The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“TRAVEL INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP STATEMENT ON THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E2380-E2381 on Dec. 18, 1995.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRAVEL INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP STATEMENT ON THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT
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HON. TOBY ROTH
of wisconson
in the house of representatives
Monday, December 18, 1995
Mr. ROTH. Mr. Speaker, the leadership of America's $400 billion travel and tourism industry is very concerned about the proposals to dismantle the Department of Commerce. These executives, who have come together to form the Travel Business Roundtable, have adopted a policy statement to express their strong support for retaining the Commerce Department.
These executives have asked me, as chairman of the 304-member Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus, to advise the House of the travel industry's position on this issue.
Accordingly, I am inserting the following letter from Mr. Jonathan Tisch, President and Chief Executive Officer of Loews Hotels, together with the policy statement by the Travel Business Roundtable and a list of the Roundtable membership.
All members of the House should give very careful consideration to this very cogent statement on the future of the Commerce Department, especially in view of the business executives who are listed below. These corporate leaders are among America's best and brightest. Their organization, the Travel Business Roundtable, is emerging as the leading organization of travel industry executives in the nation.
December 7, 1995.Hon. Toby Roth,Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman Roth. Enclosed please find a policy statement regarding the United States Department of Commerce, signed by Darryl Hartley-Leonard and myself on behalf of all members of the Travel Business Roundtable.
It is imperative that the Department of Commerce continue operating in order to maintain the United States' current market share in the world travel and tourism industry. Competition internationally is increasing, and without the support of the Commerce Department, the United States is sure to lose millions, if not billions of dollars, in revenue.
Congressman Roth, as the Chair of the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus, as well as a respected leader in Congress, please do all that is necessary to ensure the future of this very important Department. We appreciate your continued support.
Sincerely,
Jonathan M. Tisch,President and CEO Loews Hotels,
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Policy Statement by the Travel Business Roundtable
The United States travel and tourism industry is in direct and intense competition with foreign countries. This competition is increasing, and the United States is losing market share, threatening jobs and the industry's positive impact on the United States balance of trade.
The United States Department of Commerce has historically played a vital role in representing U.S. business abroad. As corporate executives and leaders of the business community, we believe that many functions performed by the Commerce Department are necessary to this country's ability to compete effectively in global markets, and are irreplaceable resources. Elimination of key Commerce Department functions, such as the United States Travel and Tourism Administration
(USTTA), would be an unfortunate step backwards when this country can least afford it.
Therefor, we strongly recommend that as all functions of government undergo a thorough examination, the critical functions performed by the Department of Commerce be retained and that Congress should grant USTTA the opportunity to transition into a new public-private tourism entity no later than the end of FY 1996, by funding the agency at the previous Senate-approved level of $12 million.
As business leaders, we recognize the current pressures to balance the U.S. budget and we feel strongly that our recommendations are consistent with Congress' overall efforts to streamline and strengthen government programs and services.
The Travel Business Roundtable is an organization of senior corporate leaders of America's $400 billion travel and tourism industry. Our industry accounts for six (6) percent of our nation's Gross Domestic Product. Our billions of dollars in services to international visitors to the United States supplied eleven percent (11%) of all United States exports in 1994 and represented a net trade surplus of $21.6 billion. Our industry employs 6.4 million workers in the United States.
Darryl Hartley-Leonard
Chairman, Hyatt Hotels Corporation.
Jonathan M. Tisch,
President and CEO, Loews Hotels.
the travel business roundtable member list
JOHN C. ALEXANDER, Chief Executive Officer, WORLDTRAVEL PARTNERS.
MICHAEL B. ARRINGTON, President, ARRINGTON TRAVEL CENTER.
NICHOLAS A. ATHANASIOU, Vice President, ARTHUR D. LITTLE INTERNATIONAL.
ROGER H. BALLOU, Vice Chairman, ALAMO RENT A CAR, INC.
PAUL BLACKNEY, President & CEO, APOLLO TRAVEL SERVICES.
JAMES CARREKER, President, WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS.
U. GARY CHARLWOOD, Chairman of the Board & CEO, UNIGLOBE TRAVEL INC.
JARVIS W. COBURN, Vice President, Business Development, EDS.
