A new campaign from the U.S. Travel Association is highlighting how political campaigning, debates and party conventions boost revenue and create jobs across the hospitality industry. The group recently expanded the effort with airport marketing at Manchester–Boston Regional Airport, where arriving passengers see signs reading, “Candidates bloviating about jobs actually creates them. 2016 Road Warriors: Thanks for doing your share.”
According to the U.S. Travel Association, campaign-related travel delivers a meaningful economic lift in New Hampshire. During campaign seasons, they estimate travel activity adds about $350 per person to the local economy and drives an extra 78,400 room-nights above the state’s typical levels. Using regional average room rates, that increase translates to roughly $8.9 million in additional revenue for hotels and other hospitality businesses—revenue that would not exist outside of campaign periods.
Those figures also help quantify employment impacts. The association calculates that, on average, each $80,700 in additional revenue supports one job, so the campaign-driven spending contributes directly to sustaining and creating positions in lodging, food service and related sectors.
The marketing push will continue later in the year with advertising planned for markets that host large campaign events, including Cleveland, Philadelphia and Las Vegas. By drawing attention to the measurable economic benefits of political events, the U.S. Travel Association aims to remind communities and industry stakeholders that campaign activity generates tangible returns for local businesses and workers.