PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Debra Kelman Loew
212.794-3577

Cathy Keefe (TIA)
(202) 408-2183

June 28, 2005

TRAVEL INDUSTRY TRADE GROUPS FORM POWERFUL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

“One Industry, One Voice” Strengthens Clout of Nation’s Third-Largest Industry

Washington, D.C. — In a move to align their efforts and promote the interests of the travel industry with a unified agenda, two leading trade groups announced a powerful new strategic partnership to implement a coordinated approach to government action.

The Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), which represents 2,200 members, and the Travel Business Roundtable (TBR), an association of CEO-level travel industry executives, have joined together in an attempt to bring more clout to the industry on Capitol Hill, and at the state and local level as well.

“One industry, one voice,” said Roger Dow, TIA’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our goal is simply to join our resources together to more effectively represent our members through a coordinated, cohesive strategy to communicate our industry’s interests to lawmakers across the country.”

Jonathan Tisch, chairman of Loews Hotels and chairman of the Travel Business Roundtable, said: “Travel and tourism is a diverse industry with a unique impact on domestic and global economies. We create jobs and careers, and we contribute more than $100 billion in tax revenues for federal, state and local governments, providing critical money for essential services. Working with TIA, we intend to make sure our leaders understand the industry’s value to America’s interests economically and diplomatically.”

Among the pressing issues TIA and TBR will address are America’s image abroad and its effect on international travel to the U.S., as well as passport, visa and immigration reforms that greatly impact the industry. Chuck Merin, Managing Director of BKSH & Assoc. and a longtime lobbyist for TBR, will now serve as the principal lobbyist on behalf of both organizations.

Further ensuring coordinated efforts, TIA’s Chief Executive and National Chair will become members of TBR’s board, while two members of TBR will become members of TIA’s Sustaining Member Board and Executive Committee.

“The recent announcement by the Administration concerning biometric passport requirements is a great example of how the travel industry can successfully pull together to work on behalf of an issue critical to all of us,” Dow said.

Tisch summed up the partnership’s mission: “With TBR’s influence and TIA’s broad membership, we intend to be a major unified voice on behalf of the travel industry that policymakers will find impossible to ignore.”

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