• TIA Welcomes New Managing Director
  of Government Affairs
• Sir Richard Branson to Appear at TravelCom '08;
  Five Days Remain in Innovator's Competition
• Travel and Tourism Works for America
  2008 Edition Available
• Nominations Being Accepted for Hall of Leaders
• U.S. Commerical Service Webinar on
  Korean Outbound Market
• DiscoverAmerica.com Announces Small World Publications as Exclusive Advertising Sales Organization

TIA WELCOMES NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
With over eight years of Congressional service and strong experience with key industry issues including the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), the U.S. VISIT Program and the Secure Border Initiative, Patricia Rojas joins TIA's Public Affairs department as the Managing Director of Government Affairs. Patricia will represent the travel community on domestic and international travel issues before Congress.

SIR RICHARD BRANSON TO APPEAR AT TRAVELCOM '08;
FIVE DAYS REMAIN IN INNOVATOR'S COMPETITION
Virgin Atlantic Founder, Sir Richard Branson will be at TIA’s TravelCom ’08 on April 10 in Chicago to accept the first-ever Steve Fossett Innovation Award, established by TIA in honor of the legendary aviator. During his appearance, Branson will pay tribute to his close friend and share his thoughts on innovation during a fireside chat with Henry Harteveldt, Vice President and Principal Analyst, Airline/Travel Industry, Forrester and TravelCom Committee Co-Chairman. Click here to reserve your spot to hear one of our industry’s greatest trailblazers. Plus, there’s still time to enter TravelCom’s Innovator of the Year Award competition, recognizing outstanding innovation that has had a broad impact across the travel industry.

TRAVEL AND TOURISM WORKS FOR AMERICA 2008 EDITION AVAILABLE
TIA's popular Travel and Tourism Works for America report is now available. Highlighting the value, scope and interconnectedness of the nation's $740 billion travel industry, the report provides an overview of travel and tourism’s impact on the American economy, top-line statistics, enhanced charts, and travel sector information and projections. Share this key document with government and legislative leaders, boards of directors, students, media, members and staff. To learn more or place an order, click here.

NOMINATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR HALL OF LEADERS
Since the establishment of TIA's Hall of Leaders in 1969, over 75 industry leaders have been inducted in recognition of their sustained, noteworthy contributions that have had a positive impact on the broad travel and tourism industry. Nominated and chosen by their peers, inductees into the Hall of Leaders strengthen and unify the industry well beyond their own organizations, industry segments or communities. Click here to learn more or to download the nomination form.

U.S. COMMERCIAL SERVICE WEBINAR ON KOREAN OUTBOUND MARKET
Korea is the 5th largest overseas source of international visitors to the U.S., with 750,000 in 2006, a number expected to increase 27% by 2011. Learn more about this growing inbound segment during the U.S. Commercial Service's Webinar on Korea's Outbound Travel Market on Tuesday, February 26 at 6 PM Eastern/3 PM Pacific. Click here to register. To learn more, please contact Tony Michalski, tony.michalski@mail.doc.gov, or Jolanta Coffey, jolanta.coffey@mail.doc.gov.

DISCOVERAMERICA.COM ANNOUNCES SMALL WORLD PUBLICATIONS
AS EXCLUSIVE ADVERTISING SALES ORGANIZATION
Bellevue, Washington-based Small World Publications signed an agreement with TIA to become the exclusive advertising sales organization for DiscoverAmerica.com. DiscoverAmerica.com is being developed under a cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Commerce and will serve as the first ever official travel and tourism website of the United States targeting international travelers from 5 key markets. To view the release, click here.