On October 15, 2024, Governor Greg Abbott joined U.S. Travel President and CEO Geoff Freeman to amplify the impact the travel and tourism industry has on the booming Texas economy during a fireside chat at American Airlines Headquarters in Fort Worth, attended by dozens of regional business leaders and local media. 

Throughout the conversation, the governor highlighted the state’s robust travel industry, pointing to major sporting and entertainment events that have brought in thousands of visitors across the state, such as the Red River Showdown and Austin City Limits Music Festival, stimulating Texas’ local economies. The Governor also noted the upcoming FIFA World Cup games that will be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington and NRG Stadium in Houston, mentioning that Texas has hosted major sporting events before and is well-equipped to host multiple games for the most popular sporting event in the world.