[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 203 (Monday, December 18, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2380-E2381]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRAVEL INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP STATEMENT ON THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT
______
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,
____
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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