Moving #TravelForward in Ridgeland

Ridgeland is Moving #TravelForward in Celebration of U.S. Travel’s National Travel & Tourism Week (NTTW), May 7-13, 2023. Established in 1983, NTTW is an annual tradition to mark the U.S. travel industry’s role in stimulating economic growth, cultivating vibrant communities, creating quality job opportunities, and elevating the quality of life for everyday Americans.

This year, the first day of NTTW falls on the final day of Ridgeland’s Art, Wine & Wheels festival, Sunday, May 7. Patrons are invited to the Ridgeland Visitors Center during the festival for complimentary trail mix to highlight Ridgeland’s trails and outdoor amenities. This offering continues throughout the week: Monday through Friday, May 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.

The celebrations continue with a spotlight of tourism economic impact figures, social media promotions, and designations of two 2023 Ridgeland Hospitality Champions from the lodging and restaurant hospitality sectors. Tourism in Ridgeland generated $90.3 million in visitor spending and $14.3 million in state and local taxes in addition to supporting 1,000 jobs in fiscal year 2022.

The 2023 Ridgeland Hospitality Champions are Dionna Holliday, AC Hotel by Marriott, and Jeremy Watkins, Soulshine Pizza. When asked why Jeremy was nominated, his colleagues praised his level of customer service, dependability, and professionalism, while Dionna’s company leadership recognized her dedication and cited remarks from guest reviews. “I’ve always felt that while it’s important to feel confident in one’s abilities, a true measure of your worth comes from others,” said Shane Aldridge, General Manager of the AC Hotel by Marriott.

Travel serves as a catalyst for a productive U.S. economy and helps power the success of other industries. The U.S. travel industry generated a $2.6 trillion economic output in 2022 and supported 15 million jobs, fueling communities, small businesses and working families across the country.

Travel spending also generated nearly $160 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2022—revenue that helped fund critical public services while saving each U.S. household an average of $1,270 in taxes.

To learn more about National Travel and Tourism Week, visit ustravel.org/NTTW.


Ridgeland Visitors Center
Renaissance at Colony Park
1000 Highland Colony Parkway, Suite 3002
Ridgeland, MS 39157
While supplies last

Visit Ridgeland became Explore Ridgeland in February 2024.