In honor of National Travel and Tourism Week (May 4-12), Visit Oakland will host a "Tourism Works for Oakland" clean-up day on Tuesday, May 7 from 9-11 a.m. Volunteers in the local travel and hospitality industry will roll up their sleeves and dedicate a few hours to the betterment of the Oakland community.

Tourism is an economic driver for many destinations, including Oakland. Each year, $1 billion is generated by the travel and tourism industry in Oakland, and $12 million is generated by the Transient Occupancy Taxes (TOT) from visitors staying at hotels. These taxes then go into the City of Oakland's general fund, which supports Oakland's schools, parks, police and fire departments, arts organizations, attractions, and other City services.

"In Oakland, 14,000 jobs are supported by the travel and hospitality sector, and visitors contribute to the success of our restaurants and attractions," said Alison Best, President & CEO of Visit Oakland. "We are invested in Oakland, and are bringing the hospitality community together to sponsor this clean-up. Each year, National Travel and Tourism Week reminds us that travel is not just a leisure or business activity­—it is one of America's largest and most impactful industries. One out of every eight jobs in the U.S. depends on travel and tourism."

The "Tourism Works for Oakland" clean-up will include litter pick-up on 8th Street in Chinatown (between Broadway and Webster), and litter pick-up, graffiti removal and painting underneath the Interstate 880 overpass on Broadway. The Broadway corridor, especially under the 880 overpass, is a key entry point connecting visitors to the Convention Center and the Oakland International Airport. Participants for the clean-up will assemble at the Oakland Marriott City Center to pick up volunteer t-shirts and location assignments. Moving forward, Visit Oakland and the hospitality community will commit to maintaining these areas for up to one year through the destination's "Adopt a Spot" initiative.

About National Travel and Tourism Week

National Travel and Tourism Week, sponsored by the U.S. Travel Association, is a weeklong celebration encouraging cities, states, and travel businesses nationwide to champion the power of travel. Cities across the country will host rallies and sponsor events to highlight the importance of the travel and tourism industry across the globe. To learn more about National Travel and Tourism Week and how you can get involved, visit ustravel.org.     

About Visit Oakland:

Visit Oakland is a non-profit organization marketing the City of Oakland as a travel destination. Visit Oakland offers a wide variety of complimentary services and materials for travelers and meeting planners interested in experiencing Oakland. For more information, see visitoakland.org.