TTAB subcommittees are meeting over the next four weeks to develop no more than ten recommendations on what the federal government should address to support the recovery and growth of travel and tourism and restore international travel. These recommendations are responsive to the request of Congress to the Department for this information as well as to provide input to the Administration policies in this area. Please reach out to the members to ensure your ideas, concerns and issues are addressed.
The United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (TTAB) serves as the advisory body to the Secretary of Commerce on matters relating to the travel and tourism industry in the United States. The Board advises the Secretary on government policies and programs that affect the U.S. travel and tourism industry, offers counsel on current and emerging issues, and provides a forum for discussing and proposing solutions to industry-related problems.
Past Boards have presented Secretaries of Commerce with advice on a wide range of policies and issues facing the travel and tourism including travel facilitation, visa policy, infrastructure, aviation security, research, energy policy, and economic sustainability, as well as, valuable advice on the National Travel and Tourism Strategy. Board recommendations will be shared on this site.
The Board is comprised of up to thirty-two members appointed by the Secretary of Commerce. Members represent companies and organizations in the travel and tourism industry from a broad range of products and services, company sizes and geographic locations. Members serve, at the pleasure of the Secretary, typically for a two-year term. The Board was originally chartered in 2003, and because of the Department’s need for the ongoing advice from industry representatives, has been re-chartered eight times, most recently in 2019.
The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism serves as the Board’s Executive Director. The National Travel and Tourism Office serves as the Executive Secretariat for the Board. If you have questions or comments, please email TTAB@trade.gov.
Travel and Tourism Advisory Board Members
Chair: Kurt Ekert, President and Chief Executive Officer, CWT, MN
Vice Chair: Brad Dean, Chief Executive Officer, Discover Puerto Rico, PR
Liz Fitzsimmons, Managing Director, Maryland Office of Tourism and Film, MD
David Gilbert, President and Chief Executive Officer, Destination Cleveland and Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, OH
Russell Hedge, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hosteling International USA, MD
Debbie Johnson, Director, Arizona Office of Tourism, AZ
Stephanie Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance, Washington DC
Rolf Lundberg, Vice President & Assistant General Counsel and Head of External Affairs and Global Public Policy, Choice Hotels International, MD
Duffield Milkie, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary, Cedar Fair L.P., Sandusky, OH
Will Morey, Chief Executive Officer, Morey’s Piers, NJ
Mary Motsenbocker, President and Chief Executive Officer, International Tourism Marketing, Inc., CO
Vinay Patel, President and Chief Executive Officer, Fairbrook Hotels, VA
Catherine Prather, President, National Tour Association, KY
Tricia Primrose, Executive Vice President of Global Communications and Public Affairs, Marriott International, MD
Brian Quinn, Chief Development Officer, Domio, NY
Olga Ramudo, President and Chief Executive Officer, Express Travel, FL
Stephen Revetria, President, Giants Enterprises, CA
Daniel Richards, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Global Rescue LLC, M
Adam Sacks, President, Tourism Economics, PA
Monica Smith, President and Chief Executive, Southeast Tourism Society, GA
Rob Torres, Managing Director, Travel, Google, Inc., WA
Ron Vlasic, Chief Operating Officer, Hostmark Hospitality Group, IL
Greg Webb, Chief Executive Officer, Travelport, GA
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