Responsibility (not Restriction) in Business Travel

It’s disheartening to hear Congressional chatter proposing legislation that unnecessarily curbs business travel instead of regarding it as an important factor in stimulating the economy. As an alternative, the U.S. Travel Association has just released suggested guidelines for companies receiving TARP funds in order to determine if proposed business travel merits a justifiable return on investment.

Ten companies (Carlson, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, Hilton, Hyatt, InterContinental Hotels Group, Loews, Marriott, Starwood and Wyndham Worldwide) are sponsoring ads in political journals with the aim of educating decision makers about the value of business tourism and the devastating effects of losing it. Endorsing quantifiable responsibility instead of restriction not only protects jobs but encourages much-needed transparency.

(Thanks to Jeff Weinstein, Editor-in-Chief of HOTELS magazine, for tipping us off to the U.S. Travel Association’s guidelines proposal.)