Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PROFILE
reflected Dow's success in unifying the travel industry and greatly
increasing its effectiveness on Capitol Hill. He has also been named
to the Convention Industry Council's prestigious Hall of Leaders, was
recognized by Meeting Professionals International (MPI) as one of
the industry's top leaders, was selected by MeetingNews as one of
the 25 most influential people in the meetings industry and has been
honored by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)
with its Academy of Leaders Award. In 2009, Dow was presented
with an honorary degree from Johnson & Wales University (doctor of
business administration in Hospitality Management).
Dow frequently speaks on leadership, sales, marketing, and
management at conventions and corporate meetings. He has co-
authored two topics: Turned On—Eight Vital Insights to Energize
Your People, Customers and Profits and The Trust Imperative—The
Competitive Advantage of Trust-Based Business Relationships.
He serves, or has served, on the board of directors of ASAE, PCMA,
ASAE Foundation, MPI Foundation (chairman), GWSAE, the Travel
Institute, RE/MAX International, and on the Advisory Boards of
Arizona State University's Center for Services Leadership and the
University of Richmond Robins School of Business.
ROGER DOW
President and CEO, U.S.
Travel Association (USTA).
R
oger Dow is president and chief executive officer of the U.S.
Dow served in the United States Army with the 101st Airborne
Division in Vietnam, where he received the Bronze Star and other
citations.
Travel Association, the national umbrella organization rep-
resenting all segments of the $704 billion U.S. travel and tour-
ism industry. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with an
active presence in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
A native of New Jersey, he earned a bachelor of science degree
from Seton Hall University, where he was senior class president,
captain of the varsity wrestling team, and secretary of Tau Kappa
Epsilon fraternity.
The mission of U.S. Travel is to increase travel to and within the
United States. It advocates the power of travel to leaders in
government, provides authoritative travel research and analysis,
and hosts annual signature events, including International Pow
Wow, that support its mission. U.S. Travel also operates
DiscoverAmerica.com, the Official Travel and Tourism Web site of
the United States.
He was named TKE alumnus of the year for 1991 and was
presented with the award by President Ronald Reagan.
Dow and his wife, Linda, reside in Potomac, Maryland.
WORDS FOR THE FUTURE
The passage of the Travel Promotion Act was a great step forward
for the U.S. travel and tourism industry. By leveling the playing
field, it enables the United States to be competitive in the world's
tourism market. Not only will it help finally reverse the declines
since 9/11 in overseas travel to the United States but the influx of
new visitors will boost our economy, create new jobs, and improve
international perceptions of our country.
Dow was instrumental in leading an industrywide movement for
creation of the Travel Promotion Act. This bipartisan legislation,
signed into law by President Obama in March 2010, established a
first-ever communications and promotion program aimed at
increasing international travel to the United States.
He has served in his present position since 2005. Prior to joining
U.S. Travel, Dow advanced through the ranks at Marriott
International in a career that spanned 34 years, where he began as
a summer lifeguard at the sixth Marriott hotel and rose to senior
vice president, global and field sales, where he led Marriott's
10,000-person worldwide sales organization. His many accom-
plishments for the company included development of Marriott
Rewards, the world's leading frequent traveler program.
Dow was recognized by his peers as the association executive of the
year, an honor presented by Association Trends magazine that
My advice to destinations and suppliers is to be flexible, patient,
creative and willing to embrace new ideas. The industry must think
positively and continue to find ways to do more with less, and to be
less provincial in our thinking. My last bit of advice is that as an
industry, we need to be ever alert to any number of new challenges
that may confront us. Recent events such as the meetings crisis,
swine flu, and the oil spill have shown us that we can't afford to
rest on our laurels.
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