October 7, 2002

Travel and tourism will be the focus of a meeting being held October 16-17 in Atlanta. Hosted by Mayor Shirley Franklin, Chair of the Conference's Travel and Tourism Task Force, the meeting will include the leadership of the Travel Business Roundtable and the International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, the Conference's partners in this meeting.

At the meeting, mayors and representatives from the travel industry will discuss the economic impact that the travel and tourism industry has on cities, especially in light of post 9-11, and a report will be released quantifying the travel and tourism industry contribution to metro-economies. The participants will also develop a "mayors' Action Plan" on travel and tourism that will lay the groundwork for the mayors' legislative and program agendas.

Further information about the Atlanta meeting can be obtained by contacting Tom McClimon on the Conference staff at 202/861-6729.