The U.S. Travel Association has announced Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO of Wyndham Hotel Group, as its new national chair. He was elected in a member-wide vote and last week, presided over his first Board of Directors meeting as national chair. Ballotti succeeds Travel Oregon CEO Todd Davidson.
As national chair of U.S. Travel, Ballotti will guide the board and association's efforts to:
- Increase travel to and within the United States;
- Aggressively highlight the role of the U.S. travel industry in driving increased economic growth and opportunity; and
- Advocate for policies that secure and facilitate travel, keeping the U.S. "open for business."
As president and CEO of the Wyndham Hotel Group, Ballotti leads a team focused on transforming the company's quality, technology, marketing and loyalty programs. The company's portfolio boasts internationally recognized trademarks including Days Inn, Ramada and Super 88, and is united by Wyndham's loyalty program: Wyndham Rewards.
Last year, the U.S. Travel Association Celebrated their 75th anniversary, marking a milestone for the association's success in promoting and protecting travel. On October 16, 1941, the founding meeting of what now is the U.S. Travel Association was held at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., with the goal of increasing travel within the U.S. Much of the association's post-World War II efforts were created to counter widespread "Don't Travel" campaigns. The U.S. Travel Association aimed to help policymakers and citizens alike better understand the value of travel.
Nearly 30 years after the founding of the U.S. Travel Association, The Hall of Leaders was established as part of the U.S. Travel's National Awards Program to recognized individual contributions to the travel and tourism industry. According to the U.S. Travel Association website, inductees into the Hall of Leaders are "individuals who have made sustained, noteworthy contributions that have had a positive impact on the broad travel and tourism industry." Nominations for 2017 inductees will open in the spring.
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