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  • Posted by Jason Hensel at
    12:00AM 01/21/2013 • 0 Comments

    USTA Set to Prove Travel is Good for You

    The U.S. Travel Association is launching “Travel Effect,” a multiyear, multimillion-dollar advocacy and awareness campaign to establish the link between travel and its effect on relationships, education, business and communities .

    “What we’ve long known anecdotally, we will now prove through authoritative research: travel has a positive effect on health, relationships, business performance and the well-being of communities,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “Travel Effect will take new research and drive earned media to communicate travel’s benefits to the U.S. economy, to local communities, and to good health, strong families and an improved quality of life.”

    At Travel Effect’s core are research projects and studies that will demonstrate the indispensable benefits travel brings to people’s lives, their careers and their communities. Current research underway examines travel’s effect on relationships and its power to create lasting memories for children and adults. Additional projects include measuring the bottom-line impact of business travel and the impact of government meetings on government operations, private-sector development and local communities.

    The campaign will employ both earned and paid media to convey research findings, with an emphasis on social media. Research findings and more information will be available at www.traveleffect.com. Additionally, state and district data that provide key travel impact measurements formerly available on poweroftravel.org will be on the Travel Effect website.

    Travel Effect’s first research project of 2013, a study on the effect travel has on relationships, will be released in February.



  • Posted by Jason Hensel at
    12:00AM 05/14/2012 • 0 Comments

    U.S. National Travel and Tourism Strategy Released

    The U.S. Travel Association is commending President Barack Obama’s National Travel and Tourism Strategy, which sets a goal of welcoming 100 million international visitors annually by 2021.

    "This is a major victory for the travel community, who have demanded more from Washington in recent years and been rewarded with the respect we deserve," said Candice Knezevic, director of grassroots and industry relations at the U.S. Travel Association. "It is a team effort and affirms what can be accomplished when we speak as an industry with a clear message and many voices."

    There are three ways you can take action:

    • Use industry talking points to issue a press release commending the administration.
    • Spread the message through your social media channels. You can follow what is being said on Twitter (@ustravel) and Facebook.
    • Cast your vote for Travel. Text the word “Travel” to 877877 or sign up at www.votetravel.org. 

    The national strategy includes:

    Expanding the government’s promotional efforts to market the United States as a destination: 

    This will include greater visibility of travel and tourism by senior officials, using technology and data resources more effectively, and coordinating with Brand USA to promote international travel to the U.S.

    Enabling and enhancing greater facilitation of travel to and within the U.S.: 

    This includes taking action to expand the Visa Waiver Program, improving visa processing, expanding the trusted traveler program and improving screening processes at airports and using grants to improve transportation infrastructure.

    "What matters most is not what’s spelled out in this document, it’s what industry and government will do together to put the strategy into action," Knezevic said. "We will continue to do our part by working hand-in-hand with you to restore the U.S. as the world’s No. 1 travel destination."



  • Posted by Bruce MacMillan at
    12:00AM 09/29/2011 • 6 Comments

    Response to Proposed OGE Amendments

    In reviewing the proposed amendments to the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) in the ethics rules for US government employees issued on Sept. 13, MPI acknowledges that these amendments impact the meetings and events of more than 1,800 of our association planner members directly and has cascading impact to our industry at large.  Per the recent US Economic Impact Study the meeting and event industry alone contributes $106 billion in annual GDP, supports 1.7 million jobs and generates $25.6 billion in combined federal and state tax revenues to the US economy.  This is not a time to be putting this economic engine at-risk by having the government impose restrictions on participation.

    The proposed amendments are clearly the OGE’s efforts to extend the current gift ban which defines free attendance to events (both professional and social) as a gift.  The proposed extension prohibits not only political appointees (as it does currently), but also all US government employees from participating at no cost. This at a time when their participation within trade association events could be the very thing that helps find solutions and implement best practices to the fiscal challenges the country is currently facing- all at no additional cost to the taxpayer.

    In a time where our government faces financial shortfalls and the need to collaborate on solutions to the challenges we have domestically, economically and across all industries is critical, limiting government participation in trade association education, networking and events will create barriers to engagement at a time where collaboration is the key to working out our challenges.  

    We need federal government employees at all levels to engage with business, labor and community leaders to shape solutions that are going to affect the future of our country.  We are all part of the solution. The best way to develop collaborative solutions for all stakeholders is through fiscally responsible, well-designed and professionally implemented face-to-face meetings and events.

    We encourage our membership and our industry peers to review the proposed amendments quickly and consider their impact.  Comments on these proposed changes are due to the OGE before Nov. 14, 2011.  ContactOGE@oge.gov


    Notes:
    Economic impact statistics are gathered from the US Economic Impact Study conducted by PriceWaterhouseCoopers that MPI jointly funded with the Convention Industry Council, US Travel Association and other leading industry associations.
    ASAE has provided a thorough review document which is located here.


  • Posted by Jessie States at
    12:00AM 06/07/2011 • 0 Comments

    USTA Lobbyist Lands on 'Best' List

    Washingtonian Magazine has named Patricia Rojas, vice president for government relations at the U.S. Travel Association, as one of Washington's "40 Star Lobbyists Under the Age of 40." The June issue highlights Rojas' efforts to pass the Travel Promotion Act of 2009, the first-ever U.S. travel promotion and communications program to attract more international visitors to the States. 

    More recently, Rojas oversaw the first comprehensive review of the negative impact that inefficient and unpredictable U.S. visitor visa and entry processes have on U.S. jobs, economic growth and exports. The report, Ready for Takeoff, makes recommendations that will create 1.3 million U.S. jobs and produce US$859 billion in cumulative additional economic output. 

    She will lead U.S. Travel's efforts to implement the report's recommendations, and will represent U.S. Travel on the leadership committee for the Discover America Partnership, a coalition to advance U.S. visa reform.

    "This recognition is also a testament to U.S. Travel's steadfast focus on improving the travel process," Dow said. "The U.S. Travel Association has successfully enhanced its advocacy capabilities and made significant strides in removing barriers to travel."