'Tourism in Troubled Times' Focus of U.S. Senate Hearing

Statement from Roger Dow, President and CEO of USTA

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. May 14, 2009

WASHINGTON, DC, May 14, 2009 - The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation and Export Promotion, chaired by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and joined by Ranking Member Mel Martinez (R-FL), focused its attention today on "Tourism in Troubled Times." The purpose of the hearing was to develop strategies to address challenges facing America's fifth largest industry by employment.

The following statement was issued by U.S. Travel (USTA) President and CEO Roger Dow: "Today's Senate hearing underscores the travel industry's significance as an economic generator across America and as a leading service export. The travel industry generates more than 17 million jobs - that is one in eight American workers - and is a top industry in nearly all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Building on more than 40 rallies that took place nationwide during yesterday's inaugural Travel Rally Day, champions such as Senators Klobuchar and Martinez are helping our country better understand travel's unique ability to stimulate our economy in these tough financial times.

"Recently, airlines, hotels, theme parks, destinations and many others in the travel industry have been slammed with a down economy, unnecessary criticism of business meetings and events and, most recently, the swine flu outbreak. Given these obstacles, it is more important than ever that the Administration, Congress, state and local officials and the travel industry work together to encourage travel to and within the United States.

"International travel to the United States is down 10 percent year to date and is not expected to improve in 2009. Yesterday's reintroduction of the Travel Promotion Act, sponsored by Senators Dorgan (D-ND) and Ensign (R-NV), is an important step to help America recapture millions of lost visitors, create new jobs and stimulate the American economy."

Today's Senate hearing included testimonies from the following travel professionals:

• Mary Saunders, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Department of Commerce

• Jay Witzel, president and CEO of Carlson Hotels

• Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts

• Sam Gilliland, Chairman and CEO of Travelocity/Sabre

• Rossi Ralenkotter, President and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

• Chad Prosser, Director of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism

• Judy Zehnder Keller of the Bavarian Inn Lodge

• For more information on National Travel and Tourism Week or Travel Rally Day, visit www.ustravel.org.

For more information on U.S. Travel's Meetings Mean Business travel advocacy campaign and the "Faces of Travel" contest, visit www.meetingsmeanbusiness.com.

The U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the $740 billion travel industry. U.S. Travel's mission is to promote and facilitate increased travel to and within the United States. For more information, visit www.ustravel.org