The U.S. Travel Association recently announced Travel Blitz, a 2013 grassroots advocacy program to stress the power of the $1.9 trillion travel industry and its 14.4 million-strong workforce to both freshmen and incumbent Members of Congress. It will leverage the strength of U.S. Travel’s 1,200 member organizations in identifying and developing congressional advocates in key districts and states nationwide.


“The new Congress in Washington, D.C. is poised to wrestle with critical issues that will either drive or hamper our nation’s economic growth, and travel will figure prominently in much of the debate,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “Every congressional district in America can thank travel for jobs and economic activity, so we’ve designed a program to build our bench of champions in Congress, those members who will stand with us and play offense on policies to protect and stimulate increased travel.”

Travel Blitz builds on the overwhelming success of U.S. Travel’s groundbreaking 2012 Vote Travel campaign, a national effort that brought travel’s impact to the forefront of dozens of communities with a bus tour and public events with elected officials. In 2013, Travel Blitz components will include:

• In-district roundtables and meetings with Members of Congress and their staff;
• Back-of-house industry tours (at locations such as convention and meeting facilities, hotels and attractions) for Members of Congress and their staff to witness firsthand the investment and training that goes into building the travel industry’s growing workforce and the impact that travel events create on local economies; and
• Local rallies in support of travel initiatives.

While Travel Blitz officially kicks off in January, a “draft” of grassroots activists is currently underway through U.S. Travel’s Power of Travel Coalition website. Persons interested in becoming involved as a local leader in this effort are encouraged to sign up and serve on the team.