[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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