On August 5, the U.S. Travel Association held a significant meeting titled “Travel Works for America Power Hour,” in Temecula Valley, California. The event featured U.S. Congressman Darrell Issa and over 20 leaders from the region’s travel and business sectors. This gathering underscored the vital contribution of travel to local businesses and the region’s economic vitality.
Tori Emerson Barnes, U.S. Travel Executive Vice President for Public Affairs and Policy, highlighted the importance of travel for communities like Temecula Valley, stating, “Travel is critically important for communities like the Temecula Valley, which rely on travel to power their economy and workforce.” She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to collaborate with Congressman Issa on strategies to further support the growth of travel within his district and nationwide. Barnes also acknowledged the leadership of Visit Temecula Valley, instrumental in bringing the stakeholders together.
Congressman Issa echoed the importance of fostering tourism in the region, emphasizing its significance as a premier destination. He stated, “Our Southern California home is blessed to be a premier destination of choice year after year for visitors from across the country and around the world. But how do we keep it that way? Through partnerships and alliances like the U.S. Travel Association and Visit Temecula Valley as we approach a once-in-a-generation opportunity to host a marquee event at LA28: The Games of the XXXIV Olympiad.”
Expressing enthusiasm for the upcoming Olympics, Issa stated, “We can’t wait to team up and showcase Temecula and Galway Downs as the home of the Olympics equestrian competition, so let’s welcome the world and show our very best.”
Scott A. Wilson, CEO and President of Visit Temecula Valley, underscored the significance of tourism to the local economy. “Visit Temecula Valley was honored to host Congressman Darrell Issa for an important conversation with more than 20 local tourism stakeholders,” he remarked. “Tourism is vital to our local economy. It attracts more than 3 million visitors, generates more than $1.1 billion in visitor spending, and creates approximately 9,500 jobs.”
In preparation for hosting the Equestrian Competition of the 2028 Summer Olympics, Wilson expressed gratitude for the support from U.S. Travel and Congressman Issa. He acknowledged their commitment to spearheading federal support for local tourism and fostering continued investment in the community.
The discussions addressed pressing issues affecting the travel industry, including the lengthy visa processing times for U.S. visitors, which currently exceed 300 days for first-time applicants in key markets. The agenda also focused on minimizing delays at U.S. Customs for international travelers arriving at major airports.
Key future events like the 2028 Summer Olympics, particularly the Equestrian Competition set for Temecula Valley, were a focal point of the meeting. Other critical topics included advocating for a permanent expansion of the H-2B visa program to benefit small and seasonal businesses reliant on temporary staff, the advantages of implementing cutting-edge facial recognition technology at TSA checkpoints, urging complete funding for the newly established Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism, and highlighting the crucial role of Brand USA in promoting the United States as a premier travel destination.
