PRESS RELEASE

April 15, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Debra Kelman Loew
212-794-DKPR (3577)

Travel Business Roundtable Partners With Multi-Platinum Selling Group Lonestar To Promote Travel And Tourism

#1 Hit “What About Now” Featured In Original Music Video To Encourage People To Travel

Washington, DC — The Travel Business Roundtable (TBR), a coalition of travel and tourism CEOs, has produced an original music video to celebrate and promote travel and tourism in the United States. The video debuted at a historic travel industry summit, Re-Igniting Growth in Travel and Tourism, co-sponsored by TBR and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. on April 9. The video kicked off the month leading up to National Travel and Tourism Week (May 10-18) and will be shown by numerous travel related companies through their in-house entertainment programming.

The award winning music group, Lonestar, lent their #1-hit song, “What About Now,” as the track for the music montage that includes images of destinations and travel experiences from across the country. The band, which spends most of its time on the road, also recorded an introduction to the video noting that “every trip you take contributes to the creation of jobs, the development of communities, and the growth of businesses.”

“This video’s message comes at an important and challenging time for our country and for our industry,” said Jonathan Tisch, Chairman of TBR and Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels “Fear of terrorism since 9-11, economic uncertainty, and the war in Iraq have disrupted travel plans, which in turn has thwarted a sustained and robust economic recovery. The decrease in international travel and the increase in anti-American sentiment abroad mean we must work even harder to promote a positive image of America. We need to impress upon people here and around the world that traveling is an essential part of our lives and economies and that the United States is still ‘open for business’.”

Lonestar jumped at the chance to lend their music and their time to this patriotic cause, hoping to inspire people to start traveling again. “We are so proud to be a part of this video and to be able to help our country get moving again,” said Lonestar.

Speaking at the TBR/U.S. Chamber of Commerce summit, Secretary of Commerce Don Evans commented, “this video inspires you as to what a great land America is.”

Travel and tourism directly and indirectly employs 18 million people, or one out of every seven people in the private sector workforce. It is responsible for more than half a trillion dollars in economic activity and nearly $99 billion in tax revenues. In 2001, the nation experienced a 12 percent decrease in international travel with a total of 44.9 million visitors. Currently, the U.S. ranks as the third most popular international travel destination behind France and Spain. To help regain international market share, Congress recently passed legislation providing $50 million to establish a destination marketing campaign for the United States.

Participating TBR companies provided footage and many will also show the video through their internal entertainment programming and in their respective offices. These include:

	Affinia
	American Express Travel Related Services
	American Hotel & Lodging Association
	American Resort Development Association
	Amtrak
	Asian American Hotel Owners Association
	Best Western International
	Carey International
	Carlson Companies
	Cendant Corporation
	Denver Convention & Visitors Bureau
	Diners Club
	Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
	Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau
	Greater Ft. Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau
	Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
	Hertz Corporation
	International Council of Shopping Centers
	International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus
	JetBlue Airways
	Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Bureau
	Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau
	Loews Hotels
	NYC & Company
	Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
	Six Continents Hotels, Inc.
	Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
	Universal Parks & Resorts
	Washington, D.C. Convention and Tourism Corporation
	Waterford Group
	Wyndham International

(NOTE: Companies that are listed in boldface type are also sponsors of the video who provided funding for the project)

The video was produced and directed by Nancy Mendelson of Production Resources Inc.

In an overall effort to help the U.S. travel and tourism industry, which had not yet recovered from the effects of 9/11 when the war with Iraq broke out, concurrently released its legislative recommendations to the 108th Congress and the Bush Administration in a document titled, Travel & Tourism, America’s Passport to Success. In keeping with its mission to educate elected officials and policy makers about the important economic and social contributions of the industry, these policy items include several priorities.

Among them are:

	Restoring Confidence in American Travel and Tourism;
	Promoting the American Brand Through International Marketing;
	The Creation of a Presidential Advisory Council on Travel and Tourism; and
	Restoration of Business Meal and Entertainment and Spousal Travel Tax Deduction

A full copy of the report can be found on-line at www.tbr.org.

# # #

Reigning ACM Top Vocal Group Lonestar is currently touring and in the process of putting together a greatest hits album due in stores June 10 entitled: Greatest Hits - From There to Here, which will also include their #1 hit single "What About Now."

The Travel Business Roundtable (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, resorts and theme parks, TBR's membership roster also includes such entities as The Coca-Cola Company, USA Today, the National Football League, and the International Council of Shopping Centers, demonstrating the broad scope and diversity the industry represents. In 2002, travel and tourism was the nation's third largest retail industry generating $555 billion in travel expenditures and $98.8 billion in local, state and federal taxes.

back to top

ABOUT TBR | CHAIRMAN'S CORNER | LEGISLATIVE ACTION CENTER |
NEWSROOM | MEMBERS