TravelMole boss asks for meeting with Trump
TravelMole managing director Graham McKenzie has asked for a meeting with President Donald Trump so he can explain why investment in tourism is good for the US.
McKenzie has tweeted the most powerful man in the world to say he’ll be in Washington DC next month for tourism event International Pow Wow and would like to meet.
The tweet says: "You don’t want @BrandUSA any more @POTUS? Why not meet in DC in 10 days at #ipw17 I will as a foreigner explain why that’s bad for the USA.
The tweet follows news plans to ditch the tourism marketing agency were included in Trump’s federal budget document.
The plans have caused alarm in the industry, with, for example, US Travel Association president and CEO Roger Dow, saying the move would ‘surrender market share at the worst possible time’.
Arizona Office of Tourism deputy director Stephanie Dowling welcomed McKenzie’s call for a meeting with Trump: "I’m really happy to hear this. We need people who can voice how important travel is to the US from a global standpoint. It’s really important. We do appreciate Graham reaching out."
So far, the President hasn’t responded.
McKenzie said: "This is such an important issue. I’d urge everyone in the industry to re-tweet my tweet and to share on global media. I’m hoping that if it goes viral, he will have no excuse not to meet me."
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports