White House Welcomes Top Travel Industry CEOs

In Attendance

CEOs attending this week's meeting at the White House were:

• Jim Abrahamson, Chief Executive Officer, Interstate Hotels & Resorts
• Jim Atchison, President & Chief Executive Officer, Seaworld Parks & Entertainment
• Chris Cahill, Chief Operating Officer, Fairmont Raffles Hotels International
• Stephen J. Cloobeck, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Resorts International
• Roger Dow, President and Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Travel Association
• Thomas M. Gartland, President, North America, Avis Budget Group, Inc.
• Sam Gilliland, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sabre Holdings
• Bill Glenn, President, Global Commercial Services, American Express Company
• Barney Harford, Chief Executive Officer, Orbitz Worldwide
• Jeremy Jacobs, Jr., Principal, Delaware North Companies
• Hubert Joly, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Carlson
• Stephen Joyce, President and Chief Executive Officer, Choice Hotels International
• Dara Khosrowshahi, President and Chief Executive Officer, Expedia, Inc.
• Kirk Kinsell, President, The Americas, InterContinental Hotels Group
• Christopher Nassetta, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hilton Worldwide
• Joseph V. Popolo, Chief Executive Officer, Freeman
• Rossi Ralenkotter, President & Chief Executive Officer, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
• John Sprouls, Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer, Universal Parks and Resorts
• Greg Stubblefield, President, National & Alamo Rent-a-Car, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Enterprise Holdings
• Frits van Paasschen, President and Chief Executive Officer, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

In support of President Barack Obama's national travel and tourism strategy, 20 of the travel industry's leading CEOs met with senior White House officials on Wednesday to discuss policies and initiatives that would further fuel industry growth, the U.S. Travel Association announced this week.

"President Obama's call for a national travel and tourism strategy was one of the most significant developments for our industry in the past decade," said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow. "The travel industry has the ability — and stands ready — to quickly hire many of the unemployed workers in our country, but to do that we must have policies in place that increase travel to and within the United States. This Administration and most in Congress understand that, and we look forward to bipartisan support for legislation that supports America's travel industry."

In testimony to Congress last week, Dow outlined three primary policy priorities for the travel industry: 1) enhance the airport security screening process by expanding to all travelers the nation's PreCheck trusted traveler program; 2) promote and expand international travel by improving the visa application process for foreign visitors to the United States, and by expanding the nation's visa-free travel program, the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), to additional countries; and 3) enhancing immigration processing for international travelers upon arrival in the United States.

At least one of those goals, expanding international travel to the United States, was discussed on Wednesday's visit, as Congress is currently reviewing proposed legislation — the Jobs Originated through Launching Travel (JOLT) Act — that would expand the VWP and codify into law a two-week visa processing standard for foreign travelers wishing to visit the United States.

"We strongly urge the Administration to work with the House and Senate leadership to schedule a vote on the bipartisan JOLT Act," Dow said.

President Obama announced the country's first national strategy on travel and tourism in January, when he issued an executive order that called for the expansion of the VWP and the establishment of visa and international visitor processing goals. Those goals include an increase of nonimmigrant visa processing capacity by China and Brazil by 40 percent over the coming year and ensuring that 80 percent of nonimmigrant visa applicants are interviewed within three weeks of receipt of application.

"Every year, tens of millions of tourists from all over the world come and visit America," President Obama said in January. "And the more folks who visit America, the more Americans we get back to work. We need to help businesses all across the country grow and create jobs; compete and win. That's how we’re going to rebuild an economy where hard work pays off, where responsibility is rewarded and where anyone can make it if they try."