ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND—Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (VAAAC) invites all area residents, public officials, partners and business owners to help celebrate the power of travel and tourism during National Travel and Tourism Week – May 1-7.

In solidarity with destination marketing organizations across the country, VAAAC will host a “Rally for Travel” at Market House Plaza at 25 Market Space in downtown Annapolis on Tuesday, May 3, at 10:00 a.m. Tourism supporters are encouraged to wear red to the event that celebrates the significant economic impact travel and tourism has on Annapolis and Anne Arundel County – and the nation.

VAAAC President and CEO Connie Del Signore says six million individuals visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County annually and spend $3.4 billion while they’re here. According to Del Signore, “These visitors don’t arrive on our doorstep by chance, they’re here because our residents, our businesses and our elected officials have created an environment that says, ‘Welcome! We’re glad you’re here!’ This team effort supports an industry that employs nearly 30,000 individuals in our destination and saves county residents $405 in additional taxes.”

Surrounded by elected officials and tourism partners, including Annapolis Mayor Michael Pantelides, Del Signore and VAAAC Chairman Erin McNaboe will be presented with a proclamation declaring May 3rd Anne Arundel County Tourism Day. Rally attendees will be asked to proudly wear “Travel ’16 Tourism Matters” stickers handed out for the occasion. They’ll also receive cards listing the benefits of tourism and the names of local businesses offering 15% discounts during National Travel and Tourism Week. VAAAC will use the occasion to provide a sneak preview of its spring advertising campaign, “Create Your Moment”.

Individuals unable to attend the morning rally should still be receiving the tourism message loud and clear. Posters in the windows of Main and West Street businesses will tout the power of tourism, and rally attendees sporting their “Tourism Matters” stickers are likely to serve as walking billboards on Rally Day.

To encourage everyone to hop aboard the tourism bandwagon, VAAAC Visitor Information Specialists will present “I am creating #MyAnnapolisMoment” stickers to individuals stopping by the 26 West Street Visitors Center and City Dock information booth throughout the week, beginning on May Day. They’ll be asked to post images of their favorite Annapolis memories on Instagram using the hashtag: #MyAnnapolisMoment”. To give them a jump start on creating their “Annapolis Moments”, Visitor Center volunteers will present guests with cards listing the benefits of tourism and the names of businesses offering a 15% discount during National Travel and Tourism Week.

Because students are Annapolis and Anne Arundel County’s future workforce, Del Signore and representatives from local businesses will take the tourism message to a fourth-grade class at Hillsmere Elementary School on Friday, May 6, at 2:00 p.m. She’ll present the kids with student packets recapping the history of Annapolis and Maryland – as well as stickers, tourism facts, a list of businesses offering Travel and Tourism Week discounts and passes redeemable for a complimentary tour aboard the Discover Annapolis Trolley.

As Del Signore sees it, “National Travel and Tourism Week provides us with the perfect opportunity to thank the many individuals who play a role in an industry that positively impacts every resident in Anne Arundel County and the State of Maryland – whether it’s through tax relief, jobs or increased discretionary income. Thank you all! Go tourism!”

VAAAC is a nonprofit, membership-based destination marketing organization that generates revenues for the local economy by promoting Annapolis and the Chesapeake Bay to leisure and business travelers across the country and around the world.

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Contact Susan Seifried at via SSeifried@VisitAnnapolis.org or phone at 410-280-0445, ext. 303