DATE: October 13, 2003
TIME: 1:30 – 4:30p.m
PLACE: Washington Convention Center
801 Mount Vernon Place, NW
Washington, DC 20001

SUMMARY: The United States Travel and Tourism Promotion Advisory Board (“Board”) will hold a Board meeting on October 13, 2003 at the Washington Convention Center.

The Board will discuss the design, development and subsequent implementation of an international advertising and promotional campaign, which will seek to encourage individuals from select countries to travel to the United States for the express purpose of engaging in tourism. The meeting will be open to the public. Time will be permitted for public comment. To sign up for public comment, please contact Julie Heizer at least 24 hours before the start of the meeting. She may be contacted at U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room 7025, Washington, DC 20230; via fax at (202) 482-4272; or, via e-mail at tinet_tinet_promotion@ita.doc.gov

Written comments concerning Board affairs are welcome anytime before or after the meeting. Written comments should be directed to Julie Heizer. Minutes will be available within 30 days of this meeting.

The Board is mandated by Public Law 108-7, Section 210. As directed by Public Law 108-7, Section 210, the Secretary of Commerce shall design, develop and implement an international advertising and promotional campaign, which seeks to encourage individuals to travel to the United States. The Board shall recommend to the Secretary of Commerce the appropriate coordinated activities for funding. This campaign shall be a multi-media effort that seeks to leverage the Federal dollars with contributions of cash and in-kind products unique to the travel and tourism industry. The Board was chartered in August of 2003 and will expire on August 8, 2005.

The Washington Convention Center is accessible by Metro via the Yellow Line. The Yellow Line exit for the Washington Convention Center is Mt. Vernon Square/ Convention Center.

For further information, phone Julie Heizer, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI), International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce at (202) 482-4904. This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to OTTI.