U.S. Travel Association

Get ready to light up ??BLUE?? for #GMID2025 on April 3! Global Meetings Industry Day is just ONE WEEK away, and we can’t wait to see landmarks around the world shine blue in celebration of the undeniable impact face-to-face meetings have on communities, businesses & our economy. Meetings generate $126 billion in travel spending and support nearly 620,000 American jobs. When meetings happen, economies thrive — hotels fill, local businesses and restaurants benefit and communities experience real, positive impact. Want to get involved? Check out U.S. Travel's toolkit, and get ready to show why #MeetingsMatter: bit.ly/GMID25

Congratulations to Lisa Hanna, GM, Public Affairs and Policy Communications at Delta Air Lines, and Tricia Primrose, EVP and Chief Global Communications and Public Affairs Officer at Marriott International, on being recognized in PRWeek’s Women of Distinction! This award honors top leaders shaping the future of communications. Tricia and Lisa’s exceptional leadership and impact have helped to elevate travel and move our industry forward. Read more:?https://lnkd.in/ek8TdCuc #PRWeekWomenOfDistinction

?Last chance! Don’t miss this opportunity to ensure your organization or destination’s voice resonates at the highest levels of government. Next week, nearly 350 travel advocates will join us?at U.S. Travel’s Destination Capitol Hill?to show Congress how travel plays an essential role in showcasing America’s greatness. With 40M+ international visitors expected for events like the #WorldCup and #Olympics, we must act NOW to seize this nearly $100B economic opportunity. Register for #DCH25 today: https://bit.ly/DCH-2025?

Last week, I joined U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in San Diego to tour the San Ysidro Port of Entry — one of the busiest land border crossings in the world — along with the Otay Mesa Port of Entry and the Cross Border Xpress. Secure borders are essential to our national security and economic growth. Experiencing operations firsthand and engaging with CBP officials highlighted the tremendous effort required to securely process millions of travelers each year through our ports of entry. We saw cutting-edge security innovations, including non-intrusive inspection technology for vehicle and cargo screening, as well as biometric and advanced vetting systems that streamline traveler facilitation. Effective border control means ensuring security while fostering a seamless travel experience. It’s crucial that CBP has the necessary staffing and technology resources to protect our borders while facilitating lawful travel and trade. U.S. Travel deeply appreciates CBP’s dedication to this mission. Thank you to Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Field Operations, Diane Sabatino, and the CBP San Diego team for their outstanding partnership — we’re excited to collaborate on the innovations needed to meet extraordinary demand.

Just TWO WEEKS until Global Meetings Industry Day (April 3)! #GMID2025 is our moment to showcase the undeniable power of face-to-face meetings, events, trade shows, conventions and conferences. When people come together, ideas ignite, businesses grow and communities thrive. ? ?? Ready to engage on April 3? Check out U.S. Travel Association’s toolkit for everything you need to join the conversation: https://bit.ly/GMID25 #GMID25 #MeetingsMatter

Great to see strong leadership from the White House on travel and tourism. With the 2026 World Cup and a mega-decade of world-class sporting events ahead, ensuring a seamless travel experience for international visitors is more critical than ever. All eyes will be on the U.S., and we must take this opportunity to solidify our position as a top global travel destination. #TravelAndTourism

We couldn’t disagree more. America is a premier travel destination — let’s encourage travel to the United States and showcase the people and destinations that make our country extraordinary.

?? We’re just FOUR states away from securing all 50 at U.S. Travel’s Destination Capitol Hill! It’s more important now than ever for us to unite and amplify the travel industry’s indispensable role in showcasing America’s greatness.? Nebraska, New Mexico, Rhode Island and West Virginia: we need your voice in D.C.! Will you help us complete the map? Register for #DCH25 to be part of travel’s future: https://bit.ly/DCH-2025

There is a significant opportunity in the U.S. to modernize and upgrade our airport systems for upcoming travel. As a member of the U.S. Travel Association (USTA) Commission, our Shawn Kinder collaborated with fellow USTA members to produce recommendations for modernizing America’s travel systems to make U.S. travel more efficient, secure and globally competitive.

It was great having U.S. Travel Association’s National Chair, Bill Hornbuckle, in Washington earlier this month for talks with Administration officials, including Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and Senators Jacky Rosen and Jerry Moran. Our media roundtable further highlighted the massive economic potential of the upcoming mega-decade of events — and what’s at risk if the United States doesn’t rise to the occasion. ? We’re making progress, but there's still work ahead. The White House task force for the FIFA World Cup 2026 was an important first step, but seizing the nearly $100 billion growth opportunity before us demands continued partnership and decisive action. ? Our vision is clear: a seamless, secure travel experience that turns visitors into repeat guests and secures America’s place as the #1 travel destination. Grateful for Bill's partnership as we roll up our sleeves to bring this vision to life.