National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) is almost here! Please join us in celebrating from May 2-8, 2021. This year’s theme is the Power of Travel. You can access U.S. Travel’s full list of resources and toolkit here.
 
It’s more vital now than ever before to share the importance of tourism and the positive, economic impact that it has on Nebraska. As the state’s third largest industry, we must communicate how tourism drives revenue, creates jobs and produces vibrant communities. This is a great time to connect with local elected officials, stakeholders and leaders to communicate the powerful impact that travel and tourism has. You can do this by taking to social media, engaging with press or hosting community events. It’s our industry members and frontline workers who create the Nebraska experience and position the state as a top destination where travelers want to return.

Nebraska Tourism has created a calendar of events that emphasizes the value of tourism, promotes Nebraska's destinations and experiences and provides ways to celebrate throughout the week. We encourage you to join us.
 
Sunday, May 2^nd
Create an itinerary to celebrate NTTW
Create a sample itinerary with fill-in-the-blank options for people to complete. It may be helpful to offer suggestions on places to visit such as parks, attractions, restaurants, coffee shops, etc.

Monday, May 3^rd
Support the value of tourism by going red
Show your pride by wearing red, sharing images on social media with a red wash over them, and shining a red light at your business (inside, outside or in your windows).

Tuesday, May 4^th
Take-out Tuesday
Partner with local restaurants in your area. Encourage people to get out that day and visit their favorite local eatery or place an order for take-out. Ask restaurants to consider offering special promotions in honor of NTTW. These could be specials or limited dishes for the day or the week. If you have a well-known chef in your community, you may ask them to create a video that highlights a locally inspired dish that people can recreate at home if they are not able to go out. 

Wednesday, May 5^th
Visit attractions & Wacky Wednesday
Promote the local attractions in your area. Do you have a destination that’s weird and wacky? Engage with travelers by sharing your destinations odd, quirky places. 

Thursday, May 6^th
Thursday trails
Highlight all the different trails in your area, encouraging people to get out and explore. 

Friday, May 7^th
Outstanding Frontline Employee Award 
Take time to recognize an outstanding frontline worker in your community. The Nebraska Tourism Commission will be presenting an Outstanding Frontline Employee Award during NTTW. The recipient will be someone who’s nominated from any part of the state. The individual is someone who has gone above and beyond their daily duties while presenting a high level of customer service and care. Any individual recognized at the local level can also be nominated for this award.

Saturday, May 8^th
Sip and shop local Saturday
Encourage people to shop at locally owned businesses and enjoy locally crafted beverages (coffee, non-alcoholic drinks, wine, beer or spirits). 

Throughout the week, Nebraska Tourism Executive Director, John Ricks, will also be making appearances at NTTW events throughout the state, as well as visiting 2021 Nebraska Passport stops.

More details about the Outstanding Frontline Employee Award
 
Overview
This award will recognize an outstanding frontline tourism worker. This individual goes ‘above and beyond’ while interacting with travelers, elevating Nebraska as a top travel destination They strive to enhance visitors’ experiences and increase their likelihood of returning. This individual demonstrates high levels of customer service, pride in their destination/organization as well as a commitment to Nebraska’s tourism industry.
 
Eligibility
Nominees may be anyone who serves directly in Nebraska. Examples of frontline workers include but are not limited to restaurant workers, hotel staff, welcome center volunteers, attraction personnel, park superintendents or baristas.

The deadline to submit a nomination is Wednesday, April 28, 2021. To nominate someone, please take a few moments to complete a short form here.
 
If you have any questions, please reach out to Callie Austad at [email protected].