Due to chronic underinvestment in high-performing transportation modes, policy barriers to connectivity and declining federal revenue, travel in America is slowly grinding to a halt, argues the U.S. Travel Association, who announced it will host travel and transportation leaders November 20 at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. for its inaugural Connecting America Through Travel (CATT) conference. The goal: to pursue innovative ideas and solutions to revitalize America's travel infrastructure, U.S. Travel said.
"During a time when our global competitors are modernizing airports, expanding high-speed rail, improving transit and increasing highway performance, U.S. travel infrastructure is becoming more congested and outdated," said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. "While the rest of the world is speeding up, the U.S. is slowing down and our industry can no longer stand on the sidelines and accept a lack of progress in Washington. It's time for the travel industry and the traveler to join the debate and advocate for change."
The CATT conference will examine how the condition of America's travel infrastructure affects the travel industry's bottom line and prospects for growth, and how travel's interests align with traditional transportation stakeholders that have long advocated for change, the association says..
Attendees will learn about new research examining the links between infrastructure investment and growth in the travel sector; hear from thought leaders on the challenges to maintaining and building efficient, connected transportation systems; and forge new alliances for advocacy efforts in Washington and beyond.
Featured speakers include Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC's "Morning Joe;" the Hon. Edward G. Rendell, former governor of Pennsylvania and co-chair of Building America's Future; Jonathan M. Tisch, chairman of Loews Hotels and chairman emeritus of U.S. Travel; and Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The conference will be emceed by Katty Kay, lead anchor for BBC World News America.
Visit www.ustravel.org.