[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 233 (Monday, December 7, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64054-64055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29116]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Reopening of the Application Period for Membership on 
the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board.

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SUMMARY: On July 24, 2009, the Department of Commerce's International 
Trade Administration published a notice in the Federal Register (74 FR 
36667) soliciting applications for persons to serve on the U.S. Travel 
and Tourism Advisory Board (Board). The July 24, 2009 notice provided 
that all applications must be received by the Office of Advisory 
Committees of the Department of Commerce by close of business on August 
20, 2009. This notice reopens the application period in order to 
provide the public with an additional opportunity to submit 
applications. The evaluation criteria for selecting members contained 
in the July 24, 2009 notice shall continue to apply, with the 
additional requirement that members cannot be a federally-registered 
lobbyist. The purpose of the Board is to advise the Secretary of 
Commerce on matters relating to the travel and tourism industry.

ADDRESSES: Please submit application information to J. Marc Chittum, 
Office of Advisory Committees, U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board 
Executive Secretariat, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 4043, 1401 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.

[[Page 64055]]


DATES: All applications must be received by the Office of Advisory 
Committees by close of business on December 17, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: J. Marc Chittum, U.S. Travel and 
Tourism Advisory Board, Room 4043, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230, telephone: 202-482-4501, e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Advisory Committees is 
reopening the application period for the Board's current two-year 
charter term to expire September 20, 2011. Although the Department has 
received many applications and is still considering all applications 
received to date (including any applications received after the prior 
deadline but before issuance of this notice), the Department is seeking 
a broader applicant pool more representative of the U.S. travel and 
tourism industry as a whole. By reopening and extending the application 
period, the Department also hopes to have a broader applicant pool to 
reflect the full diversity of the travel and tourism industry in terms 
of ownership demographics, geographic locations, and company size of 
the entities to be represented. The criteria and procedures for 
selecting members contained in the July 24, 2009 notice continue to 
apply and are republished herein for convenience. Additionally, the 
applicant is required to provide an affirmative statement that the 
applicant is not a federally-registered lobbyist, and that the 
applicant understands that the applicant, if appointed, will not be 
allowed to continue to serve as a Board member if the applicant becomes 
a federally-registered lobbyist. Pending applicants remain under 
consideration and do not need to resubmit their applications.
    Members will be appointed for a term to expire with the Board's 
current charter on September 20, 2011. Members will be selected, in 
accordance with applicable Department of Commerce guidelines, based on 
their ability to advise the Secretary of Commerce on matters relating 
to the U.S. travel and tourism industries, to act as a liaison among 
the stakeholders represented by the membership and to provide a forum 
for those stakeholders on current and emerging issues in the travel and 
tourism industry. Members of the Board shall be selected in a manner 
that ensures that the Board is balanced in terms of points of view, 
industry sector or subsector, range of products and services, 
demographics, geographic locations, and company size. Additional 
factors which may be considered in the selection of Board members 
include candidates' proven experience in promoting, developing, and 
implementing advertising and marketing programs for travel-related or 
tourism-related industries; or the candidates' proven abilities to 
manage tourism-related or other service-related organizations.
    Each Board member shall serve as the representative of a U.S. 
entity or U.S. organization in the travel and tourism sector. For the 
purposes of eligibility, a U.S. entity shall be defined as a firm 
incorporated in the United States (or an unincorporated firm with its 
principal place of business in the United States) that is controlled by 
U.S. citizens or by another U.S. entity. An entity is not a U.S. entity 
if 50 percent plus one share of its stock (if a corporation, or a 
similar ownership interest of an unincorporated entity) is controlled, 
directly or indirectly, by non-U.S. citizens or non-U.S. entities. For 
the purposes of eligibility, a U.S. organization shall be defined as an 
organization, including a trade association or government unit or body, 
established under the laws of the United States that is controlled by 
U.S. citizens or by another U.S. organization or entity, as determined 
based on board of directors (or comparable governing body), membership, 
and revenue sources.
    Priority may be given to a Chief Executive Officer or President (or 
comparable level of responsibility) of a U.S. organization or U.S. 
entity in the travel and tourism sector. Priority may also be given to 
individuals with international tourism marketing experience.
    Officers or employees of state and regional tourism marketing 
entities are eligible for consideration for Board membership as 
representatives of U.S. organizations. A state and regional tourism 
marketing entity may include, but is not limited to, state government 
tourism offices, state and/or local government supported tourism 
marketing entities, or multi-state tourism marketing entities. Again, 
priority may be given to a Chief Executive Officer or President (or 
comparable level of responsibility) of a state and regional tourism 
marketing entity.
    Members will serve at the discretion of the Secretary of Commerce. 
Board members shall serve in a representative capacity, representing 
the views and interests of their particular business sector or 
subsector. Board members are not special government employees and will 
receive no compensation for their participation in Board activities. 
Members participating in Board meetings and events will be responsible 
for their travel, living and other personal expenses. Meetings will be 
held regularly and not less than twice annually, usually in Washington, 
DC. Members are required to attend a majority of the Board's meetings. 
The first Board meeting for the new charter term has not yet been set.
    To be considered for membership, please provide the following:
    1. Name and title of the individual requesting consideration.
    2. A sponsor letter from the applicant on his or her organization/
entity letterhead or, if the applicant is to represent an entity other 
than his or her employer, a letter from the entity to be represented, 
containing a brief statement of why the applicant should be considered 
for membership on the Board. This sponsor letter should also address 
the applicant's travel and tourism-related experience.
    3. The applicant's personal resume.
    4. An affirmative statement that the applicant is not required to 
register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act 
of 1938, as amended.
    5. An affirmative statement by the applicant that he or she is not 
a federally-registered lobbyist, and that the applicant understands 
that he or she, if appointed, will not be allowed to continue to serve 
as a Board member if the applicant becomes a federally-registered 
lobbyist.
    6. If the applicant represents a state or regional tourism 
marketing entity, the functions and responsibilities of the entity.
    7. If the applicant represents an organization, information 
regarding the control of the organization, including the governing 
structure, members, and revenue sources as appropriate signifying 
compliance with the criteria set forth above.
    8. If the applicant represents a company, information regarding the 
control of the company, including the governing structure and stock 
holdings as appropriate signifying compliance with the criteria set 
forth above.
    9. The entity's or organization's size and ownership, product or 
service line and major markets in which the entity or organization 
operates.
    Appointments of members to the Board will be made by the Secretary 
of Commerce.

    Dated: December 2, 2009.
J. Marc Chittum,
Executive Secretary, U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board.
[FR Doc. E9-29116 Filed 12-4-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P