us travel association
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 Announces 2024 Hall of Leaders Honorees
U.S. Travel Association | July 24, 2024
NAPA, CALIF. - Destination leaders Christopher L. Thompson, former president and CEO of Brand USA, and William D. “Bill” Talbert, III, former president and CEO of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, will be honored as the 2024 inductees into the U.S. Travel Hall of Leaders this fall, the U.S. Travel Association announced today. “Bill and Chris embody the highest ideals of a travel leader. Over many years, each has contributed in meaningful ways to the success and growth of this industry,” said Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “Under Chris’s stewardship, Brand USA has flourished t...
Travel Leaders Share Impact of IPW on International Inbound
U.S. Travel Association | May 14, 2024
Last week, U.S. Travel welcomed 5,700 attendees, including 2,000 international buyers and media from nearly 70 countries—an impressive 20% increase from last year––to IPW in Los Angeles. Each IPW not only cultivates valuable connections and knowledge-sharing but also serves as an economic catalyst, driving over $5.5 billion in future travel to the U.S. by spotlighting the very best of what our country has to offer. There is a decade of opportunity ahead as the United States prepares to welcome millions of new travelers to major events in destinations nationwide, such as Copa America this summer, the FIFA World Cup games and Americ...
Travel Industry Applauds Biden Admin Action To Protect, Grow International Travel to U.S.
U.S. Travel Association | December 21, 2023
Visa waiver authority extension to save 2.2 million visitors, $5.9 billion in 2024 WASHINGTON (December 21, 2023)—U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman issued the following statement on the U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security extending the visa interview waiver authority for low-risk applicants, which was set to expire on December 31. The visa interview waiver authority gives consular officers the discretion to waive in-person interviews for certain low-risk nonimmigrant visa applications. Eligible applicants have previously visited the U.S. and are still subject to the same strenuous background checks and ...
U.S. Travel Inducts Roger Dow, Elliott L. Ferguson, II, and Peter F. Herschend Into Hall of Leaders
U.S. Travel Association | November 20, 2023
WASHINGTON (November 20, 2023) — Travel industry leaders Roger Dow, former president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, Elliott L. Ferguson, II, president and CEO of Destination DC, and Peter F. Herschend, co-founder of Herschend Enterprises, were inducted into the U.S. Travel Association Hall of Leaders on Wednesday. Dow was the 2022 inductee while Ferguson and Herschend were the 2023 honorees. Dow, Ferguson and Herschend were honored at a dinner attended by more than 100 U.S. Travel board members and guests in Washington, DC. Distinguished individuals are named to the U.S. Travel Association’s Hall of Leaders for sustaine...
U.S. Travel Hires Ishma Haider as Vice President, Group Travel
U.S. Travel Association | November 15, 2023
WASHINGTON (November 14, 2023)—The U.S. Travel Association announced today the addition of Ishma Haider as Vice President, Group Travel, a new position that will bolster the association’s work to increase group/meetings travel to and within the United States. “Investing in group travel and strengthening our role in this critical segment of the travel economy is central to U.S. Travel’s future focus, and we welcome Ishma to the team to lead this effort,” said Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “Her accomplishments in convention marketing and her deep understanding and passion for the meetings segmen...
U.S. Travel Honors Destination Marketers With Mercury, Destiny Awards at ESTO 2023
U.S. Travel Association | August 28, 2023
WASHINGTON — U.S. Travel Association announced recipients of the 2023 Destiny and Mercury Awards at the 39th annual Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO) conference, held August 19-22 in Savannah, GA. “These awards—the only of their kind to recognize excellence in travel and tourism marketing campaigns at the city and state level—are a best-in-class showcase of creativity reflecting the unique travel destinations of our country,” said Nan Marchand Beauvois, Senior Vice President of Membership and Industry Relations at the U.S. Travel Association. “Congratulations to this year’s Destiny and Mercury award w...
Michigan’s Dave Lorenz Named State Tourism Director of the Year
U.S. Travel Association | August 22, 2023
SAVANNAH, GA -Dave Lorenz, vice president of Travel Michigan, has been named national State Tourism Director of the Year for 2023. “Dave is a tremendous steward of Michigan’s diverse and thriving travel industry,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman. “His dynamic approach to marketing the Great Lakes State has been highly successful, creating meaningful benefits for the economy and people of Michigan in an increasingly competitive domestic travel market.” Lorenz was announced as the honoree before more than 1,000 destination marketing professionals at the U.S. Travel Association’s annual Educationa...
