Obama Meets with Travel CEOs Ahead of Baseball HOF Speech

There is always much work to do to keep tourism front and center in the minds of governments and lawmakers. The US needs a cabinet member that represents Travel and Tourism, like our neighbors from around the world, called Ministers of Tourism. The 50 states must be represented to create an equal opportunity for all destinations.

I admire and agree with all these leaders who have come to DC today to meet with our president, however I still see Brand USA as a PR firm dressed up like a government agency where equal opportunity exists only for the paying client....Sandy Dhuyvetter

Here is what some of the travel industry experienced today with President Obama.

Tourism as Economic Growth Driver

WASHINGTON (May 22, 2014)—President Obama met today with leaders of America's travel industry for a discussion in the White House Roosevelt Room on activities to spur economic growth through travel and tourism.
The meeting was the president's second such gathering with travel leaders; in March 2009, President Obama convened a similar West Wing meeting.

Other Administration leaders involved in today's meeting were Senior Advisor to the President Valerie Jarrett, National Economic Council Director Jeff Zients, and Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of the Department of Homeland Security.

The discussion with the President included both domestic and international travel community priorities, including the development of airport-specific action plans to improve international visitors' experience upon arrival; expansion of the Visa Waiver Program to nations such as Brazil and Poland; surface and aviation infrastructure needs; and provisions of the JOLT Act now pending before the House, specifically those related to immigration reform.

"The president recognizes that travel is a top performer on many of his economic priorities, like job creation and the U.S. trade balance," said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow. "He invited us in to ask us what we need to be able to do even better. Customs entry reform, Brand USA renewal, infrastructure improvements—we didn't hold anything back, and he listened intently to everything we had to say."
Renewal of Brand USA, the public-private partnership that markets the United States as a tourism destination and is nearing its statutory sunset date in 2015, was also discussed with the President.
Today's meeting coincides with the release of an Presidential Memorandum on travel and tourism for the heads of executive department and agencies as well as the President's related remarks in Cooperstown, N.Y. at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

In attendance at the White House meeting:

Jim Abrahamson Chief Executive Officer Interstate Hotels & Resorts		Geoff Ballotti Chief Executive Officer Wyndham Hotel Group
John Caparella President and Chief Operating Officer The Venetian | The Palazzo		Stephen Cloobeck Founder and Chairman Diamond Resorts International
Roger Dow President and Chief Executive Officer U.S. Travel Association		Barney Harford Chief Executive Officer Orbitz Worldwide
Mark Hoplamazian President and Chief Executive Officer Hyatt Hotels Corporation		Jeremy Jacobs, Jr. Principal Delaware North Companies
Stephen Joyce President and Chief Executive Officer Choice Hotels International		Tom Klein President and Chief Executive Officer Sabre
Christopher Nassetta President and Chief Executive Officer Hilton Worldwide		Joseph Popolo, Jr. Chief Executive Officer Freeman
Trudy Rautio President and Chief Executive Officer Carlson		Sergio Rivera President, The Americas Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide
Arne Sorenson President and Chief Executive Officer Marriott International		John Sprouls Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Universal Parks and Resorts
Greg Stubblefield President Alamo Rent A Car and National Car Rental		W. Edward Walter President and Chief Executive Officer Host Hotels & Resorts
Paul Whetsell President and Chief Executive Officer Loews Hotels		Anre Williams President, Global Merchant Services American Express Company

Contacts:
Cathy Keefe, (O) 202-408-2183, (C) 703-899-7031
Jamie Morris, (O) 202-218-3621, (C) 530-545-9274