WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mike Gallagher, co-founder and co-chairman of CityPASS, the attractions marketing company that packages admission to a destination’s top attractions, has been appointed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker to a two-year term on the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board.
Established in 2003, the board serves as the advisory body to the Secretary of Commerce on matters relating to the U.S. travel and tourism industry. Its primary function is to provide advice that helps the government prioritize policies that will contribute to growth, including enhanced visa issuance, investment in transportation infrastructure, and research for decision-making. It also supports the National Travel and Tourism Strategy, which is pursuing a goal of attracting 100 million international visitors to the United States by 2021.
“Tourism is a clean industry that delivers major economic benefits,” said Gallagher. “In 2013, international travelers to the U.S. spent more than $180 billion. Much of our recent success in attracting visitors is due to the cooperative efforts of agencies like Brand USA, the U.S. Travel Association, and the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. To be a part of this team of industry experts who are having such a positive impact on the country’s economy is a tremendous honor.”
Gallagher, who co-founded CityPASS 17 years ago, has nearly 40 years of tourism experience. He is a founding commissioner of Visit California, and currently serves as a Chairman’s Circle board member and second vice chair for the U.S. Travel Association. In 2005, Gallagher was honored as California’s Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year. And in 2013, he was inducted into the U.S. Travel Association’s prestigious Hall of Leaders.
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