Plan Your Meetings

President Obama, Sen. Reid pledge to support business travel

Travel industry leaders won a 20-minute audience with the president on March 12 to discuss how travel can strengthen the U.S. economy. They focused on two key areas of concern: the dramatic nationwide downturn in meetings and events, and the need to attract more international visitors. According to the U.S. Travel Association, nearly one in eight American jobs is linked to travel and tourism.

Shortly after the meeting, in a press briefing given by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, Gibbs sought to clarify previous statements President Obama has made about how companies shouldn’t travel to Las Vegas or special events like the Super Bowl. “Companies that are getting large amounts of public funding, taxpayer funding, through a financial stabilization plan … the president does have great concern with public money being used for that,” Gibbs said. “But the President believes it’s important to have a strong tourism industry … we shouldn’t retrench or pull back from [that]. … He would encourage people to travel.”

Jonathan M. Tisch, chairman of Loews Hotels, was one of the industry leaders who met with the president. “Travel will play a critical role in driving America’s economic recovery,” he said. “We are pleased to have the support of President Obama and his team, and look forward to working with them in the days ahead.”

The travel leaders were in town for a 24-hour CEO Roundtable, hosted by U.S. Travel Association, which focused on long-term strategic issues facing the meeting, event and incentive (ME&I) industry. Participants included Tisch, InterContinental Hotel Group’s Jim Abrahamson, Busch Entertainment Corp.’s Jim Atchison, Travelport’s Jeff Clarke, U.S. Travel Association’s Roger Dow, Carnival Corporation’s Howard Frank, Orbitz Worldwide’s Barney Harford, Maritz Holding Inc.’s W. Stephen Maritz, Marriott International Inc.’s Bill Marriott, Walt Disney Parks and Resort’s Jay Rasulo, Gaylord Entertainment’s Colin Reed and Starwood Hotels and Resorts’ Frits van Paasschen.

Last week, the group also met with key lawmakers on Capitol Hill to prevent punitive legislation affecting the ME&I industry being passed and to urge the Treasury Department to clarify their ME&I regulations on companies receiving federal assistance. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid promised to work closely with the industry to communicate the value of business travel. Other lawmakers in attendance included Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd and Sen. John Kerry, who recently proposed legislation to ban TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) companies from holding meetings or conventions before it was edited to apply to entertainment and holiday events only.