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PRESS RELEASE
January 18, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact:
Heather Epkins
Travel Industry Association
202-408-2172
TRAVEL INDUSTRY LEADERS SPEAK TO
U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS
76TH ANNUAL WINTER MEETING
Mayors Announce Presidential
Forum on Travel and Tourism and Creation of Olympics
Task Force
Washington, DC — Jonathan M. Tisch,
Chairman of the Travel Business Roundtable and Chairman and
CEO of Loews Hotels and J.W. “Bill” Marriott,
Jr., Chairman and CEO of Marriott International, Inc., addressed
more than 300 U.S. mayors at the United States Conference
of Mayors 76th Winter Meeting – in the first-ever USCM
plenary session dedicated solely to travel and tourism.
During the session, the mayors announced they would pursue
opportunities with TBR and the travel community to insert
travel and tourism issues into the 2008 presidential candidates’ platforms. Near-term
initiatives include a forum with presidential candidates
on travel and tourism this spring and the creation of an
Olympics task force to help Chicago secure the 2016 bid.
“The U.S. Conference of Mayors has long understood
the value of travel and tourism as an efficient and effective
way to build and revitalize the economies of communities
around the nation,” said Tisch. “The mayors
are crucial to the process of making travel and tourism a
national policy priority.”
As part of the USCM’s new 10-point proposal titled “Strong
Cities, Strong Families, for a Strong America,” the
mayors are reaching out to the presidential candidates to
advocate strong diplomatic and economic security through
the power of travel. To view the 10-point plan, click
here.
“There is no better way to ignite our economy than
through travel and tourism. When travelers visit our
cities, they contribute to tax revenues and job creation
that help to grow our communities and continue to create
a positive trade balance for America,” said USCM President
Mayor Douglas Palmer of Trenton, NJ.
“Travel is trade. Every time a visitor rents a
room in Maui, dines along the Riverwalk in San Antonio, or
shops on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, it’s a U.S.
export – just as much as exporting airplanes, iPods and
software,” said Marriott. “I know security
should absolutely be a priority, but we need to implement appropriate
security processes in the context of enabling an open exchange
of people, ideas, services and products.”
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The Travel Industry Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the $740 billion travel industry. TIA's mission is to promote and facilitate increased travel to and within the United States. TIA is proud to be a partner in travel with American Express. For more information, visit www.tia.org.
The Travel Business Roundtable (TBR), a strategic partner to the Travel Industry Association, is a CEO-based organization representing all sectors of the travel and tourism industry. TBR’s mission is to educate public officials and policymakers about the important social and economic contributions of the travel and tourism industry. For more information, visit www.tbr.org.
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