Travel Industry Association of America
TIA (www.tia.org) is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the $555 billion travel industry. TIA�s mission is to represent the whole of the U.S. travel industry to promote and facilitate increased travel to and within the United States.
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Contact:
Cathy Keefe (Manager, Media Relations)
202-408-2183
ckeefe@tia.org / www.tia.org

Combined total attendance exceeded 500 Japanese travel trade representatives, media, U.S. and Japanese travel experts and suppliers.

TIA President and C.E.O William S. Norman represented TIA at the primary See America Week events, including:

• The See America Workshop, at the Ritz Carlton in Osaka, was organized by the Japan Visit USA Committee. More than 200 travel trade representatives, media, and U.S. travel suppliers participated in the workshop, and some of the 38 participating U.S. suppliers included: Alamo Rental Car, Alaska Travel Industry Association, American Airlines, Chelsea Premium Outlets, Fairbanks CVB, Hawaii Tourism, Hilton Sales Worldwide, LA Inc, Las Vegas CVA, Marriott International, Millennium Hotels, Northwest Airlines, Oregon/Portland Tourism Association, Orlando CVB, San Francisco CVB, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, TIA, United Airlines, Universal Studios Hollywood and Utah State Tourism Office.
• At the See America Media Marketplace, held in Tokyo on September 21, 2004, representatives of 22 U.S. travel organizations met one on one with over 100 key travel writers and Japanese trade and consumer journalists. The travel press received the latest and most useful information on U.S. travel products. The title sponsor of the See America Media Marketplace was Marriott International.
• The See America Media Reception and Travel Writers Award Ceremony was held immediately following the See America Media Marketplace. Over 140 media, and U.S. and Japanese travel executives participated in these two media events. The See America Travel Writers Award was given to �Tarzan� by Magazine House Company for its special issue of �Hokule�a and the Japanese Canoe Renaissance It Inspired�. The award was sponsored by Marriott International, Chelsea Premium Outlets, Hertz Asia Pacific, TIA and United Airlines.
• The fourth annual See America Educational Seminar, produced by TIA, was held with the support of title sponsor Marriott International. TIA�s President and CEO, William S. Norman, gave the keynote address to 175 Japanese travel trade and U.S. and Japanese travel experts. The seminar program featured audio-visual presentations by TIA members and partner organizations on U.S. destinations, and travel-related products and services, including: Marriott International, Alaska Travel Industry Association, American Airlines, California Travel & Tourism Commission, Fairbanks CVB, Las Vegas CVA, New Mexico Tourism Department, Oregon/Portland Tourism Commission, Orlando Tourism Office, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., Texas Tourism, Travel Industry Association of America and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
• The JATA World Travel Fair ended the See America Week events on September 24-26, 2004 in Tokyo. TIA�s President & C.E.O William S. Norman, Patrick O. Santillo, Counselor for Commercial Affairs, U.S. Embassy, JATA�s chairman Koji Shinmachi, and Hiroshi Sawabe, chairman of the Japan Visit USA Committee, inaugurated the See America Pavilion at the ribbon cutting ceremony. Organized by the Japan Visit USA Committee, the See America Pavilion included 28 U.S. companies. Overall attendance at JATA reached 101,000 travel trade professionals and consumers (up 10% over 2003).