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July 09, 2012

REMINDER: DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS IS CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON JULY 10TH

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE: OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP ON THE CORPORATION FOR TRAVEL PROMOTION

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION
CORPORATION FOR TRAVEL PROMOTION
AGENCY: International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce

Action: Notice of an Opportunity for Travel and Tourism Industry Leaders to Apply for Membership on the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Travel Promotion.
   
Summary: The Department of Commerce is currently seeking applications from travel and tourism leaders from specific industries for membership on the Board of Directors of The Corporation for Travel Promotion (Board) (dba Brand USA). The purpose of the Board is to guide the Corporation for Travel Promotion on matters relating to the promotion of the U.S. travel and tourism industry, among other tasks.
   
Addresses: Electronic applications may be sent to: OACIE@trade.gov. Written applications can be submitted to Jennifer Pilat, Director, Office of Advisory Committees and Julie Heizer, Acting Director, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, Room 4043, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 4043, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230, telephone: 202-482-4501, email: jennifer.pilat@trade.gov.
   
Dates: All applications must be received by the Office of Advisory Committees by close of business on July 10, 2012.
   
For Further Information Contact:

Julie Heizer, Acting Director
Office of Travel and Tourism Industries
Room 1015
1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20230
Telephone: 202-482-4904
Email: julie.heizer@trade.gov

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background: The Travel Promotion Act (TPA) was signed into law by President Obama on March 4, 2010. The TPA established the Corporation for Travel Promotion (the Corporation), as a non-profit corporation charged with the development and execution of a plan to (A) Provide useful information to those interested in traveling to the United States; (B) identify and address perceptions regarding U.S. entry policies; (C) maximize economic and diplomatic benefits of travel to the United States through the use of various promotional tools; (D) ensure that international travel benefits all States and the District of Columbia, and (E) identify opportunities to promote tourism to rural and urban areas equally, including areas not traditionally visited by international travelers.

The Corporation is governed by a board of directors, consisting of 11 members with knowledge of international travel promotion and marketing, broadly representing various regions of the United States. The TPA directs the Secretary of Commerce (after consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State) to appoint the board of directors for the Corporation for Travel Promotion.

At this time, the Department will be selecting four individuals with the appropriate expertise and experience from specific sectors of the travel and tourism industry to serve on the Board as follows:

  1. 1 shall have appropriate expertise and experience in the hotel accommodations sector;
  2. 1 shall have appropriate expertise and experience in the restaurant sector;
  3. 1 shall have appropriate expertise and experience as an official of a state tourism office; and
  4. 1 shall have appropriate expertise and experience as officials of a city convention and visitors' bureau.

To be eligible for Board membership, one must have international travel and tourism marketing experience and must also be a U.S. citizen. In addition, individuals cannot be federally registered lobbyists or registered as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended.

Those selected for the Board must be able to meet the time and effort commitments of the Board. Priority may be given to individuals with experience as a Chief Executive Officer or President (or comparable level of responsibility) of an organization or entity in the travel and tourism sector in the United States.

Board members serve at the discretion of the Secretary of Commerce (who may remove any member of the Board for good cause). The terms of office of each member of the Board appointed by the Secretary shall be 3 years. Board members can serve a maximum of two consecutive full three-year terms. Board members are not considered Federal government employees by virtue of their service as a member of the Board and will receive no compensation from the Federal government for their participation in Board activities. Members participating in Board meetings and events will be paid actual travel expenses and per diem when away from their usual places of residence.

To be considered for membership, please provide the following:

1. Name, title, and personal resume of the individual requesting consideration; and

2. A brief statement of why the person should be considered for membership on the Board. This statement should also address the individual's relevant international travel and tourism marketing experience and indicate clearly the sector or sectors enumerated above in which the individual has the requisite expertise and experience. Individuals who have the requisite expertise and experience in more than one sector can be appointed from only one of those sectors. Appointments of members to the Board will be made by the Secretary of Commerce.

Dated: June 20, 2012

Jennifer Pilat
Director, Office of Advisory Committees