<div style="margin-top: 20px;"><img src="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/citylogo-cvb.png" alt="City of Columbia Missouri Convention & Visitors Bureau" width="175" height="118" style="margin-right: 5px;">
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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;"> 300 S PROVIDENCE RD <br />COLUMBIA, MO 65203</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">May 8, 2023</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: CONTACT:
<br />Megan McConachie
<br />Strategic Communications Manager
<br />Convention and Visitors Bureau
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.441.5572
<br />Megan.McConachie@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">Columbia celebrates 2023 National Travel and Tourism Week</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">May 8, 2023</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Columbia celebrates 2023 National Travel and Tourism Week</strong></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Columbia, MO - May 8, 2023 - National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), the annual celebration of the contributions of the U.S. travel industry, will spotlight the essential role that travel will play in driving economic growth and innovation through the theme TravelForward. This year marks the 40th anniversary of NTTW and destinations celebrate May 7 through 13. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Established in 1983, NTTW is an annual tradition to mark the U.S. travel industry’s role in stimulating economic growth, cultivating vibrant communities, creating quality job opportunities, stimulating business activity and elevating the quality of life for everyday Americans.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Tourism was drastically affected by the pandemic," said Amy Schneider, director of the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). "This week, the CVB is celebrating the return of travel, the people in the community who welcome and embrace our visitors, and the strong economic impact tourism has in our city." </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In Columbia, travel employs a prosperous and diverse workforce, from airline and hotel employees to restaurant, attraction and retail workers, and supports related sectors such as construction, manufacturing and finance. Some of the numbers: </span></p>
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<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over 10,300 jobs are supported by travel and tourism in Boone County</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Travel and tourism generated over $499 million in local tourism-related spending for Boone County in FY2022</span></li>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"The travel industry fuels every industry-our industry’s success is the nation’s success," said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman. "This week is a prime opportunity to elevate the message that travel is essential to moving America’s economy forward."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Travel serves as a catalyst for a productive U.S. economy and helps power the success of other industries. The U.S. travel industry generated a $2.6 trillion economic output in 2022 and supported 15 million jobs, fueling communities, small businesses and working families across the country. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Travel spending also generated nearly $160 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2022-revenue that helped fund critical public services while saving each U.S. household an average of $1,270 in taxes. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For additional information, contact Megan McConachie at 573.441.5572 or </span><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="mailto:Megan.McConachie@CoMo.gov"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Megan.McConachie@CoMo.gov</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. <br /><br /><br /></span></p>
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<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align:center;"><p>City of Columbia Vision<br>
<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
<em>To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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