IAAPA Legislative Summit – Day 2

Our day began with a breakfast briefing in the US Capitol.



Congressman Ric Kellar (FL-8th) and Congressman Sam Farr (CA) were the featured speakers.

Following breakfast, we received a briefing on IAAPA’s legislative agenda. The Travel Promotion Act of 2007 is a major initiative with board support from national and state tourism entities. The TPA would create a public-private partnership (similar to VISITFLORIDA) with public funding coming from a $10 fee which would be collect from US visitors arriving in the US from visa wavier countries. Our industry is working to garner additional sponsors for the bill in the US House of Representatives and the US Senate.

Our groups received appointments to visit elected officials from Florida. With me, our group included Barbara Heffernan (Anheuser-Busch), John McReynolds (Universal), Roger Berry (R.S. Alberts Co). We were escorted by Melinda Maxfield, an Associate with Williams & Jenson, IAPPA’s lobby firm.

Our visits including meeting with Legislative Aides for Sen. Mel Martinez, Rep. Allen Boyd (FL-2nd), Rep. Corrine Brown (FL-3rd), and Rep. Tom Feeney (FL-24th).

Our dinner was back at the Willard Hotel. Our speaker was Rep. Ron Klein (FL-22nd). Klein was running late because the Florida Democrat caucus had been meeting to discuss a resolution to the Florida Democratic primary stalemate between the Democratic National Committee, and the Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama campaigns. When asked, Klein stated that they had agreed that there would not be a revote.