Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ness travel. Every major tourism trade group signed on to an emergency cry for help: “We
are extremely concerned about the unintended consequences of unnecessarily restricting
corporate meetings, events and incentive travel programs.”
Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to President Obama, invited thirteen industry leaders to
the White House to meet with her and Lawrence Summers, an economic advisor to the
President. The group had just settled in when, to their surprise, the president walked in.
“We had no idea he was coming,” said Freeman.
The president shook hands all around and said he understood why they were con-
cerned.
Bill Marriott, chairman and CEO of Marriott International as well as the unofficial
éminence grise of tourism in Washington, was the first to speak for the group. He ex-
plained that they were concerned about the drop in international visitors as well as the
downturn in business travel for meetings and events since the president encouraged cut-
backs on travel. Now, they were asking the president to become their ally.
Much of the conversation required stripping travel of its emotional power, all of the ro-
mance and pleasure, the discovery and freedom trumpeted in advertisements, and instead,
have the president and his aides view it as they do one of the most important businesses in
the country. “You could see the light go on,” said Freeman. “Finally we were able to make
our case that foreigners coming to the United States and spending money here would not
cost the taxpayers a dime. That we weren't asking for a handout. It would be a free stimu-
lus package. We wanted the president to encourage travel.”
The president said he would not be able to do that but after the meeting he stopped ar-
guing for a reduction. At the end of the meeting, Jonathan M. Tisch, chairman and CEO
of Loews Hotels issued a statement saying, “We are pleased to have the support of Presid-
ent Obama and his team, and look forward to working with them in the days ahead.”
A few months later President Obama lived through a searing moment when he came
to understand the high cost of telling foreigners they are not welcome in the United
States. His hometown of Chicago was one of the four finalists to host the 2016 Summer
Olympics; the city had spent millions to prepare its bid. In October of 2009, President
Obama and his wife Michelle traveled to Copenhagen to lobby for Chicago. The popular
young couple was greeted as near-royalty in Europe, raising their confidence that Chicago
would host the Olympics.
Then the president sat down with the Olympic delegates to argue their case. Some of
the delegates said they doubted that all the Olympic athletes and foreign visitors would
be allowed to enter the United States; and that those who did might be humiliated by the
border guards. Syed Shahid Ali, a member of the International Olympic Committee from
Pakistan, told Obama that, for many people, entering the United States can be “a rather
harrowing experience.” The president answered that the country would welcome visitors
Search WWH ::




Custom Search