U.S. Travel Hall of Leaders Honoring Exemplary Vision and Leadership Image The Hall of Leaders was established in 1969 as part of U.S. Travel's National Awards Program to recognize individual contributions to the travel and tourism industry. Induction to the U.S. Travel Hall of Leaders is the single highest and most revered honor an individual in the travel and tourism industry can receive. The award is presented by the U.S. Travel Association. Inductees into the Hall of Leaders are individuals who have made sustained, noteworthy contributions that have strengthened the broad travel and tourism industry. The exemplary vision and leadership demonstrated by these individuals have strengthened and unified the industry well beyond their own organizations, industry segments or communities. If you have questions, please email Judith Harris, Vice President, Member Services. Past Honorees 2024 Christopher L. Thompson Brand USA 2024 William D. “Bill” Talbert, III Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau 2023 Elliott L. Ferguson, II Destination DC 2023 Peter F. Herschend Herschend Enterprises 2022 Roger Dow U.S. Travel Association 2021 Roger Miles Miles Partnership 2020 Joe D'Alessandro San Francisco Travel Association 2020 Ernest Wooden Jr. Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board 2019 Bob Moore Hilton 2019 Nancy Novogrod Travel + Leisure 2018 Todd Davidson Travel Oregon 2018 Spurgeon Richardson Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau 2017 Arne Sorenson Marriott International 2017 Randy Smith STR 2016 Caroline Beteta Visit California 2016 Christopher J. Nassetta Hilton Worldwide 2015 Michael A. Leven Georgia Aquarium 2015 W. Stephen Maritz Maritz Holdings Inc. 2014 Sam Gilliland Sabre Corporation 2014 Rossi Rallenkotter Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority 2013 Mike Gallagher CityPASS 2013 Randy Garfield The Walt Disney Company 2012 Gary Sain Visit Orlando 2012 Peter Greenberg CBS News 2011 The Honorable Harry Reid U.S. Congress 2011 Donald S. Freeman Freeman Companies 2010 Isadore Sharp Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts 2009 Adam Goldstein Royal Caribbean International 2009 Stevan Porter InterContinental Hotel Group 2009 Andrew Taylor Enterprise Rent-A-Car 2008 Jay Rasulo Walt Disney Parks and Resorts 2007 Stephen P. Holmes Wyndham Worldwide 2006 Jonathan S. Linen American Express 2005 William S. Norman Travel Industry Association of America 2005 Alan Fredericks Travel Weekly 2004 Richard D. Fain Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. 2003 Marilyn Carlson Nelson Carlson Companies Inc. 2002 Jonathan M. Tisch Loews Hotels 2001 Walt Disney Walt Disney Co. 2000 Joseph Vittoria The Travel Company 1999 Michael Egan Certified Vacations Group, Inc 1999 Edward Hogan Pleasant Holidays LLC 1998 Curtis Carlson Carlson Companies, Inc. 1997 Marjorie Beenders Missouri Division of Tourism 1997 Thomas Kershaw Hampshire House Corporation 1997 Patrick McMahon Virginia Tourism Corporation 1996 The Honorable Ronald Brown U.S. Department of Commerce 1996 Kenneth Hine, CAE American Hotel & Motel Association 1996 George Kirkland Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau 1995 Jim Host National Tour Association, Inc. 1994 Roger Ballou American Express Travel Related Services Co., Inc. 1994 Darryl Hartley-Leonard Hyatt Hotels Corporation 1994 David Humphreys Recreation Vehicle Industry Association 1993 Ted Balestreri The Cannery Row Company 1993 Earlene Causey VIP Travel Agency of Baytown 1993 The Honorable John Rockefeller IV U.S. Congress 1992 Stanley Fisher Allied Tours 1992 Charles Goeldner University of Colorado, College of Business 1992 Robert Harnsberger Luray Caverns 1991 Preston Robert Tisch Loews Corporation 1991 Charles West Alaska Sightseeing Tours TravAlaska 1991 Kemmons Wilson Holiday Inns, Inc. 1990 Robert Dickinson Carnival Cruise Lines 1990 The Honorable Ernest Hollings U.S. Congress 1990 Dr. John Hunt University of Massachusetts--Amherst 1990 Norman Philion Air Transport Association 1989 Bob LeBlanc Louisiana Office of Tourism 1989 Jack Lindquist Walt Disney Productions 1989 William Toohey Travel Industry Association of America 1988 Chuck Gee University of Hawaii 1988 Voit Gilmore Four Seasons Travel Service 1988 Arthur Tauck, Jr. Tauck Tours 1987 Eric Friedheim Travel Agent Magazine 1987 Robert Giersdorf Exploration Cruise Lines 1986 Edward Book Hershey Entertainment and Resort Company 1986 William Edwards Hilton Hotels Corporation 1986 J. W. Marriott, Jr. Marriott Hotels and Resorts 1985 Paul Ignatius Air Transport Association 1985 Howard "Bud" James American Hotel & Motel Association 1985 Irwin Robinson Travel Weekly 1984 The Honorable Donna Tuttle USTTA 1984 Peter Ueberroth Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee 1983 Howard Clark American Express Company 1983 Mary Huddleston Trailways, Inc. 1982 Jeanne James Arizona Hotel & Motel Association 1982 James Michener Author 1981 Bunny Grossinger Grossinger Hotel 1981 The Honorable James Santini U.S. Congress 1980 Melinda Bush Hotel & Travel Index 1980 James Montgomery Pan American World Airways 1979 Elana Andersen Hyatt Hotels Corporation 1979 Robert Sullivan San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau 1978 Marjorie McDonald Georgia Hospitality & Travel Association 1978 Paul Rodgers Ozark Airlines, Inc. 1977 Betty Blake Betty Blake & Company 1977 James Kerrigan Trailways, Inc 1976 Katharine Kane City of Boston 1976 William Walton Holiday Inns, Inc. 1975 Florence Somers Redbook 1975 C. Langhorne Washburn United States Travel Service 1974 The Honorable Daniel Inouye U.S. Congress 1974 Frances Koltun Frances Koltun Enterprises 1973 Bill Hardman Hardman Productions 1972 Charles Gillett New York Convention and Visitors Bureau 1971 William Patterson American Express Company 1970 Laurance Rockefeller Rockresorts, Inc. 1969 Clarence Arata Metropolitan Washington Board of Trade 1969 Robert Murphy, Jr. Washington State Travel Council
