Travel overall was by far the hardest-hit industry in the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. Although hospitality and leisure unemployment continues to decline, it remains significantly worse than overall U.S. unemployment. The industry will not be able to fully recover without a swift return of all segments of travel, particularly business travel and inbound international travel.
ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO CONGRESS AND BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
U.S. Travel remains in close contact with the White House, congressional leadership, the CDC, DHS and the SBA on relief and recovery policies to restore the travel economy. Recent letters and outreach can be found in the list below:
- Industrywide Letter Calling for Action to Fully Restore the Travel Economy (January 2022)
- Letter Calling for the Removal of Testing Requirements for Vaccinated Travelers (February 2022)
OUTREACH TO CONGRESS AND ADMINISTRATION (2021)
- Letter Calling for the Resumption of Adequate Visa Operations (July 29)
- A Framework to Safely Lift Entry Restrictions and Restart International Travel (July 7)
- Bipartisan House Letter Supporting Reopening International Travel (July 7)
- Letter from Gateway Airports Council to the President to Reopen International Travel (June 15)
- Letter from Destination CEOs to the White House To Reopen International Travel (June 8)
- Letter from 23 Top Travel CEOs to White House Requesting Reopening Roadmap (May 11)
- Testimony before the Senate Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Tourism, Trade, and Export Promotion (May 18)
- Aviation Group Letter to Administration on Reopening International Travel (March)
- Senate Travel and Tourism Caucus Co-Chairs Letter to Commerce Secretary Raimondo (March 30)
- Letter to Secretary Yellen (March 30)
- Congressional Letter to White House COVID Task Force on the Reopening of the Cruise Industry (March 25)
- Aviation Group Letter to Administration on Reopening International Travel (March 22)
- Letter from 93 Organizations in Support of the PPP Extension Act of 2021 (March 15)
- Letter to White House on Health Credentials for Testing and Vaccination from Industry Associations (March 8)
- Letter to Members of Congress on Fiscal Year 2022 Priorities for Appropriation Bills (March 8)
- Industry Coalition Letter to Senate Leadership Requesting PPP Extension (March 3)
- Industry Letter in Support of the Hospitality and Commerce Job Recovery Act (February 25)
- Letter to Administration on Domestic Testing from Aviation Groups (February 9)
- Aviation Group Letter to the COVID-19 Recovery Team on Executive Orders (January 29)
- Recommendations for the First 100 Days of the Biden Administration (January 27)
MORE:
OUTREACH TO CONGRESS AND ADMINISTRATION (2020)
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. Letters and outreach can be found in the list below:
- U.S. Travel Letter to Treasury and SBA on PPP Guidance for DMOs (December 29)
- COVID RELIEF NOW Coalition Joint Letter to Congressional Leadership (December 1)
- Industry Letter in Support of Visit America Act (November 20)
- U.S. Travel Letter to President Trump on CRF Extension (November 19)
- Coalition for Safe Alternatives to Quarantines Letter to HHS, DOT and DHS (October 22)
- Travel Industry CEO Joint Statement (October 1)
- COVID RELIEF NOW Coalition Letter to Congressional Leadership (September 30)
- Kentucky Travel Business Leaders Sign On Letter (August 14)
- California Travel Business Leaders Sign On Letter (August 14)
- New York Travel Business Leaders Sign On Letter (August 14)
- 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.