 TRAVEL PROMOTION ACT GAINS MAJOR BOOST
IN THE HOUSE
A bipartisan majority of the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives have now co-sponsored H.R. 3232, the "Travel Promotion Act," introduced by Representatives William Delahunt (D-MA) and Roy Blunt (R-MO). Click here for the release.
 DETERIORATING AIR TRAVEL HITS SMALL TRAVEL BUSINESSES HARDEST
 Roger Dow, TIA's President and CEO, and TIA Board Member, Mike Gallagher, Co-founder of CityPass, testified before the House Committee on Small Business that the travel and tourism community, of which 95 percent are considered small businesses, is disproportionately affected by the economic losses caused by the current air travel situation. Click here for the release.
TIA AND AMERICAN EXPRESS JOIN FORCES ON TRAVEL SUSTAINABILITY
Recognizing that the status of the environment has become a top business and public policy priority with major implications for travel, the organizations announced that they are working together to develop the Travel Sustainability Initiative. The Initiative is a comprehensive plan designed to make crucial information available and to guide the travel industry in its response to assuring sustainability in travel and tourism. Click here for the release.
INTERNATIONAL POW WOW HEADS TO MIAMI MAY 16-20, 2009
 The International Pow Wow Planning Committee, Chaired by Greg Land, Senior Vice President, Global Sales and Distribution, Wyndham Hotel Group, is already hard at work planning the travel industry's premier international marketplace and the largest generator of Visit USA travel - TIA's International Pow Wow. Miami, Florida will host TIA's 41st Annual International Pow Wow May 16-20, 2009. Look for more information this fall and be sure to mark your calendars. Click here for more highlights from International Pow Wow 2008.
DISCOVERAMERICA.COM LAUNCHES EN FRANCAIS
 The Canadian/French version of DiscoverAmerica.com went live this week with media activities in Montreal supporting its launch. The website’s remaining three launches will occur by July 10. DiscoverAmerica.com is the first-ever official travel and tourism website of the U.S. and was developed through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce. It will initially serve the five leading inbound markets – Canada, Mexico, UK, Japan and Germany.
REGISTER NOW FOR TRAVEL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
 Registration is underway for this year’s Travel Leadership Summit to be held September 24-25, 2008 in Washington, DC. To date, 23 states are forming delegations. “This year, as our nation prepares to elect a new president, it is critical that the voice of the travel industry is heard,” said National Chair Caroline Beteta in a letter to all members. “With a strong turnout this fall, we will assure our continued place at the policymaking table in Washington and demonstrate the true Power of Travel.” To register today go to www.TIA.org/TLS.
INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITY: THE DISCOVER AMERICA PAVILION
In cooperation with TIA, the U.S. Commercial Service and the Visit USA/SeeAmerica/Discover America organizations around the world, B-FOR International promotes inbound U.S. travel under one unifying brand; the Discover America Pavilion. The Discover America Pavilions are at most international trade shows including ITB Asia 2008, October 22-24 in Singapore; ABAV 2008, October 22-25 in Brazil; WTM 2008 in London, November 10-13; and many more. Visit www.discoveramericapavilion.travel for a list of upcoming international trade shows or to participate in a Discover America Pavilion.
NEWS COVERAGE OF THE BENEFITS OF TRAVEL
Travel benefits everyone personally and the media is beginning to report on the contributions travel makes to individuals. Two recently published article in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times clearly articulate the benefits of traveling. Click here to learn more. Travel - The Benefits are Everywhere.
TEN KEYS TO JUMP START AND MAINTAIN WEB 2.0
NOW AVAILABLE ON TIA.ORG
TIA has assembled some best practices to help travel-related businesses converge on Web 2.0 practices and maintain them with fresh, practical and fun content for users. Authored by Leah Woolford, founder and CEO of USDM.net, travel marketers can find Ten Keys to Successful Web 2.0 by clicking here.
COMMUNICATING THE POWER OF TRAVEL
National Tourism Week is a collective effort to promote the power of travel with the goals of strengthening community support and awareness of the travel industry in the community. The Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau successfully engaged their community through a leadership conference held in collaboration with other organizations in their community. Click here to learn more.
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Volume
8: Issue 12 - June 26, 2008 
