Your job is valuable in more ways than one – it boosts the American economy, your local community, and of course, your bottom line. That’s because you work in one of America’s most valuable and crucial industries – travel and tourism. Our industry accounts for $1.7 trillion of the American economy, employs one out of every nine Americans, and our jobs can’t be outsourced.

Despite our value and strength, time and again our industry has been taken for granted, undervalued, or ignored. Whether attacking meetings as frivolous, using travel boycotts for political gain, or underestimating the impact of natural disasters on travel and tourism, our industry has not gotten the respect it deserves. By joining the Power of Travel Coalition, you can help change this. By standing with millions of other travel employees who understand the value of travel, you will make your voice count when it’s needed most.

Whether you work in hospitality, food service, car rental, tourism, attractions or any job under the travel and tourism umbrella, the coalition will work for you. The Coalition will amplify the voices of millions of travel employees with a vested interest in combating future assaults, rewarding leaders who champion our industry, and advocating for policies that promote travel to and within the United States for years to come. Our message is simple: Travel is powerful, and it works for America.

How can my voice really make a difference?

Your voice can make a difference! Your elected officials work for you, so your voice matters most to them. As a voter, you decide whether or not they stay in office, which means they answer to you. By rewarding your elected officials when they support our industry, or holding them to account when they don’t, as a constituent you have incredible influence.

How can the Power of Travel Coalition make a difference?

When meetings and events came under attack in 2009, the travel industry rallied and launched a counter-attack to dispel harmful political statements and flawed media reports that heightened the costs of already troubled economic times. Through this unified effort, we prevented harmful legislation, negative media rhetoric was toned down, and policymakers were made to understand the effect that attacking meetings and business travel has not just on our industry but the American economy as well. This success demonstrated the power of our unity.

What’s at stake?

Despite our value and strength, time and again our industry has been taken for granted, undervalued, or ignored. Recent history shows us that our industry often takes a hit when politicians either don’t understand or don’t appreciate the value of travel and the jobs we create. By joining the Power of Travel Coalition, you’ll be part of a powerful group of advocates working to respond to and prevent future attacks, as well as protect travel jobs. For instance:

Tragedy in the Gulf: The Power of Travel Coalition has already taken action! Earlier this month the Power of Travel Coalition developed a sign-on letter to President Barack Obama urging him to put in place a short- and long-term recovery plan that preserves and stimulates travel to the Gulf states. The Power of Travel Coalition needs your help to ensure that our government recognizes and adequately responds to the impact that the oil spill and future disasters of this magnitude have on travel and tourism.

Promoting America as a Travel Destination: U.S. Travel pulled together a coalition of advocates to win passage of legislation that, for the first time in history, creates a national travel promotion and communications program. This puts the U.S. on a path to welcoming millions of new visitors and creating thousands of American jobs. Now we need your help to hold our leaders to account and make sure this program is successful.