A special U.S. tourism promotion board has been established with
the goal of boosting the number of international travelers to the
United States. The Department of Commerce said the board will
advise Secretary Don Evans on promotion efforts designed to
increase international travel to the United States.
The board is comprised of 15 travel and tourism industry leaders
and was culled from nearly 130 applicants, the department said.
The board will have a budget of approximately $50 million for
tourism marketing, which was approved earlier this year by
President Bush.
The campaign will include market and evaluation research,
consumer and trade advertising. Funding for the program will also
include matching grants for regional promotion efforts.
The travel and tourism industry is responsible for about 17
million direct and indirect travel-related jobs in the United
States, and last year, generated $84 billion.
Four members of the board from the West are: Manuel Cortez,
president and CEO, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority;
Noel Irwin Hentschel, chairman and CEO, American Tours
International in Los Angeles; James A. Rasulo, president, Walt
Disney Park & Resorts, Burbank, Calif.; and Chris von Imhof,
president, Alaska International Airport Tourism Marketing Council,
Girdwood, Alaska. Other members include Henry Silverman, president
and CEO, Cendant Corp.; Barry Sternlicht, chairman and CEO,
Starwood Hotels & Resorts; Glenn Tilton, chairman and CEO,
United Airlines; J.W. Marriott Jr., chairman and CEO, Marriott
International Inc., Washington, D.C.; and Jonathan Linen, vice
chairman, American Express.
The board’s first meeting is set for Sept. 8 in New York
City.
More information on the board:
http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/about/us_promo_campaign/ index.html.
