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PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Two Leading Industry Organizations Join Forces To Promote
Travel And Tourism
The Travel Business Roundtable (TBR) And World Travel And
Tourism Council (WTTC) Announce A Strategic Alliance
WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 29, 2002 -- Reflecting
the challenge of rebuilding the travel and tourism industry
on a global level, the Travel Business Roundtable (TBR)
and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) have
announced the formation of a new strategic alliance that formally
expands the relationship that has existed between these two
leading organizations.Capitalizing on the leverage shared
by both groups’ CEO-based membership, the new agreement
provides a more formal foundation from which they can join
forces in achieving the common goal of working with government
to both revitalize the travel and tourism industry in the
aftermath of the terrorist attacks and to help the industry
return to a position of growth and generator or jobs.
Since the events of September 11, the World Travel &
Tourism Council estimates that for every 10 percent drop in
demand, 1.1 million jobs in the United States will be lost.
Globally, a drop of 30 percent in demand would result in 26.4
million jobs lost.
With the decline of international travel, TBR and WTTC’s
combined strength and resources will be helpful in the efforts
to rebuild the industry.
TBR is recognized as the preeminent organization in Washington
on governmental matters and WTTC has established itself as
the leading authority on global issues affecting travel and
tourism. The strategic alliance pairs these leading organizations,
taking advantage of each other’s strengths and broadening
each other’s reach across the globe. Together, TBR and
WTTC will be a more powerful force for promoting travel and
tourism, both in the United States and around the world.
The September 11 attacks in the United States have created
a new set of operating circumstances for companies in the
travel and tourism industry. "The need for a renewed
partnership between governments and industry has never been
so important," says Sir Ian Prosser, Chairman of Six
Continents and Chairman of WTTC. "Our first challenge
is to restore consumer confidence and get people travelling
again - and governments can assist in this process by communicating
new security measures to the public."
WTTC has called on industry and governments worldwide to
work together urgently to save further damage to the industry.
It urges the harmonisation of new security measures across
all gateway levels and countries, to ensure international
standards are consistent and effective; and calls for measures
such as fiscal incentives, PR and marketing to encourage people
to travel again and live their lives as before.
TBR and WTTC will work together on new collaborative initiatives
and publications, as well as broaden the scope and global
positioning of the respected TBR Index of Leading Economic
Indicators that is used to provide data on the economic
performance of the industry and which serves as one indicator
of the nation’s overall economy. Over the past decade,
WTTC have pioneered and enhanced the system of Tourism Satellite
Accounting, which is an invaluable tool in measuring the impact
of the travel and tourism on global, regional and national
economies.
The strategic alliance provides TBR with an experienced global
travel and tourism collaborator and WTTC with a strong United
States partner. The experience and insight of each organization
will result in the advancement of our shared goals. For example,
as TBR works towards creating a Presidential Advisory Council
on Travel and Tourism, WTTC could offer first-hand accounts
of the benefits other countries have seen with senior level
government support of sensible travel and tourism policies.
Since its inception in 1995, TBR has very effectively raised
the visibility of the travel and tourism industry with elected
officials. Most recently, TBR has taken a lead role in the
efforts to work with the Bush Administration and other elected
officials to help get people moving again following the events
on September 11th. In addition, TBR continues to urge the
creation of a Presidential Advisory Council on Travel and
Tourism to establish a link between the industry and the Administration
in order to address the challenges and issues affecting this
vital industry.
"While TBR and WTTC have enjoyed an informal partnership
over the past few years, we believe it is more important than
ever to take this relationship to the next level with the
announcement of this strategic alliance that will allow us
to work together on rebuilding the travel and tourism industry
worldwide," notes Jonathan Tisch, Chairman of TBR and
Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels. "As a result, we will
continue to maximize both organizations’ CEO-driven membership
base to work with elected officials on the issues and challenges
that the travel and tourism industry faces on both a domestic
and international level."
"Globally, public-private sector initiatives in travel
and tourism are on the rise as more and more governments recognize
the economic contributions of this sector," adds Sir
Ian Prosser, Chairman of WTTC and Chairman of Six Continents
PLC. "WTTC's alliance with TBR will bring the necessary
resources, research and private sector expertise to help create
a US travel and tourism policy that could be an example for
other nations to follow. Furthermore, lessons learned by TBR
could be introduced to WTTC’s fledgling Regional Programmes,
speeding their implementation and deepening their effectiveness."
TBR and WTTC had previously collaborated on the creation
of a White Paper highlighting key policy issues affecting
the industry’s future. The document was requested by
and presented to Gene Sperling, Director of the National Economic
Council for the Clinton Administration in 1999.
TBR is a CEO-based organization representing all sectors
of the travel and tourism industry. In addition to the major
airlines, car rental companies, travel management agencies,
hotel chains, TBR’s membership roster also includes companies
such as The Coca-Cola Company, USA Today, the Taubman
Company, and the International Council of Shopping Centers,
demonstrating the broad scope and diversity the industry represents.
In 2000, travel and tourism was the nation’s third largest
retail industry and second largest employer with more than
18 million Americans employed directly or indirectly in travel
and tourism.
Previously projected to be the world’s largest industry
within the decade (based on WTTC TSA research), travel and
tourism is also America’s leading services export, responsible
for a trade surplus of nearly $17 billion in 2000, generating
$99.5 billion in tax revenues and more than $582.5 billion
in total expenditures.
WTTC is based in London and currently has approximately 100
members. It was founded in 1990 and has offices on every major
continent, with regional programs in Latin America and India.
WTTC is the global business leaders' forum for travel and
tourism and its members are chief executives from all sectors
of the travel and tourism industry, including: accommodation;
catering; cruises; entertainment; recreation; transportation;
and travel-related services. Its central goal is to work with
governments to realize the full economic impact of the world's
largest generator of wealth and jobs: travel and tourism.
CONTACT:
Debra Kelman (TBR)
212-794-DKPR (3577)
dkelman@dkpr.com
Scott Mills (WTTC)
011 44 870 727 9882
smills@wttc.org
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