On September 4th, the U.S. Travel Association joined forces with Congressman Darren Soto and over 20 Orlando-area travel and business leaders for a dynamic “Travel Works for America” Power Hour at the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. This gathering brought together prominent local and national figures to highlight the crucial role travel plays in driving the region’s economy and supporting local businesses.
The event emphasized the vital contributions travel makes to Orlando’s growth, showcasing its importance in sustaining economic prosperity. “We are grateful for the opportunity to join the conversation with Visit Orlando, Experience Kissimmee, Congressman Soto and other local leaders to discuss travel’s indispensable value to communities like the Orlando area,” said Tori Emerson Barnes, U.S. Travel Executive Vice President for Public Affairs and Policy. “We look forward to working with local leadership and Congressman Soto to continue to support the recognition and growth of travel to his district and throughout the nation.”
Congressman Soto, a strong advocate for the travel industry, echoed this sentiment, stating, “I was thrilled to join representatives from Visit Orlando, Experience Kissimmee, and others for a discussion on Central Florida travel as part of U.S. Travel’s ‘Travel Works for America’ Advocacy Tour. We’re investing millions of dollars to upgrade Orlando International Airport, improve passports, visas, and workforce, expand I-4 and Brightline/SunRail, and more. We are proud to support our top industry.”
The event brought together key figures from the tourism sector, including Casandra Matej, President & CEO of Visit Orlando, who emphasized the power of collaboration in driving the industry’s success. “Our meeting with Congressman Soto and U.S. Travel highlights the power of collaboration,” she stated. “Tourism is a driving force behind Orlando’s economy, generating over $92 billion in economic impact and supporting more than 464,000 direct and indirect jobs in our community. By working together to address challenges and explore opportunities, we can ensure our region continues to thrive, benefiting all who live, work, and visit here.”
DT Minich, President and CEO of Experience Kissimmee, highlighted the importance of the event in facilitating productive dialogue about the challenges facing the industry. “Congressman Soto has been a huge champion and advocate for the travel industry in our community, and this was an invaluable opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue about the challenges facing our industry. This program, coordinated by U.S. Travel, was a tremendous success, making for a productive and impactful afternoon,” he said.
The Power Hour group engaged in discussions on several key issues affecting both the local and national travel industries. Topics included the urgent need to reduce the lengthy 260+ day average wait time for first-time visitor visa applicants in major inbound markets, as well as addressing delays for travelers at U.S. Customs and gateway airports. Another critical point raised was the necessity to permanently expand the H-2B worker visa program, which is especially vital for communities in the Orlando area reliant on temporary workers to support small and seasonal businesses.
The agenda also featured discussions on federal-level actions needed to further support the industry, including securing full funding for the newly established Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Additional priorities included opportunities for Congress to modernize travel infrastructure through a new major infrastructure bill and the ongoing importance of Brand USA, the nation’s official destination marketing organization.
