Visit Pensacola Set to Celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week May 19-25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:
Nicole Stacey, Visit Pensacola | nstacey@visitpensacola.com

Pensacola, Fla. –  Visit Pensacola is gearing up to celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week, the national annual celebration of the contributions of the U.S. travel industry. To celebrate 10 years in business, Visit Pensacola is excited to give back to the Escambia County tourism industry in a new way with a $500 award to its Hospitality Hero winners, a free destination attraction passport program for 200 people in the hospitality and tourism industry, a free trolley tour of Pensacola for up to 60 people in the industry, and a free museum day on Saturday, May 25, in partnership with the UWF Historic Trust for the public.

“In the 10 years Visit Pensacola has existed we’ve seen continued growth across the board in our visitation, destination development, offerings and more, and that’s all because of the hospitality and tourism industry making this the best place to live, work, and play,” President and CEO Darien Schaefer said. “This year we’ll be awarding our hospitality hero winners with $500, and Visit Pensacola will be providing a free activity-based passport program for 200 members of the hospitality and tourism industry and two free trolley tours of Pensacola for the industry.”

Visit Pensacola’s Hospitality Hero Awards are a nomination-based award for those that go above and beyond in the tourism industry that are working directly with visitors. The categories for nomination include transportation, restaurant/dining, attractions/venues, and lodging. Nominations are now open to the public and are due by May 1.

This year’s The Way to Beach™ Destination Passport will include free access to the Pensacola Bay City Ferry, Historic Pensacola Village, and the Pensacola Lighthouse and Maritime Museum for members of the hospitality and tourism industry. Registration is on a first come first serve basis for 200 people. Passports will be available for pickup at the Pensacola Visitor Information Center at 1401 E Gregory Street beginning on May 13, and will be available for use Sunday, May 19 – Sunday, May 26. Additionally, the UWF Historic Trust will be providing a free all-public museum day on Saturday, May 25. Here’s a look at all events during National Travel and Tourism Week. All events are open to the public. Hospitality Hero Olympics: Monday, May 20, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Blue Wahoo Stadium

Gather your team and join Visit Pensacola for a half day relay of games followed by lunch to kick off National Travel & Tourism Week. Partners and community members are invited and encouraged to attend to cheer on teams. New this year, Visit Pensacola will be awarding a team spirit award. Team space is limited. Please register your team by May 1.

Visit Pensacola Stakeholder Breakfast: Tuesday, May 21, 8-10:30 a.m., Hilton Garden Inn Pensacola Downtown
Join Visit Pensacola for a sit-down breakfast with industry vendors, partners, and stakeholders. Takeaways include tourism data, best practices, and industry trends from Visit Pensacola, Visit Florida, Downs and St. Germain Research, and Sojern. Please register by May 1.

The Way to Beach™ Trolley Tour: Wednesday, May 22
In partnership with 5 Flags Trolley by Winterfest, Visit Pensacola will be offering two trolley tours of Pensacola on Wednesday, May 22, to individuals in the hospitality and tourism industry. Registration is on a first come, first serve basis. Trolley tours are at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and accommodate up to 30 people.

Hospitality Hero Awards Ceremony & Luncheon: Thursday, May 23, a.m., Bayview Community Center
Visit Pensacola invites the public to nominate hospitality and tourism workers to be celebrated for their hard work and service throughout the year. Annually during National Travel and Tourism Week, Visit Pensacola recognizes the nominees and names the top winner in each category during the Hospitality Hero Awards Luncheon. New this year, award recipients will receive $500. Nominations are due by May 1. For more information on National Travel and Tourism Week and other events, visit www.visitpensacola.com/who-we-are/national-travel-tourism-week/.###

About Visit Pensacola
Visit Pensacola is the destination organization for Escambia County which includes Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, and Perdido Key. With over 464 years of rich history and nearly 40 miles of sugar-white sand beaches bordered by the emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico, visitors from all over the world are lured to our pristine shores every year. Visit Pensacola supports the community vision of tourism by serving as the central body responsible for building tourism as an economic engine for our community through leadership, connection, collaboration, and communication.