Taking advantage of the international spotlight shining on the third and final 2016 presidential debate in Las Vegas on Oct. 19, U.S. Travel Association has created an advertising campaign to reinforce the value of travel.
The campaign stated: “Travel. More than fun. Serious business.” Ads touting travel’s economic impact ran in McCarran International Airport (LAS) and Las Vegas taxis prior to and through the debate.
Travel Channel host and U.S. Travel ambassador Samantha Brown has voiced 15- and 30-second video ads, which are playing on monitors above taxi lines and in the taxis themselves. Brown says: “You’ve all heard the saying, but you know what actually stays in Vegas? Jobs. From getting here to staying here, to eating and drinking and everything in between, it all creates jobs and grows the local economy.”
“In this polarized political climate, there’s one thing both sides can agree on: the power of travel for our nation’s economy,” says Roger Dow, president and CEO of U.S. Travel Association. “The economy is front and center this election, and we’ve heard a lot from both candidates about their plans to create more jobs. Well, travel is the No. 1 employer in the state of Nevada, and supports one in nine jobs across America—so where better to remind all political players of that than Las Vegas, host of the final presidential debate?”
U.S. Travel purposefully targeted the 2016 political campaign trails this year, from primaries to national party conventions and debates.
During the Republican and Democratic national conventions in Cleveland and Philadelphia, respectively, U.S. Travel reports that the events were responsible for an estimated $360 million in direct spending for host cities. Each convention attendee spent an average of $300 per day. Including direct and induced impact, these visitors generated $600 million—an even $300 million for both Cleveland and Philly.
