Tori Emerson Barnes
U.S. Travel Applauds Senate Commerce Committee Action on FAA Task Force Bill
U.S. Travel Association | March 23, 2023
U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee’s favorable markup of S. 66, the NOTAM Improvement Act of 2023, which would create a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) task force to improve the Notice to Air Mission system: “This bipartisan legislation forming an expert task force will create the opportunity to strengthen aviation safety and help prevent the system failures that grounded air travel nationwide earlier this year. As Congress addresses FAA reauthorization, it must modernize all aspects of our air system...
Barnes Urges Action on Bills to Aid Recovery, Competitiveness of Travel Industry
U.S. Travel Association | May 27, 2022
WASHINGTON (May 27, 2022)—U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes testified today before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce of the Committee on Energy and Commerce in support of the Visit America Act (H.R. 6965) and the Travel and Tourism Act (H.R. 7820). Barnes pressed for passage of both bills, which are critical to ensuring the long-term competitiveness of the United States in the global travel market. The Visit America Act would establish an Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism position at the U.S. Department of Commerce, direct the Commerce...
U.S. Travel Association’s 2022 State of the Travel Industry Address
U.S. Travel Association | January 31, 2022
“Setting the Stage for the Future of Travel” Webcast: Wednesday, February 2, at 11:00 a.m. ET from National Press Club Media Teleconference to Follow with Q&A at 12:00 p.m. ET WHAT: U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow and Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes will provide an exclusive virtual update, followed by a conference call for media, on the state of the American travel industry – including policies and programs to accelerate an even recovery across the leisure, business and international travel sectors. In this annual address, Dow and Barnes will provide a ...
U.S. Travel Applauds Senate Committee Markup of Travel and Tourism Omnibus
U.S. Travel Association | December 15, 2021
WASHINGTON — December 15, 2021 — U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation’s markup of the Omnibus Travel and Tourism Act of 2021 (S. 3375): “The bill, which is crucial to the restoration of the travel and tourism industry, creates high-level leadership in the federal government on travel issues, enhances travel facilitation and security, and ensures our nation has long-term strategies for travel’s economic recovery. “Specifically, the bill establishes an Assistant Secreta...
U.S. Travel Reacts to Disappointing November Jobs Report
U.S. Travel Association | December 6, 2021
WASHINGTON — December 6, 2021 — U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on the November jobs report, which saw the Leisure & Hospitality sector add just 23,000 jobs while nearly 8% of all of the sector’s jobs remain lost: “The latest jobs report—the worst for the Leisure & Hospitality sector since January—underscores the need for smart, effective policies, as well as stability in the inbound and business travel segments, to facilitate an even recovery. “As more is learned about the Omicron variant, we must continue to welcome qua...
U.S. Travel Reacts to Tighter Entry Restrictions for U.S. Arrivals
U.S. Travel Association | December 2, 2021
WASHINGTON — December 2, 2021 — U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on the Biden administration’s announcement that it would tighten the pre-departure testing window for entry to the U.S. from three days for vaccinated travelers to one day: “We hope this measure to narrow the pre-departure testing window will be temporary until more is learned about the Omicron variant. In the meantime, the travel industry urges everyone to get vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible. “It has long been known that measures to combat the virus and its v...
U.S. Travel Applauds Brand USA Bill Committee Passage
U.S. Travel Association | November 18, 2021
WASHINGTON — November 18, 2021 — U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce passing the Restoring Brand USA Act (H.R. 4594): “Committee approval of the Restoring Brand USA Act brings us one step closer to passing this important and much-needed legislation, which is crucial to restoring the international inbound travel sector. “Since the start of the pandemic, the U.S. has lost nearly $300 billion in export income due to declines in international travel. Now that U.S. borders have reopened to all ...
U.S. Travel Reacts to Additional Details on Nov. 8 International Air Travel Policy
U.S. Travel Association | October 26, 2021
WASHINGTON – October 26, 2021 – U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on the Biden administration’s announced policy for entry of international air travelers, beginning on November 8: “U.S. Travel has continuously advocated for the safe reopening of our borders, and today’s guidance detailing how international air travelers can prepare for resumed travel to the United States starting November 8 provides much-needed clarity for planning. We are grateful this additional detail has been made available as we move to reopening to fully v...
