Power Hour
10/24/2024
Raleigh, NC
U.S. Representative Deborah Ross joined U.S. Travel, Visit Raleigh and local business leaders for a Travel Works Power Hour at the Raleigh Durham Airport Authority.
Key Speaker
The Honorable Deborah Ross
U.S. Representative (NC-02)
Discussion Summary
On October 24, 2024, U.S. Representative Deborah Ross joined U.S. Travel, Visit Raleigh and local business leaders for a Travel Works Power Hour at the Raleigh Durham Airport Authority.
The discussion focused on critical topics to the travel industry, including ongoing hurricane relief efforts in Western North Carolina; preparing for the upcoming decade of major sporting events coming to the U.S.; the need to lower wait times for first-time visitor visa applicants, currently facing 260+ day wait times on average in key inbound markets; reducing wait times for travelers at U.S. Customs at gateway airports; the need to permanently expand the H-2B worker visa program, which provides temporary workers to support small and seasonal business; airport funding for non-airlines hub airports in high growth markets.
Attendees
- Marchell Adams-David, City of Raleigh
- Dennis Edwards, Visit Raleigh
- Sheri Erhart, CMC Hotels
- Loren Gold, Visit Raleigh
- Michael Landguth, Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority
- Mark Lawson, Cary Chamber of Commerce
- Crystal Lorbacher, Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority
- Joe Milazzo, Regional Transportation Alliance
- Andrew Newhart, U.S. Travel Association
- Kerry Painter, Raleigh Convention Center & Performing Arts Center
- Scott Peacock, Visit North Carolina
- Chris Powers, Trophy Brewing
- Kyle Touchtone, Raleigh Economic Development
- Cyndi Tomblin, Wake County Hospitality Alliance
- Isabel Villa-Garcia, North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association
- Doug Warf, President of the Carolina Hurricane and Lenovo Center
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