The Power of Travel Coalition, a project of the U.S. Travel Association, is the grassroots army defending and strengthening the American travel community to enhance the economy and create jobs. The coalition is urging all with an interest in the travel industry to contact their U.S. legislators and encourage them to support reauthorization of Brand USA, a destination marketing organization promoting the United States as a travel destination.

The staff at the Convention & Visitors Bureau hopes you will help in that effort. Read the information below from the Power of Travel Coalition, then click here to email your representatives and senators.

Power of Travel CoalitionA bipartisan bill has been introduced in the U.S. House and Senate that would reauthorize Brand USA and take the first step in extending this vital program through 2020. Brand USA has been working hard to promote the United States as our nation's first-ever national destination marketing organization and their efforts have already shown dramatic results in increasing international travel to the U.S. With its scheduled expiration at the end of fiscal year 2015, it's time to let lawmakers know just how valuable Brand USA is to our economy and our diplomatic efforts.
ABOUT THE BILL: Introduced by Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12) and Peter Welch (D-VT-1), and Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Roy Blunt (R-MO), the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 2014would reauthorize Brand USA, allowing the public-private partnership to continue its critical work increasing international travel to the U.S. at no cost to American taxpayers. By marketing the U.S. abroad and attracting more visitors, Brand USA stimulates U.S. economic growth, spurs job creation, and creates a more positive impression of the U.S. around the world.
WHAT'S AT STAKE: America's share of the international travel market has decreased in the last 13 years while during the same period the global travel market has expanded by nearly 60 percent. Brand USA was created in 2010 by the Travel Promotion Act, and has since had a huge impact in reversing the downward trend by leveling the playing ground and promoting the U.S. abroad. In fact, Brand USA has shown an impressive return on investment for its promotional efforts. For fiscal year 2013, Brand USA attracted 1.1 million additional international travelers to the U.S. These added tourists spent $3.4 billion at our shops, hotels, restaurants and destinations, supporting more than 53,00 new American jobs. Reauthorizing Brand USA has broad bipartisan support and is crucial to the growth of the American economy.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Email your Representatives and Senators urging them to co-sponsor the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 2014. Click the link below to log in and send your message: https://www.votervoice.net/link/target/ustravel/4zJEBP7EF.aspx