U.S. Travel Advocating for Issues that Impact Exhibitions and Events
Representatives from the U.S. Travel Association are descending upon Capitol Hill today and tomorrow for the annual Destination Capitol Hill to educate policymakers about the power of travel.
Like Exhibitions Day, Destination Capitol Hill combines a legislative day with advocacy training, guest speakers and peer-to-peer networking. DCH provides delegates with an opportunity to learn about upcoming legislation that impacts travel, network with peers and meet with members of Congress to stress the importance of travel as an economic driver.
As exhibitions and events professionals, many of the issues impacting the travel industry also impact our business. Below is a snapshot of the advocacy issues Destination Capitol Hill attendees will be promoting on Capitol Hill next week.
If you too would like to get involved with advocating for your exhibitions and events industry with your elected officials, we encourage you to register for Exhibitions Day 2018 taking place in June. For questions or more information, please reach out to Nicole Bowman (nbowman@iaee.com).
DESTINATION CAPITOL HILL ADVOCACY ISSUES
Modernizing Our Nation’s Infrastructure
Over the past several decades, our nation’s travel infrastructure and National Parks systems have fallen into a state of disrepair. While countries around the globe modernize airports, expand and repair roadways, and improve passenger rail, the United States has neglected to adequately invest in its travel infrastructure and National Parks—costing the economy billions in economic output and thousands of American jobs. Learn why our policymakers must prioritize infrastructure in order to increase our connectivity and improve the traveler experience.
Protecting International Inbound Travel
International inbound travel is critical for growing the economy and creating American jobs. Unfortunately, while global travel volume increased 7.9 percent from 2015 to 2017, the U.S. slice of that growing pie fell from 13.6 percent to 11.9 percent—the first drop after more than a decade of consistent growth. Meanwhile, visitation to our competitors—including France, Germany and China—went up. Learn why our policymakers must prioritize regaining America’s share of the market in order to stay competitive, which includes supporting programs like Brand USA—the organization which markets the U.S. to the world.
Preserving Open Skies Agreements
The U.S. has more than 100 Open Skies agreements with nations around the globe, which have proven to increase traveler choice, lower prices, grow the U.S. economy and create American jobs. However, the Big 3 U.S. airlines have been advocating for a freeze or renegotiation of our Open Skies agreements with Qatar and the U.A.E.—despite the proven benefits these agreements have delivered to the U.S. travel industry and the economy as a whole. Learn what our policymakers should understand about this three-year-in-the-making debate.
Register now for Exhibitions Day 2018 taking place June 5-6 in D.C. to advocate for the events and exhibitions industry!
