[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46142-46143]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15321]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Corporation for Travel Promotion Board of Directors

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

ACTION: Notice of an opportunity for travel and tourism industry 
leaders to apply for membership on the Board of Directors of the 
Corporation for Travel Promotion.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce is currently seeking applications 
from travel and tourism leaders from specific industry sectors for 
membership on the Board of Directors (Board) of the Corporation for 
Travel Promotion (doing business as Brand USA). The purpose of the 
Board is to guide the Corporation for Travel Promotion on matters 
relating to the promotion of the United States as a travel destination 
and communication of travel facilitation issues, among other tasks.

DATES: All applications must be received by the National Travel and 
Tourism Office by close of business on Friday, September 15, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Please submit application information by email to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Heizer, National Travel and 
Tourism Office, U.S. Department of Commerce; telephone: 202-482-0140; 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Travel Promotion Act of 2009 (TPA) was 
signed into law on March 4, 2010 and was amended in July 2010, December 
2014, and again in December 2019. The TPA established the Corporation 
for Travel Promotion (the Corporation), as a non-profit corporation 
charged with the development and execution of a plan to (A) provide 
useful information to those interested in traveling to the United 
States; (B) identify and address perceptions regarding U.S. entry 
policies; (C) maximize economic and diplomatic benefits of travel to 
the United States through the use of various promotional tools; (D) 
ensure that international travel benefits all States,

[[Page 46143]]

territories of the United States, and the District of Columbia; (E) 
identify opportunities to promote tourism to rural and urban areas 
equally, including areas not traditionally visited by international 
travelers; (F) give priority to countries and populations most likely 
to travel to the United States; and (G) promote tourism to the United 
States through digital media, online platforms, and other appropriate 
mediums.
    The Corporation is governed by a Board of Directors, consisting of 
11 members with knowledge of international travel promotion or 
marketing, broadly representing various regions of the United States. 
The TPA directs the Secretary of Commerce (after consultation with the 
Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State) to appoint 
the Board of Directors for the Corporation.
    At this time, the Department will be selecting three individuals 
with the appropriate expertise and experience from specific sectors of 
the travel and tourism industry to serve on the Board as follows:
    1. One member having appropriate expertise and experience in the 
Small Business or Retail sector or in associations representing that 
sector;
    2. One member having appropriate expertise and experience as a 
State Tourism Office representative; and
    3. One member having appropriate expertise and experience in the 
Travel Distribution Services sector.
    To be eligible for Board membership, individuals must have 
international travel and tourism marketing experience, be a current or 
former chief executive officer, chief financial officer, or chief 
marketing officer or have held an equivalent management position. 
Additional consideration will be given to individuals who have 
experience working in U.S. multinational entities with marketing 
budgets, and/or who are audit committee financial experts as defined by 
the Securities and Exchange Commission (in accordance with 15 U.S.C. 
7265). Individuals must be U.S. citizens, and in addition, cannot be 
federally registered lobbyists or registered as a foreign agent under 
the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended.
    Members of the Board are selected, in accordance with applicable 
Department of Commerce guidelines and after consultation with the 
Secretaries of State and Homeland Security, based on their ability to 
carry out the objectives of the Board and as set forth above. The 
diverse membership of the Board assures perspectives reflecting the 
breadth of the Board's responsibilities and, where possible, the 
Department of Commerce will also consider the ethnic, racial, and 
gender diversity and various abilities of the United States population.
    Those selected for the Board must be able to meet the time and 
effort commitments of the Board.
    Board members serve at the discretion of the Secretary of Commerce 
(who may remove any member of the Board for good cause). The terms of 
office of each member of the Board appointed by the Secretary shall be 
three (3) years. Board members can serve a maximum of two consecutive 
full three-year terms. Board members are not considered Federal 
Government employees by virtue of their service as a member of the 
Board and will receive no compensation from the Federal government for 
their participation in Board activities. Members participating in Board 
meetings and events may be paid actual travel expenses and per diem by 
the Corporation when away from their usual places of residence.
    Individuals who want to be considered for appointment to the Board 
should submit the following information by the Friday, September 15, 
2023 deadline to the email address listed in the ADDRESSES section 
above:
    1. Name, title, and personal resume of the individual requesting 
consideration, including address, email address, and phone number.
    2. A brief statement of why the person should be considered for 
appointment to the Board. This statement should also address the 
individual's relevant international travel and tourism marketing 
experience and audit committee financial expertise, if any, and 
indicate clearly the sector or sectors enumerated above in which the 
individual has the requisite expertise and experience. Individuals who 
have the requisite expertise and experience in more than one sector can 
be appointed for only one of those sectors. Appointments of members to 
the Board will be made by the Secretary of Commerce.
    3. An affirmative statement that the applicant is (1) a U.S. 
citizen, (2) is not a federally-registered lobbyist and further, (3) is 
not required to register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents 
Registration Act of 1938, as amended.
    4. A statement acknowledging that the applicant is or is not an 
audit committee financial expert as defined by the Securities and 
Exchange Commission (in accordance with 15 U.S.C. 7265).

Julie Heizer,
Deputy Director, National Travel and Tourism Office.
[FR Doc. 2023-15321 Filed 7-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P