.
Join us in celebrating NTTW 2021! Please share your stories of the great faces who welcome millions of visitors to South Dakota. Honor employees who continue to go above and beyond, especially during difficult times. Tell the stories about the contributions you make to your communities and to South Dakota. Let's remind everyone — neighbors and friends; city, county, state and national leaders; and even strangers — about the important role that the tourism industry plays in our economy and will play in our recovery.
As a department, we will:
- Host Larry Stuart for free Spring Hospitality Training in Custer, Deadwood, Rapid City, Chamberlain, Watertown and Sioux Falls (May 3-6).
- Conduct press conferences on May 3 at Mount Rushmore National Memorial (9:30 a.m. Mountain) and Falls Overlook Café at Falls Park (3 p.m. Central). The industry is welcome to attend.
- Attend the Travel Rally Day Breakfast and Western Literature Swap (Rapid City, May 4), the Experience Sioux Falls Breakfast and Eastern Literature Swap (Sioux Falls, May 6), the Watertown CVB Luncheon (May 5), and the annual NTTW celebration in Spearfish (May 6).
- Conduct media calls for the week.
- Arrange for sites and attractions across the state to be lit up in red in celebration of NTTW, including:
- Arc of Dreams, Sioux Falls
- Children's Museum of South Dakota, Brookings
- Crazy Horse Memorial (May 3)
- DakotaDome, Vermillion
- Falls Park/Falls of the Big Sioux River, Sioux Falls
- Faulkton Elevator Mural, Faulkton
- Main Street Square Spires, Rapid CIty (May 4)
- The Mammoth Site, Hot Springs
- Storybook Land Castle, Aberdeen
- Sturgis Buffalo Chip, Sturgis
- Tree of Life, Lemmon
- The World's Only Corn Palace, Mitchell
- Receive an Executive Proclamation and video message from Governor Noem.
- Run a fun social media campaign that brings awareness to the important role that the tourism industry plays - supporting local businesses, creating jobs for South Dakotans, and inspiring people to live, work and play in our great state.
In 2021, the tourism industry must continue to stick together, support each other, and remind our state that even through the most difficult times, the "Power of Travel" is strong and essential.
For more information about how you can participate in NTTW, visit the U.S. Travel Association website. It's where you will find templates to assist with reaching out to media and elected officials, as well as how-to guides on ways to celebrate during the week.
FOR INFORMATION
For more information, please contact Bailey Carlsen, Industry Training, Special Events, and Legislative Relations Manager, at 605-773-3301 or [email protected].