Peter Greenberg and Gary Sain to be Inducted into U.S. Travel Hall of Leaders

Special Recognition to be Given to U.S. State Department for Improving Visa Experience around the World

June 19, 2012

Washington, DC - Longtime travel correspondent Peter Greenberg, a preeminent voice for travel throughout America, and the late Gary Sain, who tirelessly promoted travel during more than three decades in the industry, have been selected as the 2012 inductees into the U.S. Travel Hall of Leaders. Greenberg and Sain will be honored during a dinner among more than one hundred travel industry leaders during the U.S. Travel winter board meeting on November 29 at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas.

Special recognition will also be given during the dinner to Tom Nides, deputy secretary of the U.S. State Department for management and resources, and consular officers around the world for dramatically improving the visa experience for travelers from other countries wishing to visit the United States.

Distinguished individuals are named to the Hall of Leaders maintained by the U.S. Travel Association for "sustained, noteworthy contributions that have positively impacted the travel industry, stimulated greater achievement, and raised industry-wide standards."

"Peter Greenberg and Gary Sain, in differing ways, each made invaluable contributions to our industry by giving voice to the value and extraordinary experiences available through travel in the United States," said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. "This is a well-deserved recognition, and I look forward to joining the rest of the travel community in honoring them."

“At the same time, Tom Nides and the consular officers deserve our thanks and recognition for addressing a longstanding challenge, which has resulted in dramatic improvements in the visa experiences for millions of travelers around the world who want to visit our country. It has resulted in billions of dollars in new business for the American economy and helped create thousands of new travel-related jobs.”

Currently travel editor for CBS News, host of a nationally syndicated radio show and contributor to other publications, Greenberg is among America’s most recognized, honored and respected travel news journalists. With more than 25 years of travel news reporting experience, he was named by Travel Weekly as among the industry’s most influential people.

Sain, who died May 4, spent more than three decades in various positions in the travel industry, most recently as president and CEO of Visit Orlando. He also served as a member of U.S. Travel’s executive committee and board of directors, helping advance numerous issues, including visa reform, and defending the value of business travel and meetings and conventions. Prior to joining Visit Orlando in February 2007, Sain served in senior positions with Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell, an Orlando-based international advertising and public relations agency specializing in the travel; GES Exposition Services; Premier Cruise Line; and Hyatt Hotels Corporation.

With these inductions, 86 travel industry professionals have been inducted into the U.S. Travel Hall of Leaders since it was created in 1969. The 2011 inductees were U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Don Freeman, chairman of the Freeman Companies.

Contact:
Cathy Keefe 202-408-2183

The U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the travel industry that generates $1.9 trillion in economic output and supports 14.4 million jobs. U.S. Travel's mission is to increase travel to and within the United States.