ROGER DOW HONORED AS ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
Roger Dow, TIA President and CEO, has been recognized by his peers as the 2008 Association Executive of the Year, according to Association TRENDS, the weekly news publication for association professionals and industry suppliers. Dow, who has been at the helm of TIA for just three years, was acknowledged for establishing the travel industry as an effective and credible voice with policymakers through establishing the Discover America Partnership and other industry unifying activities. He will be honored at the TRENDS Salute Association Excellence lunch on February 15 at the Capital Hilton in Washington. For full release, click here.

COMMERCE AGREEMENT TO BOOST VISITS FROM CHINA
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced an agreement with China to facilitate more group travel by Chinese citizens to the U.S. It also permits U.S. destinations to market themselves in China. TIA President and CEO Roger Dow lauded the successful negotiations by Commerce Secretary Gutierrez saying that the agreement "ensures a bright future for Chinese travel to the U.S. Click here for release.

TRAVEL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT 2008 DATES ANNOUNCED
The third annual Travel Leadership Summit will be September 24-25, 2008 in Washington, D.C. The summit brings hundreds of travel industry leaders to Washington to raise travel and tourism’s profile with lawmakers, and highlight its enormous contributions to the U.S. economy and its value to public diplomacy.

YOU TUBE, PRICELINE, AND TRAVELOCITY LEADERS HEADLINE TIA's TRAVELCOM08
The biggest names in e-commerce and travel are lining up to speak at TIA’s TravelCom, April 8-10, 2008 in Chicago.

• Suzy Reider, Chief Marketing Officer of YouTube
• Jeff Boyd, the President and CEO of Priceline
• Michelle Peluso, President and CEO of Travelocity
• Eric Pearson, SVP of Distribution for Intercontinental Hotel Group
• Christine Peterson, VP of Marketing for Trip Advisor.

KISSIMMEE CUP AT INTERNATIONAL POW WOW
2008 will mark the third straight year that the Kissimmee Cup golf tournament has supported the TIA Foundation’s mission to build a stronger travel industry. This year’s tournament will be June 1 at Reflection Bay, Lake Las Vegas Resort and TIA asks those attending Pow Wow to consider sponsoring and playing in the event. For more information about the tournament and the TIA Foundation, click here.

JOIN DISCOVER AMERICA PAVILIONS IN MEXICO AND ITALY
With Mexico setting records for visitors to the U.S. in each of the past five years, space in the Discover America Pavilion at Expovacaciones in Mexico City, February 11-13 will be a hot property. Also coming up on the international circuit is the Discover America Pavilion at Bit in Milan February 21-24. Click here for information.

TIA TO SKIP STATE OF THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY LUNCHEON IN '08
TIA announced that it will present its agenda for the year in a public forum but has decided not to use its limited resources in 2008 to manage the 500-person State of the Travel Industry Luncheon as that platform. TIA will decide whether to host a January luncheon from year to year.