ROBERT W. COGGIN, Executive Vice President, Marketing, DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
GLORIA BOHAN, President, OMEGA WORLD TRAVEL, INC.
MICHAEL M. BOLAND, President & CEO, MARITZ TRAVEL COMPANY.
J. WILLIAM BOYD, CMP, President & CEO, SUNBELT MOTIVATION & TRAVEL.
MICHAEL BUCKMAN, Chief Executive Officer, WORLDSPAN.
BETTA CARNEY, Chairman & CEO, WORLD WIDE TRAVEL SERVICE, INC.
[[Page E2381]]
DAVID A. COLTMAN, Senior Vice President of Marketing, UNITED AIRLINES.
GREGORY A CONLEY, General Manager, TRAVEL & TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY.
DON R. DAILEY, President, CAREY INTERNATIONAL LIMOUSINE.
JOHN F. DAVIS, III, President, PEGASUS SYSTEMS, INC.
JAMES E. COLLINS, Executive Vice President, AVIS RENT A CAR SYSTEM, INC.
ROGER J. DOW, Vice President, General Sales Manager, MARRIOTT LODGING.
EDWARD P. FABERMAN, Vice President, Government Affairs, AMERICAN AIRLINES.
RICHARD D. FAIN, Chairman & CEO, ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE LINE CORPORATION.
WALTER G. FREEDMAN, Senior Consultant, BTI AMERICAS.
DARRYL HARTLEY-LEONARD, Chairman, HYATT HOTELS CORPORATION.
RICHARD M. KELLEHER, President & CEO, DOUBLETREE HOTELS CORPORATION.
JOHN F. KENNEDY, Senior Vice President, REED HOTEL DIRECTORIES GROUP.
GEORGE D. KIRKLAND, President, L.A. CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU.
FRED J. KLEISNER, President & COO, WESTIN HOTELS & RESORTS.
WILLIAM S. DIFFENDERFFER, CEO and President, SYSTEM ONE COMPANY.
RICHARD M. HARTMAN, Senior Vice President, ITT SHERATON CORPORATION.
ROBERT C. HAZARD, JR., Chairman, CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL.
DIETER H. HUCKESTEIN, President & COO, HILTON HOTELS.
RICHARD KALBRENER, President, U.S. SPRINT.
JEFFREY G. KATZ, President, SABRE TRAVEL INFORMATION NETWORK.
MICHAEL A. LEVEN, President & CEO, U.S. FRANCHISE SYSTEMS, INC.
RALPH MANAKER, President, BTI AMERICAS, INC.
JOHN A. MARKS, President, SAN FRANCISCO CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU.
JOSEPH A. MCINERNEY, President & CEO, FORTE HOTELS, INC.
W. THOMAS LAGOW, Executive Vice President, Marketing, US AIR.
FRANK OLSON, Chairman of the Board & CEO, HERTZ CORPORATION.
GARY L. PAXTON, President & CEO, DOLLAR SYSTEMS, INC.
CAROL PERFETTI, President, WORLD TRAVEL & INCENTIVES, INC.
JOHN F. PINO, President & CEO, MCGETTIGAN CORPORATE PLANNING SERVICES.
STEVE PUTNEY, Senior Vice President, FIRST BANK CORPORATION.
KENNETH E. SICHAU, Vice President, Global Service, Market Management, AT&T.
JONATHAN M. TISCH, President & CEO, LOEWS HOTELS.
JOSEPH V. VITTORIA, Chairman & CEO, AVIS RENT A CAR SYSTEM, INC.
DAVID MEYER, Editor-In-Chief, BUSINESS TRAVEL NEWS.
JOSEPH REDLING, Senior Vice President, SIX FLAGS THEME PARKS.
ROBERT H. ROSSEAU, President & CEO, DINERS CLUB.
GARY L. SAUNDERS, Chairman & CEO, SAUNDERS HOTEL GROUP.
JOHN L. SHARPE, President & COO, FOUR SEASONS REGENT HOTELS
& RESORTS.
TRAVIS L. TANNER, Co-President & CEO, CARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL.
MARIANNE C. TOLDALAGI, Vice President, Product Management, AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES, INC.
CHRIS WHITE, Chairman, KRISAM GROUP/PREMIER PROPERTIES.
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