2026 Tourism Outlook: Cora Scott

Scott’s 2026 Projection: We know that there will be national and international media in Springfield for the national Route 66 centennial kickoff. It’s just a good time to look back and say we probably wouldn’t have the industries we do if it hadn’t been for some of these forefathers and mothers who thought ahead and prepared for commerce, transportation.

As the national host city for the Route 66 centennial kickoff, what does Springfield anticipate for tourism in 2026?
Missouri is going to be able to boast a full slate of activities throughout that entire yearlong celebration kicking off with April 30, which was the day the famous telegram went. In addition to that, we’re working with satellite cities in Amarillo, Texas; St. Louis; Joliet, Illinois; Albuquerque; Santa Monica, California – a lot of the big, famous Route 66 cities are working with us to help celebrate that national kickoff. Representatives from those cities will be in Springfield as well because they are also recognizing this as a national kickoff. They’re doing events in their cities. What it’s going to do is just shine a gigantic spotlight on Springfield and Missouri as a monumental tourist destination for Route 66 travelers. Those travelers come from around the world – not just the country. We’re pretty excited about the impact that this is going to have on the economics in 2026 and then to build momentum for the future, as Springfield and Missouri get more recognized as being a tourism hub for these sorts of national activities.

With the World Cup drawing large crowds to Kansas City, how is Springfield preparing for possible spillover visitors?
I won’t say storm because I think it’s going to be a very positive thing with the World Cup, the Route 66 national kickoff, and then of course, the third component is America’s 250. For communities like Springfield in the state of Missouri to capture some of the spillover action out of the World Cup – while we’re not a host city, we are expecting large crowds throughout Springfield and Missouri in the summer of ’26. That global spotlight that I mentioned on our region then will spill over throughout, I think, the whole entire state of Missouri. In fact, Gov. [Mike] Kehoe ... has really challenged us to make sure that we’re ready across the state of Missouri for all of these crowds and to really welcome them and have businesses involved and local governments involved and have people really roll out the red carpet. Once we get people to Missouri, as you know, they love it, and they want to come back, and they also want to possibly move here or start businesses here.

With the Route 66 centennial and the nation’s 250th anniversary both happening in 2026, where do you see the biggest tourism opportunities for Springfield?
From a branding perspective. Actually, the America 250 commission reached out to me with Missouri’s centennial commission and said, we’d like to actually integrate into what you all are doing for the national Route 66 centennial kickoff. That was actually really smart and very economical. They have invested some of their dollars into the national kickoff celebration. So, when visitors attend the Route 66 centennial kickoff, they will see activities that also celebrate America’s 250. We’re going to announce most of this toward the end of January, so people can look forward to that.