PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Allen Kay
202.408-2136
akay@tia.org

Cathy Keefe (TIA)
(202) 408.8422

May 18, 2006

TRAVEL INDUSTRY PRAISES SENATE ACTION ON WESTERN HEMISPHERE TRAVEL INITIATIVE

Washington, D.C. — The Travel Business Roundtable (TBR) and the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) applaud Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska and Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont for their leadership and support in the successful adoption of a bipartisan amendment to extend the deadline for the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, or WHTI. The StevensLeahy amendment extends the new travel document requirement deadline from January 1, 2008 until June 1, 2009. On May 17, the U.S. Senate adopted this critical amendment by voice vote as part of the continuing debate and consideration of Comprehensive Immigration Reform legislation.

“We are grateful to Senator Stevens and Senator Leahy for recognizing the importance of this issue for travel and tourism and for demonstrating real leadership once again,” said Jonathan M. Tisch, Chairman of the Travel Business Roundtable and Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels.

“Adoption of the Stevens-Leahy amendment by the Senate is a terrific first step toward extending a deadline that very well may deter travel into the United States and threaten U.S. jobs and economic viability in travel and tourism,” said Roger Dow, President and CEO of the Travel Industry Association of America.

While TBR, TIA and other leading national travel organizations support enhanced security measures to protect our nation, we remain concerned the January 1, 2008 deadline poses a real threat to cross-border travel between the U.S. and its neighbors within the Western Hemisphere. The industry is particularly concerned about the impact of the proposed WHTI on Canadian travel to the U.S., and pledges to continue working with the Administration to find workable solutions that enhance border security while continuing to facilitate the entry of millions of legitimate international visitors. And while we are encouraged by the adoption of the StevensLeahy amendment, the fate of Immigration Reform legislation in the Senate or beyond that in a Senate-House conference committee is uncertain.

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