PowWow [3]

(Scrisoare de multumire primita de participantii din partea presei internationale la POW WOW 2009, dde la BRUCE BOMMARITO)
On behalf of the U.S. Travel Association team, I would like to thank you for your attendance at International Pow Wow 2009 in Miami. We especially appreciate everyone's efforts to attend during this challenging economic time. The $3.5 billion of business conducted during the more than 70,000 pre-scheduled appointments this year points again to the value of face-to-face meetings.

In response to numerous requests, I am pleased to provide links to videos of our keynote speakers' presentations. On Monday, we heard from Eric Danziger, President and CEO, Wyndham Hotel Group, our Chair for this year's Pow Wow. Danziger offered an inspirational look at the travel industry from the eyes of someone who started in the business as a bellboy. On Wednesday, we heard from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke who, in one of his first major addresses since being sworn into office on May 1, offered his support to our industry saying, "We are committed to removing barriers to the growth of tourism exports."

Thank you to our Chair for its leadership on the International Pow Wow Planning Committee for this year's International Pow Wow, Wyndham Hotel Group and its brands - Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Ramada Worldwide, Days Inn, Super 8, Wingate by Wyndham, Baymont Inn & Suites, Microtel Inns & Suites, Hawthorne Suites, Howard Johnson, Travelodge, Knight's Inn and AmeriHost Inn.
On Tuesday, we were fortunate to be entertained in grand Texas style by Texas Tourism and its many partners - so thank you to: Austin; Houston; Houston Airports; CityPass, Houston; Continental Airlines; San Antonio; Dallas; Irving; Fort Worth; Grapevine; American Airlines; Arlington; Northpark; Cavender's; Prime Outlets San Marcos; Allen, Houston, Rio Grande and Round Rock Premium Outlets; Taxfree Shopping Texas; Sabre Travel Network; Radisson Austin - Town Lake; San Marcos; Bay Area Houston; South Padre Island; Amarillo; McAllen and Plano.
Thanks also to Best Western International and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group for sponsoring the lounges; CityPass, Inc. for sponsoring the Media Marketplace and Reception, the Discover America Travel Writers Award and luggage tags; Amtrak for sponsoring the internet kiosks; GTA - Gulliver's Travel Associates for sponsoring the delegate bags; Moleskine for sponsoring the pocket notebooks; Hard Rock International for sponsoring the Visit USA Latin America Breakfast and Small World Publications for sponsoring the Visit USA Luncheon.

Special thanks to our Partner in Travel, American Express for its ongoing support to the U.S. Travel Association. The final day's $10,000 Travelers Cheques drawing for buyers is always a great close to the business appointment sessions.

I would also like to express our sincere thanks for an incredible welcome with fun-filled sightseeing tours and evening extravaganzas to the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau and its partners: VISIT FLORIDA; Miami-Dade County; Miami Beach; the Miami Beach Visitors and Convention Authority; the Miami Herald; the Historic Village of Coconut Grove; Coral Gables; the City of Miami; the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts; and the Miami Parking Authority. And a special thank you to the Miami International Airport for offering dedicated express arrival lines for our international travelers.

We look forward to welcoming you back next year to Orlando, Florida!(Mariana Andronic)