HURRICANE KATRINA RECOVERY INFORMATION

STATEMENT BY JONATHAN M. TISCH
CHAIRMAN, TRAVEL BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE
SEPTEMBER 1, 2005

Hurricane Katrina has visited unprecedented devastation upon the Gulf Coast of the United States, the full toll of which may not be known for some time. First and foremost, we would like to extend our sympathies and support to our friends, colleagues, and everyone else who has been personally and directly affected.

What is clear is that the travel and tourism industry, as one of the largest economic presences in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, has borne an enormous brunt of this tragedy. The cost in human, economic, and social devastation to the employees and employers of our great industry is not yet clear, with a full assessment possibly weeks in the offing.

As the leaders of TBR and TIA — and as further evidence of the power of unity which comes from, “One Industry, One Voice” — our team, in conjunction with other industry groups, has begun a comprehensive assessment of two key issue areas:

• The opportunity to maximize the industry’s unique role in providing immediate comfort and humanitarian aid to our devastated fellow citizens in general, and industry employees in particular; and
• Avenues for redress of urgent, legitimate industry employee and employer burdens, ranging from unemployment concerns to potential Federal incentives for employer–based recovery.

It is anticipated that the Bush Administration will submit to the Congress an urgent supplemental funding request for Hurricane Katrina relief over the next few weeks, after damage assessment has been completed. We pledge to make immediate and long term employee and employer relief a top priority for our lobbying efforts. In the meantime, please keep in mind that the Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Private Sector, stands ready to assist any of our member organizations with interests in the affected states liaising with federal government agencies – such as FEMA and the Department of the Treasury – as you work through locating employees, facilitating payroll and the like.

We are fully cognizant of the magnitude, severity, and timelessness of the issues involved, and we are making every resource available to address the situation as quickly as possible.

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