Washington, D.C.
It's half-time for the U.S. Travel Association's Travel Blitz campaign—an advocacy effort pushing for stronger congressional support of the industry—and the drive toward the end zone continues.
The Rhode Island travel industry was named MVP of the campaign's second quarter in recognition of a travel business tour and roundtable with Rep. David Ciciline (D-RI-01). Organized by leaders of the Providence-Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, Discover Newport and the Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association, their collective efforts resulted in an op-ed authored by Rep. Cicilline and the creation of a travel and tourism working group.
Additional highlights from the second quarter include a back-of-house tour of the Enterprise rental car facility at Orlando International Airport for Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL-10), a small business roundtable in Henderson, Nev. with Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV-3), and U.S. Travel's Roger Dow and Montana travel leaders hosting a day-long tourism forum alongside Senator Jon Tester (D-MT). In addition, more than 300 travel leaders representing 46 states converged on Washington in April for Destination: Capitol Hill and participated in nearly 300 meetings with policymakers.
"Those of us closest to our industry know the critical role travel plays in our nation's economic health," said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. "Travel Blitz provides our members with an opportunity to engage policymakers on a personal level and drives home the message that travel supports local communities."
Nearly a dozen grassroots policymaker events, including roundtable discussions and back-of-house tours, have taken place since the launch of Travel Blitz in February. Many more events are being planned to take advantage of several upcoming congressional recess periods.
