On May 9, 2023, Dutchess Tourism, Inc. (DTI) celebrated National Travel & Tourism Week (NTTW) with its annual Brochure Exchange at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum Pavilion. Dutchess County Executive William F.X. O'Neil and Dutchess Tourism President & CEO Melaine Rottkamp shared the outlook for the upcoming travel season in Dutchess and celebrated the collaborative spirit of local travel partners. Individuals who have been certified as Dutchess Tourism Ambassadors were also recognized. DTI released the new 2023 Discover Dutchess Destination Guide, providing visitors with inspiration for a getaway to the heart of the Hudson Valley, and promoted its mobile passport program, the Dutchess Tourism Trail Finder, featuring curated experiences throughout the county.
May 7-13, 2023, marks the 40th anniversary of NTTW. The annual tradition celebrates the contributions of the U.S. travel industry and will spotlight the essential role that travel will play in driving economic growth and innovation through the theme #TravelForward. Established in 1983, NTTW marks the U.S. travel industry’s role in stimulating economic growth, cultivating vibrant communities, creating quality job opportunities, stimulating business activity and elevating the quality of life for everyday Americans. A report released by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, highlighted that visitors spent $632 million in Dutchess County in 2021, 93.7% of the record total reached in 2019, which capped 10 consecutive years of growth.
Said County Executive O’Neil, “The tourism and hospitality industry is key to Dutchess County’s ability to thrive as a place to live, work and play. It powers our local economy, attracts investment, creates jobs, and strengthens our community’s culture and identity. This National Travel and Tourism Week, we celebrate the Dutchess Certified Tourism Ambassadors, travel partners and all the hospitality workers for the excellent experiences they provide residents and visitors alike and the way they continue to contribute to our community.”
In addition to raising awareness of Dutchess County and its tourism assets, DTI supports tourism-related businesses through education and training, promotional assistance and advocacy. DTI offers two workforce training programs to people who live and work in Dutchess County, free for a limited time thanks to funds from Dutchess County government through an American Rescue Plan (ARP) grant.
DTI’s Certified Tourism Ambassador™ (CTA) and Guest Service Gold® Tourism workforce training programs are suited for front-line employees, business owners, executives, government officials and volunteers. Launched in August 2022, the Dutchess Tourism Ambassador Program, an industry-recognized certification accredited through the Tourism Ambassador Institute®, has over 185 CTAs who have completed the course. The newly launched Guest Service Gold Tourism® program is an online course that is available in English and Spanish and is an additional training program focused on delivering superior service that keeps guests raving.
“Delivering exceptional service results in a positive reputation for Dutchess County, generating more business, longer stays and repeat visitors,” added Rottkamp. “Our tourism workforce will have the professional certifications and skills to exceed customer expectations by providing exceptional service leading to job opportunities, career advancement and higher wages.”
Dutchess County residents and employees wishing to participate can visit www.dutchesstourism.com/workforce or contact Lauren Beale, consumer services and tourism programs manager, at training@dutchesstourism.com for details.
Tourism continues to be a driving force in the success of the county, having created more than 9,000 tourism jobs with a combined income of $359.7 million that gets reinvested in the local economy in the form of daily household expenses like housing, groceries and fuel. Each household in Dutchess County would need to be taxed an additional $793 to replace the state and local taxes contributed by visitors.
“The travel industry fuels every industry—our industry’s success is the nation’s success,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman. “This week is a prime opportunity to elevate the message that travel is essential to moving America’s economy forward.”
