This week is National Travel and Tourism Week, an annual celebration of the contributions of the U.S. travel industry.
In Nashville, we are doubly celebrating being named to Travel + Leisure’s 50 Best Places to Travel in 2021 and tourism being the State of Tennessee’s second largest industry. Nashville has been touted as an “It” city for some time, drawing visitors seeking all that Nashville has to offer – a vibrant music scene combined with nationally known culinary offerings with plenty of Southern hospitality. Now, we eagerly await the economic impact of tourism spending, especially for local small businesses who have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The rebound of travel and tourism is key to the economic recovery of our city’s small businesses. As travelers make their way through Music City, local restaurants, bars and shops will see boosts in revenue helping to propel their recovery and growth.
The pandemic created unique challenges for small business owners, pushing them to find innovative solutions to unprecedented obstacles. In 2019, visitors spent an average of $64 million per day in Tennessee. Small businesses in our region are poised with new products and service offerings to meet the needs of our visitors.
The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce has an enhanced focus on supporting small businesses on the road to recovery. Determined to create opportunities for business growth, the Chamber created programs specifically geared toward women- and minority-owned businesses who experienced the largest financial setback from the pandemic.
Growing Together is the Chamber’s initiative that convenes and connects women in business. This network is designed to empower women to succeed in business by providing training, resources and mentoring opportunities.
The Nashville Chamber’s Propel initiative spotlights principles necessary for impactful leadership to support minority and diverse led small businesses. These companies are key to the restoration and recovery of the Nashville business ecosystem.
To learn more about these initiatives, contact Haley Hatchell, Manager of Small Business Programs at hhatchell@nashvillechamber.com.
