PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Debra Kelman Loew
212.794-3577

Cathy Keefe (TIA)
(202) 408.8422

July 5, 2005

INDUSTRY CEOs HOLD PRODUCTIVE HIGH-LEVEL WASHINGTON MEETINGS

Delegation Seeks Action On Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative And Public Diplomacy, Renews Call For Presidential Advisory Council On Travel And Tourism

Washington, D.C. — A delegation of six of the leading travel and tourism industry executives - all members of the Travel Business Roundtable (TBR), a strategic partner to the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) - met last week with senior members of Congress and the Bush Administration for substantive discussions about the enormous contributions travel and tourism makes to the U.S. economy, the effects of visa policy on travel to the United States and the growing impact of America’s deteriorating image abroad.

Led by TBR Chairman and Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels Jonathan Tisch, the group included Roger Dow, president and CEO of the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA); Stevan Porter, president, the Americas, InterContinental Hotels Group; James Rasulo, president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts; Steve Anderson, president of the National Restaurant Association; and Vincent Wolfington, chairman of the World Travel & Tourism Council and chairman emeritus of Carey International, Inc. 

One of the industry’s top concerns and legislative priorities, and the focus of many of the Washington meetings, is the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), which will require passports or other accepted documents for all travel to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America and, eventually, Canada and Mexico.  While appreciating the security goals of the Initiative, the CEO delegation strongly urged the Bush Administration to delay the December 31, 2005 deadline for air and sea travel to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda and Central and South America.  Fewer than 23 percent of Americans currently hold valid U.S. passports.  Such a deadline could have a disastrous impact on travel to and from these popular destinations for Americans as well as international travelers.  This message resonated strongly with State Department officials.

The industry leaders also renewed their call for the creation of a Presidential Advisory Council on Travel and Tourism that was first proposed by TBR in May 2000.  The Council - comprised of Cabinet members, Members of Congress, governors, mayors, and industry leaders - would advise the President on national tourism policy and coordinate policies among the various federal agencies that impact the industry. The Council would be created by Executive Order as a federal advisory council under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).  Both White House and State Department officials agreed that a better coordinated travel and tourism function would be extremely helpful on a number of pending homeland security and public diplomacy issues.

Another issue addressed in each meeting was the implications of America's deteriorating image abroad and the unique role that the travel and tourism industry can play in changing perceptions of our nation and its citizens.  Studies show that when international visitors travel to the U.S., their view of America and Americans changes, almost without exception, for the better.  Officials at the State Department vowed to work closely with industry leaders to help improve the cumbersome visa process and to coordinate communication with Karen Hughes, the President's appointee to become the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy, as her role in this effort becomes more clearly defined.

In addition, Tisch and the other leaders pledged to put the energy, creativity and reach of the travel and tourism industry to work to assist the Administration in any way possible – including the possible creation of a working group comprised of Homeland Security, State Department and industry representatives - to help craft and deliver messages on issues ranging from clarifying entry and exit requirements to message development and dissemination on public diplomacy.

The two days of meetings started with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), where the group praised both the Chairman and the Administration for their leadership and cooperation in clarifying the biometrics requirement for the 27 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries.  With the exception of France, Italy and Austria, the remaining 24 VWP countries will enjoy uninterrupted travel to the United States after the October 26th deadline.

Among the other officials they met with were:

• Barry Jackson, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy to the Senior Advisor, Karl Rove;
• Kenneth Rapuano, Deputy Assistant to the President for Homeland Security;
• Jay Carney, Deputy Washington Bureau Chief, TIME Magazine;
• Phil Zelikow, Counselor to Secretary Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Department of State;
• Robert Tappan, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary to the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy, U.S. Department of State;
• Randy Beardsworth, Acting Under Secretary for the Border and Transportation Security Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; and
• The Hon. John Ashcroft, former Attorney General.

"We are extremely pleased with the meetings we had in our nation's capital over these two days," noted Tisch.  "Message and messenger count and we are strong on both.  Travel and tourism is one of the leading contributors to the U.S. economy.  We generate nearly $100 billion in tax revenue and 17 million domestic jobs.  It is critical that policies affecting our industry not be created in a vacuum.  It was important that these senior Administration officials heard our message from the leaders of our industry.  And I do think they heard what we had to say and they understand our unique role as their partners.  We will continue to build on the momentum that was started during these meetings.  It was a great 48 hours for the industry.”

"Travel and tourism is vital to the U.S. economy," said Roger Dow, president and CEO of TIA. "These meetings mark a new era of public/private cooperation, and we look forward to working closely with the Administration and top elected officials to promote travel and tourism issues that benefit America."

These high level meetings are the first actions taken since the June 28th announcement of the strategic partnership between TBR and TIA.  The organizations will be announcing other initiatives in the future emphasizing “One Industry, One Voice.”

# # #

back to top

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