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What we’ll talk about today…

GBTA 2014 Government Relations Agenda Rocky Mountain Business Travel Association May 13, 2014 Shane Downey Director, Government Relations. What we’ll talk about today…. Advocacy and Politics GBTA Government Relations Priorities 2014 GBTA Legislative Symposium

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What we’ll talk about today…

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  1. GBTA 2014 Government Relations AgendaRocky Mountain Business Travel Association May 13, 2014Shane DowneyDirector, Government Relations

  2. What we’ll talk about today… • Advocacy and Politics • GBTA Government Relations Priorities • 2014 GBTA Legislative Symposium • How You Can Make a Difference

  3. GBTA Collective Voice of Business Travel Industry • Policy, Tax, and Funding Decisions Drive the Success of the Industry and Your Companies • Our Success Drives the Economy and Jobs • Support of Congress/Administration Matters to You and Your Company • Bipartisan Efforts are Essential GBTA Member Advocacy is Key

  4. Importance of Business Travel • Business Travel in the U.S. Contributed $491 Billion to U.S. GDP • Essentially, Every Dollar of Business Travel Spending Generated about $1.28 in GDP • Responsible for about 3% of U.S. GDP in 2012. • Supported 7.1 Million Jobs in the U.S. • Contributed $118 billion in total to federal, state, and local tax receipts • Each Dollar Spent on Business Travel, About 30₵ Goes to Taxes

  5. Importance of Business Travel cont. • For Every One Percent Increase in Business Travel Spending, the U.S. Economy Gains an Additional 71,000 Jobs, Nearly $5 Billion in GDP, $3 Billion in Wages, and $1.2 Billion More in Tax Collections • Sizeable Returns On Investment To Business Travel: 20:1 Business Travel ROI

  6. GBTA Government Relations Priorities SMARTER, SAFER PASSENGER SCREENING • PreCheck and Global Entry – Risk-Based – Safe, Fast, Efficient • Visa Improvements Increase Travel and Commerce TAXATION AND FEES • Local, State, and Federal Taxes Must Benefit Travelers • Discriminatory Travel Taxes Hurt the Industry and Economy INFRASTRUCTURE: Smart Spending • Air Traffic Control Modernization Reduces Flight/Delays/Cancellations • Amtrak/ACELA Improvements are Essential Keeping the Country Open for Business • Fighting Against Government Shutdowns

  7. The LATEST Successes – You Made a Difference • TSA PreCheck Developments • Early Notification • International Travel • PreCheck Application Program • Program Expansion • Expanded Global Entry • Reciprocal Agreements • Prohibited Items List/Knife Policy • Withdrawn • Calls on Plane • Filed Comments • Government Travel • DATA Act

  8. Aviation Security Tax IncreaseWorth the Fight • 2013 Budget Deal - Administration and Congress More than Doubled Tax • Higher Costs Mean Fewer Business Trips • GBTA Opposed FY 2013/2014/2015 Increase • ACTION ALERT: Over 400 Member Letters • TSA Interpretation Concerns • A single round trip with five or six legs could be treated as five or six one-way trips • Generate roughly $30 in fees, even though the previous $5 cap per one-way trip would have limited those total fees to $10

  9. Aviation Tax – Taxed Enough • Consumers Pay more than $60/20% of Taxes and Fees on a Typical $300 Round-Trip Ticket • More than Alcohol & Tobacco Industries – Sin Tax • Taxes and Fees Growing • 1993, Tax and Fee Burden on Travel was $3.7 billion  • Today, it is $19 billion

  10. Air Travel Vital to Business Travel • Vital to Business Travel • Business Send Employees on Over 7 Million Flights Each Month • Future Air Traffic to Stress a Stressed ATC • Need to Keep Pace with Demand - FAA Predicts 1.2 Billion by 2030 • Congressional Funding is a Concern • FAA Must Manage Near Term Programs and Objectives • Needs a Predictable Funding Source to Solve Long Range Plans • Budget Deal Provided $60 Million for NextGen

  11. DFW Next Gen Pilot • Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, the NextGen RNAV Off the Ground Procedure • Enables a 15-20% Increase in Departures per Hour • American Airlines is Saving $10-$12 million in Annual Fuel Costs at Dallas/Fort Worth using the Procedure • 40 % Decrease in Pilot-Controller Verbal Communications • Reducing Risk for Miscommunication

  12. Passenger Facilitation • TSA PreCheck Developments • Early Notification • Program Expansion • Growing Pains • Applying for PreCheck • Application • Global Entry • Many Others • Comparison Chart http://www.dhs.gov/comparison-chart

