POSITION:
The Pennsylvania Tourism & Lodging Association opposes federal legislation that would ban businesses receiving government funds from hosting or sponsoring conferences or events. The Association also opposes efforts by the federal government to restrict corporations that received emergency government money from using it for their meetings and incentive travel programs.
BACKGROUND:
In recent political posturing, federal lawmakers have produced a caustic environment where companies are now scared to travel and hold meetings. Statements by our nation's leaders have caused millions of dollars worth of meetings to be cancelled because companies fear business travel is perceived as a luxury. As a result, hoteliers have been forced to cut back on staff for lack of business.
Meetings and events are responsible for 15 percent of all travel-related spending, create nearly $40 billion in tax revenue at the federal, state and local levels and generate more than 1 million jobs.
PTLA continues to work with the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA) and communicate to Pennsylvania's Congressional delegation that business meetings “mean business” because they create jobs and economic growth.
On September 1, 2009, the AH&LA sent a letter to the chairman and subcommittee chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to express concern about the potential unintended adverse consequences for the American economy and U.S. travel industry from the inquiries by the Committee into executive compensation and related matters in the health insurance industry.
ACTION:
We need you to contact your House and Senate members about the continued threat posed by federal lawmakers who believe business meetings and travel are unnecessary for economic growth. We've also placed a sample letter on the PTLA website that you can send to your members of Congress about the value of business travel and reminding them of the jobs that our businesses create for their local economies.
