National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), which runs May 3-9, is the annual celebration of the contributions and accomplishments of the U.S. travel industry. This year, it will spotlight resilience and hope in the face of the coronavirus pandemic with the theme: the Spirit of Travel. 

Since in-person rallies and events, that have been hallmarks of NTTW in years past, are not an option this year, AAA Western and Central New York is inspiring travelers by providing more virtual travel experiences tied to AAA’s “Dream Now, Travel Later” effort. To coincide with NTTW, AAA is pleased to present a series of webinars aimed at educating travelers on various destinations and experiences for future travel. From river cruising to America’s National Parks, travelers can take part in free, informative webinars from the safety of their own homes. You can find a full schedule here.

“There’s no doubt this has been an incredibly challenging time for AAA Western and Central New York, but we see National Travel and Tourism Week as an opportunity to remind our members of the incredible spirit and resiliency of the travel industry and our workforce. It’s only a matter of time before we all get moving again, and AAA will be more ready than ever to welcome travelers with open arms,” said Carol DiOrio, Vice President of Travel at AAA Western and Central New York.

Celebrated annually the first full week in May, NTTW was created by Congress in 1983 to underscore the economic power of travel in the U.S. The 37th NTTW (May 3-9) arrives at an opportune moment to unite the industry, celebrate its indomitable spirit and elevate the role it will play in America’s economic recovery. 

“Through every hardship, I find myself in awe of the travel industry’s ability to join together, adapt, and emerge stronger than before,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow. “This is our toughest challenge yet, but what I’ve seen is that the spirit of travel has not been shattered.” 

Please click here to learn more about AAA Western and Central New York’s “Dream Now, Travel Later” efforts and visit ustravel.org/NTTW to learn more about the week.