National Travel and Tourism Week is an annual tradition for the U.S. travel community. It’s a time to celebrate tourism and the  value travel holds for our economy, businesses and personal well-being. The United Nations Tourism Organization says travel and tourism is one of the world’s largest industries, surpassing oil exports, food products, and automobiles. Last year, travel generated $2.5 trillion for the U.S. economy and supported almost 16 million American jobs. That’s 1 in 10 jobs, making travel the seventh largest employer in the private sector. In all, tourism and travel directly contributed more than $500 billion to our gross domestic product in 2016. On a state-wide level, tourism is a key economic driver for Arizona; our hospitable climate,  attractions, and incomparable natural beauty combined to attract more than 43 million visitors to the Grand Canyon State in 2017, where they spent more than $22 billion. That money supports jobs and generates tax revenue; the $3.37 billion in 2017 tax revenue is equal to an annual tax savings of $1,293 for every Arizona household and supported more than 187,000 industry jobs. Glendale played a large part in generating revenue for Arizona and as summer approaches, we are gearing up for another busy tourism season.  For more than 30 years, Travel and Tourism Week has been designated as a time to celebrate the unique impact tourism and travel have on our economy. This year’s theme is Travel Matters and for Glendale this theme continues to hold true.  Glendale has become a “must visit” destination for visitors from around the nation and the world. From unique shopping venues to arts and cultural attractions and countless outdoor opportunities, there are innumerable reasons to visit Glendale. Two recent announcements cemented Glendale’s standing as one of the country’s top venues for sporting events; the world will be watching Glendale as we play host to Super Bowl LVII in 2023 at State Farm Stadium. The games don't stop there, the NCAA Final Four will return for the second time in 2024, as college basketball’s biggest game is played in Glendale, AZ.  On May 5 through 11, join Glendale in celebrating National Travel and Tourism Week. Plan your next visit to Glendale and see for yourself why, You’ll Love Every Moment.