April 14-15, 2026

Travel Champion Awards

Washington, District of Columbia

Honoring Travel Champions in Congress and the Administration

We honored Members of Congress and Executive Branch officials who champion travel and demonstrate leadership in advancing policies that strengthen the industry.

Travel Champions have a track record of supporting policies that drive travel to and within the United States, create jobs, and contribute to economic growth. They also serve as visible advocates, helping raise awareness of travel’s impact at both the national and local level.

This year, Travel Champions were recognized at the inaugural Toast to Travel Reception on Wednesday, April 15.

Past Honorees

2025	Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Florida)	U.S. House of Representatives
2025	Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Florida)	U.S. House of Representatives
2025	Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kanas)	U.S. Senate
2025	Sen. Gary Peters (D-Michigan)	U.S. Senate
2024	Rep. Sam Graves (R-Missouri)	U.S. House of Representatives
2024	Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Washington)	U.S. House of Representatives
2023	Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada)	U.S. Senate
2023	Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska)	U.S. Senate
2023	Sec. Gina Raimondo	U.S. Department of Commerce
2022	Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Missouri)	U.S. Senate
2022	Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota)	U.S. Senate
2022	Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Illinois)	U.S. House of Representatives

› View More Past Honorees

2019	Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada)	U.S. Senate
2019	Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon)	U.S. House of Representatives
2019	Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio)	U.S. Senate
2019	Rep. Tom Rice (R-South Carolina)	U.S. House of Representatives
2019	Acting Under Sec. Manisha Singh	U.S. Department of State
2018	Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine)	U.S. Senate
2018	Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai'i)	U.S. Senate
2018	Rep. Jared Huffman (D-California)	U.S. House of Representatives
2018	Rep. David Kustoff (R-Tennessee)	U.S. House of Representatives
2017	Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colorado)	U.S. Senate
2017	Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Florida)	U.S. Senate
2017	Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky)	U.S. House of Representatives
2017	Rep. Judy Chu (D-California)	U.S. House of Representatives
2016	Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nevada)	U.S. Senate
2016	Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i)	U.S. Senate
2016	Rep. David Jolly (R-Florida)	U.S. House of Representatives
2016	Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nevada)	U.S. House of Representatives
2015	Sec. Penny Pritzker	U.S. Department of Commerce
2015	Sen. John Thune (R-South Dakota)	U.S. Senate
2015	Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota)	U.S. Senate
2015	Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Florida)	U.S. House of Representatives
2015	Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Illinois)	U.S. House of Representatives
2014	Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska)	U.S. Senate
2014	Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Missouri)	U.S. Senate
2014	Rep. Sam Farr (D-California)	U.S. House of Representatives
2014	Rep. Joe Heck (R-Nevada)	U.S. House of Representatives