PRESIDENT SIGNS MOST SIGNIFICANT TRAVEL REFORM SINCE 9/11
The travel industry won a huge victory in Washington August 3, when legislation containing provisions critical to improving inbound travel to the U.S. was signed into law by President Bush. The 9/11 Commission Recommendations bill includes provisions to strengthen and expand the Visa Waiver Program and improve the entry process at our nation’s airports. For details, click here.

DISCOVERAMERICA.COM: COMING MARCH 2008
The DiscoverAmerica.com team, along with its development partners have been hard at work researching, designing and developing strategy for the first ever Official Travel and Tourism Website of the United States. To date, the research phase is complete and preliminary designs have been reviewed and approved by the Department of Commerce and shared with the DiscoverAmerica.com Advisory Council and TIA Board. States and destinations will be presented with the designs, along with discussion, at ESTO and further meetings are planned with the VUSA committees this summer to discuss their involvement with the sites. September begins the build out of the sites with a targeted launch in the initial five markets (UK, Germany, Canada, Mexico and Japan) in March 2008. The team is also working towards collecting rich and robust content to populate the sites, confirming products and vendors for the construction and marketing phases, and finalizing the business model that will allow self funding beginning January 2009. For advertising or partnership inquiries with DiscoverAmerica.com please contact discoveramerica@tia.org. Stay tuned for more exciting developments from Discover America!  

ESTO 2007 EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS
The destination marketing community comes together in Phoenix, Arizona, August 15 - 18 for three days and four nights of cutting edge education and unparalleled networking opportunities at TIA’s Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO). With attendance exceeding expectations, ESTO is the conference that destination marketers do not want to miss. You can join the ESTO Community this August 15 - 18 at The Phoenician in Phoenix, Arizona. Click here to register for ESTO and to view the online program for up-to-date program and event information.

MARKETING OUTLOOK FORUM TO FEATURE ADVERTISING EXPERT
Marketing Outlook Forum presents “The Future of Advertising” with David Verklin, CEO of Carat Americas, the global independent media agency network. In addition to overseeing Carat’s operations in the U.S., Latin America and Canada, David also sits on the Board of Directors for Aegis Group plc. Additionally, he is the author of a new book entitled Watch This, Listen Up, Click Here. The book demystifies the inner workings of the media, marketing, and advertising industries. It also explores how money, people and new technologies are transforming TV, the Internet, radio, magazines, and other media Americans consume every day. Visit www.tia.org/marketingoutlook for more information about our elite speakers line up, the preliminary program information or sponsorship opportunities. Join us October 22 - 25, 2007 in Charlotte, NC.

TIA TO HOST HISTORICAL MEETING FOR U.S. AND CHINESE TOURISM DIRECTORS
Chinese and U.S. state tourism leaders will have an opportunity to meet collectively to discuss the future of the countries’ travel and tourism industries. This first-ever bilateral meeting will take place at TIA’s Marketing Outlook Forum in Charlotte, North Carolina. TIA will invite the 50 U.S. state tourism directors to meet with the 31 Provincial Tourism Director Generals from China, who will be special guests at this year’s Forum. The meeting is coordinated by TIA in conjunction with Chairman Shao of China’s National Tourism Administration. Activities being planned include a dinner on October 24 followed by a half day of meetings on October 25. State tourism directors should contact Bruce Bommarito at bbommarito@tia.org for further information.

EXPLORATORY MISSION FULL OF EASTERN PROMISE
Wondering how to break into Asia’s top emerging travel markets? Join TIA’s exploratory mission to Southeast Asia, October 5-12. The trip includes visits to Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam and will put you face to face with key players in the local travel industry and U.S. Embassy officials from each country. You will learn and evaluate their needs as well as your own. You will also have the opportunity to discuss your destination/product. To maximize the missions’ effectiveness space is limited to 15 participants so sign up today. Contact Bruce Bommarito today at bbommarito@tia.org for further information.