Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1194291
B M & T ••• September/October 2019 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 40 coordinates resources for use during National Travel and Tourism Week. "Destination DC's Travel Rally showed that the benefits of trav- el are felt locally, but the importance of travel is national," said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow. "Last year, travel spending generated $2.5 trillion in economic output and sup- ported 15.7 million American jobs. Travel also generated a $69 bil- lion trade surplus in 2018—ranking travel as America's largest serv- ices export and second-largest export overall. U.S. Travel is proud to join with Elliott, the DDC team and members of the local travel industry to recognize the incredible contributions travel makes to our country." The event gathered hundreds of local and national tourism and hospitality professionals in celebration of tourism's local and national impact. Chris Thompson, president and CEO of Brand USA, addressed how the destination marketing organization for the U.S. is vying for more international visitors. "Destination DC is a valued partner. Together, we show interna- tional travelers the hidden gems of our nation's capital, including and beyond the monuments and museums to its neighborhoods, its music culture, and its ever-expanding culinary scene," said Thompson. "Whether we're hosting visiting journalists or the travel trade, or fea- turing DC's story in a global marketing campaign, we're always look- ing for ways to highlight all that makes DC a world class travel destina- tion." The location, Woodrow Wilson Plaza, was selected in part for the anticipated National Children's Museum expected to open in the Ronald Reagan Building on Nov. 1 and its draw to help attract family travelers. "We're excited to have the National Children's Museum join us, it's a great fit," said John Drew, president and CEO of TCMA (A Drew Company), the exclusive manager of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. "The building is a down- town destination, we already welcome over a million visitors a year; our location is near the National Mall and offers onsite metro, park- ing and food court, providing easy access and convenience for visi- tors." In 2019, Washington, DC welcomes 20 citywide meetings (meetings with 2,500 room nights on peak and above), generating more than 370,000 total room nights. There are 16 hotels in the pipeline that will add 3,263 rooms to the city. U pgraded Points http://upgradedpoints.com/faster- growing-us-destinations-by-origin-airport recently revealed its newest study showcasing the most popular flight desti- nations flown to in the United States. Based on industry data from last year, Upgraded Points analyzed and compiled the information from the busiest airports that serve as origin points, then couched that information into an interactive map and chart for ease of view- ing. Upgraded Points is a regular source for such airline data studies, as well as tips and advice for travelers. "Looking at destination popularity can be quite revealing, espe- cially concerning vacation spots" said Upgraded Points Founder Alex Miller. "Not only does it show us the most exciting vacation locations chosen for any given season or year, it also reveals that a traveler's origin greatly influences where they like to visit. For instance: Seeking a beach to flee the winter, or moving from the plains to the mountains. One thing is certain — travel preferences are not constant. Americans like variation when it comes to their travel habits." ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY Based on data collected by the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics(BTS) concerning the 20 busiest U.S. airports in 2018, Upgraded Points focused on enplaned passengers from origin to destination. The year-over-year calculation is derived from the percentage change in the count of passengers from fourth quarter 2017 to fourth quarter 2018. All routes that counted 500 passengers or higher per quarter were included. GROWTH PER DESTINATION Some destinations explored in the study, including the number of passengers passing through each airport, revealed: • Seattle (SEA): Nearly 50 million passengers. • Detroit (DTW): Over 35 million passengers. • Houston (IAH): Almost 44 million passengers. • Boston (BOS): Just over 40 million passengers. • San Francisco (SFO): Nearly 58 million passengers. California ranked high in overall popularity, with 9 of the origi- nal 20 origin airports having Golden State airports as part of their top-five fastest growing destinations. Many percentages of growth exceeded 100 percent in just one year. For instance: Passengers traveling from Atlanta (ATL) to Ontario, Canada (ONT) grew 106 percent, while those traveling from Chicago (ORD) to Burbank (BUR) increased by a striking 1,164 percent. And those traveling from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to San Antonio (SAT) net- ted a 1,635 percent increase. Other origin points offered different data. For example, Denver (DEN) saw a 714 percent increase in travelers heading to Cody, Wyoming (COD). FASTEST-GROWING DESTINATIONS ASED ON ORIGIN POINTS Although multiple airports are experiencing growth in traffic for a variety of reasons, there are a few destinations that stand out. These include: • Richmond, Virginia. • Jacksonville, Florida. • Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For more information visit UpgradedPoint.com. NEWEST UPGRADED POINTS DATA STUDY REVEALS FASTEST GROWING U.S. DESTINATIONS BY ORIGIN AIRPORT Florida Shows Significant Growth, Especially in Orlando and Jacksonville