More than 17 million Americans are employed in travel and tourism related jobs.

FAQs

The Travel Business Roundtable
TBR Legislative Outreach
Travel and Tourism Data

ABOUT THE TRAVEL BUSINESS ROUNTABLE

1. What is the Travel Business Roundtable (TBR)?

The Travel Business Roundtable is a CEO-based organization with some 75 members. We are a not-for-profit association that is focused on expanding the awareness of travel and tourism policy issues on the federal, state and local levels among our elected officials and the media. Working together, our members speak with a unified voice on any number of important issues facing the industry on a daily basis.

2. How can I join?

Anyone interested in joining the Travel Business Roundtable can contact our offices by phone at 202.408.8422 or via our website at www.tbr.org.

3. How can I contact the Travel Business Roundtable?

You may call Melissa Gong, TBR executive director, at 202.408.2137 or email her at mgong@tia.org.

Additionally, you may contact Chuck Merin, chief Washington representative for TBR, at 202.530.4823 or email him at charles.merin@bksh.com.

4. Who are the TBR members?

Our members include airlines, rental car companies, financial services companies, hotels, convention and visitors bureaus, shopping centers, major league sports associations, restaurants and other diverse travel and tourism-related businesses and associations.

5. Who is TBR’s Chairman?

Jonathan M. Tisch is Chairman of the TBR Board of Directors. Mr. Tisch is also Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels and Chairman of NYC & Company, New York’s convention and visitors bureau.

6. When was TBR formed?

The Travel Business Roundtable was formed in 1995, following the White House Conference on Travel and Tourism. Since its inception, TBR has become known as the pre-eminent organization representing the diverse travel and tourism industry on Capitol Hill.

7. When and where does TBR meet?

TBR holds an annual meeting each year for our members. We also hold Board of Directors’ meetings three times per year in Washington, DC and New York, as well as regular meetings of our Washington Representatives.

8. How is TBR financed?

Membership dues cover all operational expenses.

TBR LEGISLATIVE OUTREACH

1. What issues does TBR primarily focus on?

The Travel Business Roundtable is working on a number of issues including visa policy reform; the impact of America's image around the world; pursuing the creation of a Presidential Advisory Council on Travel and Tourism; funding for an international destination marketing campaign; encouraging the restoration of business meal deductibility and spousal travel deductions; advocating for continued and increased funding for travel and tourism satellite accounts; and highlighting the need to address worker shortage issues.

2. Does TBR work with Congress?

Absolutely. Both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate have travel and tourism caucuses. TBR is active with both groups and regularly sends them information that may be useful to their understanding of the issues.

We also encourage our members to visit Washington, DC and frequently arrange official meetings for them with Members of Congress. For example, less than one month after the terrorist attacks in Washington, DC and New York, TBR members were on Capitol Hill for meetings with House and Senate leadership and senior advisors in the Bush Administration.

TRAVEL AND TOURISM DATA

1. What is the economic impact of travel and tourism?

The impact of travel and tourism on the U.S. economy is enormous. In 2003, nearly $555 billion was generated by the U.S. industry. According to the Department of Commerce, some 17 million Americans are employed in full or part-time travel and tourism jobs and $94.7 billion in tax revenues is generated by the industry.

2. How many jobs are supported by the travel and tourism industry?

In the United States, close to 17 million full-time and part-time jobs are travel and tourism related.

3. What are good sources for travel and tourism statistics?

A number of organization provide statistics on travel and tourism, including the Travel Industry Association of America, the World Tourism Organization, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics, and the World Travel & Tourism Council. Different countries also provide their own statistics, as do many U.S. states.

4. How many international travelers come to the United States each year?

In 2003, 40.4 million people visited the United States, according to the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries/International Trade Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce. This number was down 4 percent, or 1.5 million travelers, from total arrivals reported in 2002. International visitation to the U.S. set a record in 2000 at 50.9 million visitors.

.5. What are the top metropolitan destinations in the United States?

In 2003, the most popular tourism destinations for oversea travelers were, in order, New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; Orlando, FL; San Francisco, CA; Honolulu, HI, and Las Vegas, NV. These seven cities each hosted over 1 million vistors in 2003.

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