Just in time for the uptick in travel following the coronavirus, the U.S. Travel Association has a new leader.
Geoff Freeman has been named as the new CEO and president of the lobbying firm that represents airlines, airports, hotels, theme parks, and tourism organizations.
After serving in senior positions at various Washington, D.C.-based trade associations for almost ten years, including the American Gaming Association and the Consumer Brands Association, where he is presently employed, Geoff Freeman will return to the company on September 1.
In a statement, Freeman said, "I am delighted to begin to work on behalf of this amazing business, which has long had a special spot for me.
"The travel business is one of the most vital to the economy of the country, connected to customers, and important for bringing Americans together.
I'm eager to get started because I know the brilliant U.S. Travel team can keep setting new standards.
Companies have gradually started sending staff on business travels as nations relax their tight entry rules; according to the U.S. Travel Association, $222 billion will be spent on business travel and the remaining $827 billion on leisure travel.
The tourism organization anticipates an 18% increase in visits to the United States, or 5.4 million people, after the U.S. government eliminated the predeparture COVID-19 testing requirement earlier this month.
The incoming CEO is credited with aiding in the creation of the Travel Promotion Act of 2009, which created the Corporation for Travel Promotion as a nonprofit organization tasked with marketing American travel that qualifies for financing from the federal government.
The speedier security procedure, TSA PreCheck, was also made possible with his assistance.
The travel group claims that 2023 will be "the year" when we start to notice a noticeable push towards pre-pandemic travel recovery, notwithstanding the anticipated uptick in travel.
Roger Dow, the U.S. Travel Association's current president and CEO, predicted earlier this month that 2023 will be the turning point.
Travel will return and be even better than before.
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