Roadshow
05/29/2024
Charlotte, NC
U.S. Travel's Travel Works Road Show made its North Carolina debut in Charlotte last week, spotlighting travel's pivotal role in driving economic growth and connecting America.
Key Speakers
The Honorable Danté Anderson
Mayor Pro Tem, City of Charlotte
The Honorable Ted Budd
U.S. Senator (R-NC)
Steve Bagwell
President & CEO, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
Tori Barnes
EVP, Public Affairs & Policy, U.S. Travel Association
Mike Butts
Executive Director, Visit Charlotte & VP of Sales, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
Geoff Freeman
President & CEO, U.S. Travel Association
Peter Jung
Chief Marketing Officer, NASCAR
Richard G. Mathieu, Ph.D.
President, Johnson & Wales University Charlotte Campus
Stephen Newuman
Vice President, Global Government Affairs, American Airlines
Scott Peacock
Director, Tourism Marketing & Communications, Visit North Carolina
Gina Sheridan
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
Itinerary
- Sullenberger Aviation Museum, located just alongside Charlotte Douglas International Airport, is home to aircraft and artifacts from the advent of aviation, including the iconic award-winning “Miracle on the Hudson” exhibition featuring the famed passenger jet that landed safely in New York’s Hudson River in 2009.
- Charlotte Convention Center, boasting 600,000 sq. ft., is the city’s premier meeting and convention space and conveniently connects to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
- NASCAR Hall of Fame, an interactive entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR, is designed to educate and entertain. The attraction includes artifacts, hands-on exhibits, a 278-person state-of-the-art theater, and Hall of Honor.
- Power of Advocacy Lunch: Hosted by U.S. Travel and CRVA at the JW Marriott, this event brought together Charlotte and North Carolina travel industry leaders to discuss the importance of advocacy and address the most pressing state and local policy challenges.
- Hub Control Operations Center: A tour of American Airlines’ traffic control tower provided an inside look at the technological advancements the airline is implementing to enhance the traveler experience.
Key Topics
- Economic impact of travel
- Mobility and innovation
- Community development
- Seamless and secure travel
- Economic growth
Discussion Summary
Our roadshow kicked off with the grand re-opening reception of the Sullenberger Aviation Museum, where keynote remarks were provided by Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger himself. The reimagined museum is set to attract over 120,000 visitors annually and connect thousands of students to STEM programs.
The next morning, we welcomed over 60 industry leaders and guests to our anchor event at the Charlotte Convention Center, where we were joined by U.S. Senator Ted Budd and Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Danté Anderson who both provided keynotes on the essential role travel plays in North Carolina from supporting small businesses to growing the city’s workforce.
Next, American Airlines’ Stephen Neuman joined U.S. Travel’s Tori Barnes for a fireside chat on American’s latest innovations to enhance the traveler experience. We also heard from a distinguished panel of Charlotte’s top travel industry experts on the city’s ongoing initiatives to innovate and improve visitor offerings. Visit North Carolina’s Scott Peacock concluded the morning session by highlighting the travel industry’s economic impact in the state, noting that travel contributed an impressive $35.6 billion to North Carolina’s economy in 2023 alone.
Following the anchor event, we headed next door to the NASCAR Hall of Fame for a tour and interactive test drive, sat down with local industry leaders for our Power of Advocacy Roundtable Luncheon, and then wrapped up the roadshow with a tour of American Airlines’ traffic control tower at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Attendees
- Tori Barnes, EVP, Public Affairs & Policy, U.S. Travel Association
- Karen Brand, Director of Communications, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
- Mike Butts, Executive Director, Visit Charlotte & VP of Sales, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
- Larken Egleston, District Director, Office of U.S. Representative Jeff Jackson (NC-14)
- Geoff Freeman, President & CEO, U.S. Travel Association
- Eric Fryer, Manager, Grassroots and PAC, U.S. Travel Association
- Mohammad Jenatian, President & CEO, Greater Charlotte Hospitality and Tourism Alliance (HTA)
- Daniel Klenetsky, Senior Director, Public & Government Affairs, NASCAR
- Tracy Montross, Managing Director, Government Affairs, American Airlines
- Stephen Newuman, Vice President, Global Government Affairs, American Airlines
- Nolan Nichols, Manager, Video Production, U.S. Travel Association
- Vinay Patel, Principal, SREE Hotels
- Scott Peacock, Director, Tourism Marketing & Communications, Visit North Carolina
- Nicole Porter, Vice President, Political Affairs, U.S. Travel Association
- Jennifer Shehan, Manager, Meeting and Event Services, U.S. Travel Association
- Greg Staley, Head of Media Relations, U.S. Travel Association
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