u.s. travel association
U.S. Travel Calls on Congress to Pass Critical Disaster Relief by Thanksgiving Holiday
U.S. Travel Association | November 4, 2024
WASHINGTON - In a letter delivered on Friday, the U.S. Travel Association called on Congressional leaders to pass substantial disaster relief to regions devastated by Hurricanes Helene and Milton as soon as Congress reconvenes. In the letter, U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman writes: “We urge you to swiftly pass a disaster supplemental appropriations bill by Thanksgiving to support communities devastated by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Damage caused by these storms is estimated to total more than $100 billion dollars, with downstream impacts on travel, visitor spending, hotel bookings, tax revenues and employm...
U.S. Travel Reacts to DOJ, DOT Inquiry on Air Travel Competition
U.S. Travel Association | October 25, 2024
WASHINGTON (October 25, 2024)—U.S. Travel Association issued the following statement on the Departments of Justice and Transportation inquiry on the state of competition in air travel: "Today's announcement by the Departments of Transportation and Justice that they will launch 'broad inquiries' into airline business practices is another in a long line of disappointing political stunts. Airfares are at new lows and air travel demand is at historic highs. Yet air travel could be improved—by investing in technology, funding airport improvements and addressing the shortage of 3,000 air traffic controllers. Rather than solve these serious, ...
U.S. Travel to Congress: Pass Hurricane Disaster Relief as Quickly as Possible
U.S. Travel Association | October 11, 2024
WASHINGTON (October 11, 2024)—U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman issued the following statement calling for Congressional action to fund hurricane disaster relief: "The devastation of Hurricanes Helene and Milton demands that Congress pass disaster relief as soon as possible. Communities, small businesses and workers in the path of the storms—many of whom depend on visitors—are unable to welcome conventions, meetings and leisure travelers until Congress provides the required resources to rebuild. If there are any unnecessary delays, American communities will needlessly suffer.”...
U.S. Travel Association Commends Congress for Avoiding Government Shutdown, Urges Long-Term Funding Solutions
U.S. Travel Association | September 26, 2024
WASHINGTON (September 26, 2024)—U.S. Travel Association commends Congress for its bipartisan effort to pass a short-term Continuing Resolution to keep the federal government open and funded through December 20. This crucial action prevented a government shutdown that would have cost the U.S. travel economy an estimated $140 million per day. U.S. Travel Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes released the following statement: "We appreciate Congress’ important steps to avoid a shutdown, but the country simply cannot afford the uncertainty of temporary funding resolutions. As we look beyond the November el...
Travel Price Index (TPI) Shows Positive Signals For Travelers
U.S. Travel Association | September 12, 2024
WASHINGTON (September 12, 2024)—Following today’s CPI report, U.S. Travel Association Vice President of Research Josh Friedlander released the following statement: “With overall inflation cooling to its lowest level since 2021 and gas prices down significantly, travelers have reason to be excited about their plans, even as we conclude one of the biggest summer travel seasons ever. Prices of travel-related goods and services have grown less than those for the economy broadly, both annually and compared with prior to the pandemic. U.S. Travel’s Travel Price Index grew just 0.9% annually in August, compared with 2.5% for the broader CPI...
Survey: 4 out of 5 American Travelers Embrace Biometrics Use at Airport Security
U.S. Travel Association | September 6, 2024
Washington -- Following record-breaking air travel over Labor Day weekend, the U.S. Travel Association along with Ipsos released survey results underscoring traveler preference of biometric technology screening to keep air passengers safe and provide greater efficiency at airport checkpoints. “By overwhelming margins, air travelers support TSA’s use of biometric technology at airports to strengthen security and improve the travel experience,” said Geoff Freeman, U.S. Travel Association President and CEO. “Travelers embrace next-generation technology at the same time a small cadre of members of Congress seek to take air travel ba...
U.S. Travel Honors Destination Marketers with Destiny, Mercury Awards at ESTO 2024
U.S. Travel Association | August 16, 2024
WASHINGTON - U.S. Travel Association announced recipients of the 2024 Destiny and Mercury Awards at the 40th annual ESTO conference (Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations), held August 11-13 in Columbus, Ohio. Winners were announced at a closing night awards dinner and presentation at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. “The Destiny and Mercury Awards not only recognize creative achievement in destination marketing but also the outstanding effort to inspire visitation and promote travel in savvy and imaginative ways,” said Ellen Davis, U.S. Travel Executive Vice President, Business Strategy and Industry Engagement. “O...
Travel Prices Remain Stable Through July
U.S. Travel Association | August 15, 2024
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index release for July reflected a continuation of the encouraging trend of stable prices both for consumers overall and for travelers. Overall prices rose slightly for the month, while travel related prices were flat. “Overall, comparisons month-to-month, year-over-year, and against pre-COVID-19 levels all show today’s prices are more favorable for travelers,” said Joshua Friedlander, Vice President of Research at the U.S. Travel Association. According to the U.S. Travel Association-calculated Travel Price Index (TPI), prices were on average the same in July as for the prior m...
