U.S. Travel Association: ‘We’re Working With Both Clinton and Trump’

Millions of Americans and many others around the world watched the first 2016 U.S. presidential debate this week between former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and hotel and business mogul Donald Trump.

Regardless of who America votes into the White House on November 8, the U.S. Travel Association is prepared and has already been working with both candidates.

According to Roger Dow, CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, the Washington, D.C.-based national umbrella organization representing all segments of travel in America, isn’t taking sides in the U.S. presidential race and feels he and his team are further along with educating both candidates about the travel industry than they were with President Obama before he took office in 2009. ...

“The bottom line is, we’re working with both of them, the Trump team and Hillary’s team,” said Dow, speaking during the Skift Global Forum in New York City on Tuesday. “We got together with Hillary when she was Secretary of State and she understands that visitation from outside the United States is our stealth public diplomacy.”

Trump, despite his repeated attacks against many ethnic groups and nationalities over the past year and a half and his likely impact on some international travelers’ decisions to visit the U.S., understands the travel industry, Dow said. “Donald has hotels,” said Dow. “Looking at him, he understands what happens to a market, a big city market, due to international travel.”

Dow feels confident both candidates understand why the travel industry matters. “But we’re covering our bets and working both sides because we need the next administration to come in and push further beyond the good stuff that this administration has done,” said Dow.