[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 183 (Friday, September 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77088-77089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-21499]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board: Request for 
Applications for Membership

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of an opportunity to apply for membership on the United 
States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce is currently seeking applications 
for membership on the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board 
(Board). The purpose of the Board is to advise the Secretary of 
Commerce on matters relating to the U.S. travel and tourism industry.

DATES: Applications for immediate consideration for membership must be 
received by the National Travel and Tourism Office by 5:00 p.m. Eastern 
Daylight Time (EDT) on Friday, November 1, 2024. The International 
Trade Administration (ITA) will continue to accept applications under

[[Page 77089]]

this notice for two years from the deadline to fill any vacancies.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Aguinaga, National Travel and 
Tourism Office, U.S. Department of Commerce; telephone: 202-482-2404; 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: The Board was established pursuant to Section 607 of 
the Visit America Act, Subtitle A of title VI of division BB of the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, Public Law 117-328, and in 
accordance with the provisions of the FACA, 5 U.S.C. 1001 et seq. The 
Board (1) serves as the advisory body to the Secretary of Commerce 
(Secretary) on matters relating to the travel and tourism industry in 
the United States; (2) advises the Secretary on government policies and 
programs that affect the U.S. travel and tourism industry; (3) offers 
counsel on current and emerging issues; (4) provides a forum for 
discussing and proposing solutions to problems related to the travel 
and tourism industry; and (5) provides advice regarding the domestic 
travel and tourism industry as an economic engine.
    Membership: The National Travel and Tourism Office is accepting 
applications for Board members. Members of the Board will be selected 
in accordance with applicable Department of Commerce guidelines based 
on their ability to carry out the objectives of the Board as set forth 
in the Board's charter and in a manner that ensures that the Board is 
balanced in terms of geographic diversity, diversity in size of company 
or organization to be represented, and representation of a broad range 
of services in the travel and tourism industry. Each member shall serve 
for two years from the date of the appointment and at the pleasure of 
the Secretary of Commerce.
    Members shall be Chief Executive Officers or senior executives from 
U.S. companies, U.S. organizations, or U.S. entities in the travel and 
tourism sectors representing a broad range of products and services, 
company sizes, and geographic locations.
    Members serve in a representative capacity, representing the views 
and interests of their business sector, and not as Special Government 
employees. Members 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, to the extent practical, 
not less than twice annually, usually in Washington, DC or virtually.
    Request for Nominations: All nominations for membership on the 
Board should provide the following information:
    1. Sponsor letter on the company's or organization's letterhead 
containing the name, title, and relevant contact information (including 
phone number and email address) of the individual who is applying or 
being nominated, and containing a brief description of why the nominee 
should be considered for membership;
    2. Short biography of nominee, including credentials;
    3. Brief description of the U.S. company or U.S. organization to be 
represented and its business activities and company size (number of 
employees and annual sales);
    4. An affirmative statement that the nominee meets all Board 
eligibility requirements for representative members, including that the 
applicant represents a U.S. company or U.S. organization and that the 
applicant is not required to register as a foreign agent under the 
Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938; and
    5. An affirmative statement that the nominee will be able to meet 
the expected time commitments of the work of the Board, which includes: 
(1) a commitment to attend quarterly Board meetings (typically, two in-
person meetings and two-to-three virtual meetings), (2) undertaking 
additional work outside of full Board meetings including regular 
participation in virtual subcommittee meetings, and (3) frequently 
drafting, preparing, or commenting on proposed recommendations to be 
evaluated at Board meetings.
    For eligibility purposes, a ``U.S. company'' is a for-profit firm 
that is incorporated in the United States (or an unincorporated U.S. 
firm with its principal place of business in the United States) that is 
controlled by U.S. citizens or by other U.S. companies. A company is 
not a U.S. company if 50 percent plus one share of its stock (if a 
corporation, or a similar ownership interest of an unincorporated 
entity) is known to be controlled, directly or indirectly, by non-U.S. 
citizens or non-U.S. companies. For eligibility purposes, a ``U.S. 
organization'' is an organization, including trade associations and 
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), established under the laws of the 
United States, that is controlled by U.S. citizens, by another U.S. 
organization (or organizations), or by a U.S. company (or companies), 
as determined based on its board of directors (or comparable governing 
body), membership, and funding sources, as applicable. For eligibility 
purposes, a U.S. entity is a tourism-related entity that can 
demonstrate U.S. ownership or control, including but not limited to 
state and local tourism marketing entities, state government tourism 
offices, state and/or local government-supported tourism marketing 
entities, and multi-state tourism marketing entities.
    Nominations should be emailed to [email protected].

Brian Beall,
Director, National Travel and Tourism Office.
[FR Doc. 2024-21499 Filed 9-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P