  13. Air Passenger Rights • Damaged/Lost Bags Airlines • Compensate for Reasonable Expenses (up to $3,300) • 2009 rulemaking, Refund any Fee for Carrying a Bag if the Bag is Lost • Bumped Passengers are, with a few exceptions, Entitled to Compensation • Airline Arranges Substitute Transportation That Between One and Two Hours After Your Original Arrival Time (Between One and Four Hours on International Flights), Must Pay You an Amount Equal to 200% of Your One-Way Fare • $650 Maximum

  14. Reducing Government Travel Spend …Shortsighted • GSA Las Vegas Scandal Lingers • EO 13859 – Reduce USG 2013 Travel Spend 20% Below FY 2010 Level • Numerous Bills Introduced To Cut Spending Further • Example: Reduce USG Travel Spend 50 Percent Below FY 2013 Level by 2017 GBTA: Working with AHLA and Others Opposing Harsh Cuts

  15. Fight Higher Car Rental Taxes... Price Gouging of Business Travelers • 800% Increase Since 1990 • Taxes Used for Non-Travel Purposes • Increases Travel Costs GBTA: Support Bill, Testify at Hearing, Dozens of Hill Meetings, and Coalition Efforts

  16. JOLT Act Increase International Business Travel Shorter Lines, Less Paperwork, More Visitors • Expand the Visa Waiver Program • Expand Global Entry Program   • Reduce Visa Wait Times • Impact on US Industry • Each Overseas Traveler Spends Approximately $4,455 • Stay on Average More than 18 Nights

  17. 2014– Greatest Risks • KEEP GOVERNMENT OPEN FOR BUSINESS • Debt Ceiling Fight, government Shutdown and/or Default…Deficit Reduction Targets • Funding Decrease for PreCheck, NextGen, Global Entry, and Visa Reforms • Elimination of Tax Benefits/Deductions/Increase Costs of Business Travel • Decrease in Business Travel TRAVEL

  18. 2014 Legislative Symposium June 24 - 25 Washington, DC • 2013 Legislative Symposium Highlights • Reception Hosted by U.S. Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus • Remarks by Seven Senators and House Members • Over 100 Meetings with Members of Congress and Staff • Education Sessions • Make a Difference! • Make Your Plans For 2014!

  19. 8thChapter Challenge is ON! The Voice of the Travel Industry in Washington, DC and Congressional Districts Let Your Voice Be Heard GBTA is Challenging Its Chapters: Engage YOUR Elected Officials on Business Travel Issues

  20. Chapters Completing 4 Tasks = PARTNERS 30% of Membership Send a Communication to an Elected Official Through the Legislative Action Center Invite an Elected Official to Speak at a Chapter Meeting OR Host a GBTA Government Relations Focused Meeting Send a Letter to Its Representative or Senator Endorsing a GBTA Endorsed Bill or Vote Raise $1,000 in PAC Contributions (30% of Members Must Contribute) Additional information: Shane Downey, sdowney@gbta.org, 703/236-1131 and Business Travel PAC - GBTA Political Action Committee/Members -Only Area of Government Relations Website

  21. Rocky Mountain BTA Standings

  22. Rocky Mountain BTA PAC Totals

  23. 2013 Challenge Partners • North Carolina BTA • North Central BTA • Northern Virginia BTA • Ohio Valley BTA • Rocky Mountain BTA • Silicon Valley BTA • St. Louis BTA • Texas BTA • Utah BTA • Virginia BTA • Wisconsin BTA • Arizona BTA • Austin BTA • Baltimore Washington BTA • Chicago BTA • Dallas Fort Worth BTA • Los Angeles BTA • Michigan BTA • New England BTA • New Jersey BTA • New York State BTA

  24. Continue the Tradition

  25. Government Relations…..ENGAGE! GBTA Website http://www.gbta.org/usa/governmentrelations/Pages/Default.aspx GBTA The Blog What GBTA is Doing in Washington to Push Our Priorities and Shape Policies http://www.gbta.org/usa/governmentrelations/Pages/TheLatest.aspx GBTA Legislative Action Center On-line Advocacy is Effective! Send a Letter about Key Issues to Your Elected Officials in a Few Clicks http://capwiz.com/nbta/home/

  26. Advocacy: Impacts You and Your Company If We are Not at the Table, Others Will Set the Agenda We May Not Like the Results YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

  27. DONATE TODAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE • Business Travel PAC is a federal political committee that makes contributions to federal candidates and committees. Contributions to Business Travel PAC are voluntary and any member has a right to refuse to contribute without reprisal. The contribution guidelines are merely suggestions and a member may contribute more or less or not at all without concern of favor or disadvantage by the association. Corporate donations will be used to pay for other grassroots political activities. Contributions are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal tax purposes. Federal law requires Business Travel PAC to request the name, address, occupation and employer for each person whose contributions exceed two hundred dollars ($200.00) or more in a calendar year.

  28. Questions and Comments Shane Downey (703) 236-1131 sdowney@gbta.org

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