Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau Recognizes the Power of Travel During National Travel & Tourism Week
Travel Powers the Economy, Builds Opportunity, & Connects Community
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (May 5, 2025) — National Travel & Tourism Week (NTTW) shines a spotlight on the travel industry’s essential role in driving financial growth, creating jobs, and enhancing the quality of life in communities.
Leisure visitation, business travel, conventions, meetings, and group business are key economic drivers in Little Rock, collectively generating $1.5 billion in annual visitor spending —dollars that stay here. This spending generates $96.5 million in local and state tax revenue, saving each local household $1,079, and it supports more than 8,560 tourism-related jobs—making the tourism industry a significant cornerstone for Arkansas’ capital city.
“Each year, National Travel & Tourism Week is a time to celebrate our vibrant industry and recognize its tremendous impact,” said Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau President & CEO Gina Gemberling. “As the official destination marketing organization for Little Rock, the LRCVB is proud to lead efforts that bring visitors, meetings, conventions, and special events to our community. Our mission goes beyond simply attracting guests—it’s about enhancing the economic vitality and cultural vibrancy of our city.”
The LRCVB continues to work to build community and elevate Little Rock as a travel destination of choice. As a result of its Tourism Master Plan implementation, the organization has conducted a visitor profile study to identify travelers who have visited the city, where they’ve come from, and their overall experiences. Also, this week the Bureau has launched a resident sentiment survey to determine local perception of Little Rock’s tourism product, how tourism affects our citizens, and ideas on building the community’s tourism infrastructure. The survey link can be found here. Both initiatives touch upon seven of the master plan’s nine key priority areas of: 1) Product Development, 2) Placemaking, 3) Target Marketing, 4) Enhance the Visitor Experience, 5) Community Engagement, 6) Destination Perception, and 7) Breaking Down Barriers. The Little Rock Tourism Master Plan can be found here.
For more information about the LRCVB, please visit www.littlerock.com.
ABOUT THE LITTLE ROCK CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
The Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau (LRCVB) is the official destination marketing organization for the City of Little Rock, charged with promoting the city for convention and leisure travel. The LRCVB also operates the Statehouse Convention Center, Robinson Center, Cromwell Building, River Market (Ottenheimer Hall, First Security Amphitheater, outdoor pavilions), and multiple parking facilities and surface lots. The LRCVB is primarily funded by a lodging and prepared food tax. The organization is divided into four primary divisions: Finance & Administration, Sales & Services, Marketing & Communications, and Operations.
ABOUT NATIONAL TRAVEL & TOURISM WEEK
Established in 1983, National Travel & Tourism Week (NTTW) is an annual tradition to celebrate the U.S. travel community and travel’s essential role in stimulating economic growth, cultivating vibrant communities, creating quality job opportunities, inspiring new businesses and elevating the quality of life for Americans every day. For more information, visit www.ustravel.org/NTTW.