The Board of Directors of the Travel Industry Association (TIA) approved a merger Friday with the Travel Business Roundtable. The newly formed U.S. Travel Association, effective January 1, 2009, will further intensify the voice of Americas $740 billion travel industry.
Travel supports nearly 18 million U.S. jobs that cannot be outsourced and contributes more than $100 billion in federal, state and local tax revenue, said Roger Dow, TIAs President and CEO, who will serve in the same capacity for the U.S. Travel Association. Americas travel community has created an organization that matches the power and scope of Americas travel economy.
The U.S. Travel Association will represent leaders from nearly all major travel-related companies, state travel and tourism offices, dozens of the top U.S. convention and visitors bureaus and nearly all of the major travel associations. The new organization will serve as the leading advocate for increasing travel to and within the United States and provide its members with valuable research, events and marketing.
America needs travel now more than ever to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and further the vital public diplomacy interests of the United States, said Caroline Beteta, CEO of the California Travel and Tourism Commission, who will serve as National Chair of the U.S. Travel Association for 2009. We look forward to working with leaders in Washington and our entire membership to maximize travels unique ability to address Americas most pressing problems.
We are proud to combine the forces of TIA and TBR to build one of Washington's most effective advocacy organizations, said Jonathan M. Tisch, chairman of the Travel Business Roundtable and chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels. At this time of economic downturn, it is more important than ever for our industry to speak with one voice about how travel is a critical tool for creating jobs and stimulating economic activity in all 50 states and 435 congressional districts. Tisch has served as TBRs chairman since 1996.
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