Travel trade non-profit the U.S. Travel Association has inked a pact with law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck to lobbying on Capitol Hill on issues related to Brand USA, the campaign that promotes overseas tourism to the U.S.
Founded in 2010 under the Travel Promotion Act, the public-private destination marketing organization faced the threat of having its funding eliminated under the Trump administration’s fiscal 2018 budget proposal.
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The USTA is pushing for a continued reauthorization of the U.S. travel marketing arm as the U.S. faces a decline in international arrivals. Inbound international travel to the U.S. has experienced a precipitous drop since President Trump’s inauguration, a trend that many travel industry pros have begun referring to as the “Trump Slump.”
A three-person team handles the USTA account: Brian McGuire, former chief of staff to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY); Brian Wild, former senior advisor to House Speaker John Boehner, deputy assistant for legislative affairs to Vice President Dick Cheney and chief of staff and legislative director for Congressman Pat Toomey (R-PA); and Elizabeth Gore, former chief of staff to Sen Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and legislative director to Rep Chet Edwards (D-TX).
The travel and tourism trade group in March hired lobbying firm Klein/Johnson Group for additional help with Brand USA appropriations.
Missy Edwards Strategies represents Shein Technology Group, the Los Angeles arm of the embattled Singapore-based “instant fashion” retailer.
Carlsbad, a north San Diego County city of 115K people, is looking for a firm to provide government relations and Sacramento lobbying services.
Gordon Sondland, who was US ambassador to the European Union under Donald Trump, has registered as a representative of Ukraine’s cabinet and ministers.
The Daschle Group is representing Santa Monica-based Stand with Hong Kong Action, an advocacy group that fights to end Chinese repression in Hong Kong.
McKinsey & Co. has reached out to Republican shop Harbinger Strategies to educate policymakers about the activities of the embattled management consultancy.
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