While the overall economy is in a recession, the travel industry is in a depression—at 51%, travel industry unemployment is double the worst year of the Great Depression. Congress can help #SaveTravel, bring back jobs and rebuild our economy by prioritizing relief and protection for the travel industry.
TAKE ACTION TODAY
Congress is negotiating the next phase of coronavirus relief. Time is running out—we must ACT NOW in order to secure our industry as much relief and protection as possible. Contact your members of Congress TODAY.
Encourage your Senators to include ALL of the travel industry's top priorities for relief, protection and stimulus in the next COVID-19 legislative package using Power of Travel Coalition’s Action Alert to send an email or tag them in a tweet.
Use the materials below to reach your members of Congress and help the travel industry speak with a united voice on social media.
- NEW! Advocacy Social Guide for August 2020
- Find the Twitter handles for the members of Congress in your state via Tweet Congress
- Additional resources:
- Travel Depression Social Guide and Sample Graphics (Find additional research in this fact sheet)
- #SaveTravel Social Guide and Sample Graphics
- Additional resources:
Do you work for a destination marketing organization (DMO), convention and visitors bureau (CVB) or chamber of commerce? Use our sample op-ed template to customize a submission for your local newspaper, encouraging your senators to include relief for DMOs in the final congressional package.
Recent op-eds:
- ALASKA
- Anchorage Daily News Alaska leaders’ help is needed to save Alaska tourism (August 7)
- CALIFORNIA
- Santa Monica Daily Press The Importance of Saving Travel (August 11)
- FLORIDA
- St. Augustine Record How Congress can revive Florida’s travel and tourism industry (July 11)
- GEORGIA
- The Augusta Chronicle Get economy rolling again through travel, tourism (August 8)
- IOWA
- Des Moines Register Future of Greater Des Moines tourism industry left out of recovery efforts (August 11)
- KENTUCKY
- Lexington Herald Leader Targeted aid to tourism will help restart local and state economies in Kentucky (May 29)
- NEW YORK
- The Buffalo News Tourism bureaus need to be included in stimulus bill (August 3)
- The Hill Nonprofits need relief to help the economic recovery, too (June 2)
- PENNSYLVANIA
- Centre County Gazette Leaders: Paycheck Protection relief for DMOs necessary (July 9)
- PUERTO RICO
- The Hill Nonprofits need relief to help the economic recovery, too (June 2)
- TEXAS
- San Antonio Record San Antonio’s travel industry needs a lifeline (August 9)
- WASHINGTON, D.C.
- The Hill A key 'STEP' to bring back the travel industry (August 10)
- WISCONSIN
- Cap Times Wisconsin tourism needs your help (August 9)
LETTERS SENT TO CONGRESS AND ADMINISTRATION
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Travel has been in close contact with the White House, leaders in Congress, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Treasury, and the Small Business Administration. Recent letters and outreach can be found in the list below:
- House Dear Colleague Letter on Support for Travel and Tourism (August 7)
- Letter from New York Business Leaders to Senator Schumer (July 31)
- Senate Letter to GSA on Per Diem Rates (July 31)
- Corporate CEO Letter Encouraging Federal Role in COVID-19 Testing to the President and Congressional Leadership (July 27)
- Letter from Florida and Maryland Businesses to Senators Rubio and Cardin on PPP Modifications (July 17)
- U.S. Travel Letter to Secretary Mnuchin and Congressional Leadership on the Industry's Priorities for Phase 4 Relief Legislation (July 17)
- DMO Sign On Letter to Administration and Congressional Leadership (July 17)
- Senate Letter to Congressional Leadership Requesting Additional EDA Grants for Tourism (June 29)
- U.S. Travel Letter to Secretary Mnuchin and the Federal Reserve on the Main Street Lending Program (June 22)
- DMO Sign On Letter on PPP Modifications to Congressional Leadership and Secretary Mnuchin (May 28)
- U.S. Travel letter to Congressional Leadership and Secretary Mnuchin on PPP Modifications (May 28)
- Letter from Bipartisan New York Delegation to Congressional Leadership in Support of Travel and Tourism (May 20)
- Joint Association Letter to Congressional Leadership on Liability (May 11)
- Letter to President Trump Sharing Travel Industry Health and Safety Guidance (May 4)
- Travel Industry Health and Safety Guidance Letter to All Governors (May 4)
- Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Relief Letter to Small Business Association (April 29)
- Updated DMO Sign On Letter to Congressional Leadership and Secretary Mnuchin (April 28)
- House Dear Colleague Letter in Support of DMOs (April 16)
- DMO Sign On Letter to Congressional Leadership (April 8)
- Association Questions for Small Business Administration and the Department of Treasury (April 2)
- Association Letter to the Department of Treasury and the Federal Reserve (March 31)
JOIN THE COALITION
Who we are: All travel employees, from hotel and rental car employees to theme park and cruise line workers, destination marketers, tour operators, small business owners, meeting planners and restaurant staff make up the Power of Travel Coalition, no registration is necessary. CLICK HERE if you would like to be added to receive Power of Travel Coalition Action Alerts.
