By Tom McClimon
February 11, 2008

Conference President Trenton (NJ) Mayor Douglas H. Palmer opened the first plenary session ever held on travel and tourism by calling for the presidential candidates to take steps to promote travel to the United States and to implement a visa program that balances security and hospitality. Palmer was joined in this call by two business leaders in the travel industry Chairman and CEO of Marriott International – J.W. “Bill” Marriott, and CEO of Loews Hotels Jonathan Tisch, Chair of the Travel Business Roundtable. In addition, Conference past president Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, Chair of the Tourism, Arts, Parks, and Entertainment Committee, voiced their support of making travel and tourism a priority issue. Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye, Chair of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, pointed out the need for Congressional support to the travel and tourism industry.

“We all need to work together to promote growth and opportunity,” stated Marriott in his remarks before the mayors. He cited the proposed Travel Promotion Act, which would establish a nationally coordinated campaign to promote the United States abroad, and the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which deals with travel entry into the United States, as examples of areas mayors and the business community could work together.

Tisch echoed the thoughts of Marriott. “Travel and tourism unites cities,” stated Tisch. “It is time for the business community, the mayors and the federal government to work together to bring all of our resources together to promote travel and tourism.” Tisch thanked the mayors for their support of travel and tourism issues and legislation.

Inouye urged the mayors to support the Travel Promotion Act that would establish a nationally coordinated campaign to promote travel to the United States. “There appears to be a lost on the federal level on the benefits at the national, state, and local levels that tourism brings,” stated Inouye. He cited that the loss of foreign travelers to the United States has resulted in a loss of over $300 million to the federal treasury.

Daley spoke on his city’s efforts to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympics Games. Daley reviewed for the mayors the highlights of the Chicago’s bid to get the Olympics. They include interweaving the Games into the sustainable landscape of the city. “Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympics is the bid for all of us and provides our nation’s opportunity to reach out to the rest of the world,” stated Daley. He urged the mayors to reach out to the paralympics community and get their support for the city’s bid. He also urged the mayors to “talk up” the bid to business and other city leaders.

Stating that it was “time to strike now while the iron is hot,” Hannemann reviewed the groundwork that has been laid at the Conference for travel and tourism issues. This includes the travel and tourism resolutions passed at the 75th Annual Meeting in Los Angeles in June, 2006; a special meeting on tourism held during the summer in Honolulu; participation n the New Hampshire Arts Presidential Forum in the fall; and a special plenary session on travel and tourism being held at this Winter Meeting. As the mayor indicated, one of the accomplishments was the inclusion of tourism and the arts in the Mayors 10-Point Action Plan that calls for a cabinet level Secretary of Culture and Tourism, travel promotion to the United States and federal participation in Chicago’s Olympic bid. The mayor also spoke about future plans that call for a Presidential Forum on Travel and Tourism to be held in the spring and a session on travel and tourism at the Miami Annual Meeting in June.