Oct. 15--Roger Dow

. . . president and CEO of the Travel Industry Association, a Washington-based lobbying group that represents the tourism industry. Dow, 62, spoke recently by telephone with Sentinel staff writer Jason Garcia while vacationing in Palm Coast.

Question: What do you think is the most important public policy issue facing the tourism industry right now?

Answer: No. 1 is, we've got to have an energy policy. We cannot watch oil whipsaw from $70 [a barrel] to $140 in a three-month period. We just have to get a comprehensive energy policy that puts America more on its own footing and not dependent on others. Second, we've got to move forward with getting the air-traffic control system moved forward to a 21st century system. We're dealing with a decades-old system; your car has better technology, I often say.

We must get that because, of all the delays we saw, a lot were attributed to our antiquated air-traffic control system, our infrastructure. And lastly, while at the same time having great security, we've got to make us the most welcoming place in the world for legitimate tourists. Because they help our economy but they also help public diplomacy. And that's why this industry is critical to how we're seen around the world. And hopefully the next president will make that a high priority.

Q: How vulnerable is the travel industry right now given the state of the national economy?

A: I do think you'll see some people tightening up their travel budgets for business and meetings. That happens all the time. But right now, we've seen leisure travel has stayed pretty steady. But, you know, if the economy goes down, people have to look at things on the edge . . . I think it's something to be watched right now.

Q: Congress just finished its session. Were there any significant developments for the travel industry?

A: There were several things that happened. One, we were able to get an increase in the number of visa-waiver countries, with Estonia, Latvia, [Homeland Security Secretary Michael] Chertoff just announced an agreement with the Slavic Republic . . . The key ones moving forward would be Greece, Brazil and South Korea. The Travel Promotion Act [which would create a $200 million national advertising campaign] passed unanimously through the House. We've never gotten legislation of this magnitude through either side before.

Q: Did Congress do anything this session that was bad for the industry?

A: Not so much bad. I think [the Senate] not passing the Travel Promotion Act has some long-term challenges.

Q: Which of the presidential candidates do you think would be better for tourism?

A: I don't want to pick one because they both, I think, have some very positive things for the travel industry. We had a meeting with John McCain a couple of months ago and he was very positive on reforming the air-traffic control system. He recognizes it is a major problem that has to be addressed . . . Barack Obama has been very positive about wanting to reach out to other countries.

Q: Before joining TIA, you spent 34 years with Marriott. How did you get your start there?

A: I started out as a lifeguard when I was in college, just looking for a good summer job. And the Vietnam War was going on and you couldn't get a job anywhere unless you'd been in the Army. So Marriott said, 'Why don't you stick with us?' . . . It was a heck of a journey. I moved around every 18 months or so, just like people in the military do. Marriott was growing so fast, if somebody was good and fairly competent, they got moved up in the hierarchy. And the last 20 years or so, I spent in the corporate office in Washington, D.C. I think the plus thing is, coming from the travel industry and having a senior role in the travel industry, is I've got so many colleagues and understand the business so well.

Q: Any personal favorite vacation spots?

A: I've got two favorites that I like to go to: Florida for sun, golf and beach. And Steamboat Springs [Colorado] for champagne powder skiing.

This report has been edited for space considerations.

-----

To see more of The Orlando Sentinel or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.OrlandoSentinel.com.

Copyright (c) 2008, The Orlando Sentinel, Fla.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. NYSE:MAR,