Richer Joins NTA Government, Industry Relations Team

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. October 14, 2008

KANSAS CITY, MO, November 5, 2007. Making a greater commitment to its members and the industry, the National Tour Association has secured Steve Richer to augment NTA's notable government and industry relations work.

Richer, who is retiring as the executive director of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau, will serve NTA as a consultant and build on the base established by Congressman Jim Santini, longtime NTA legislative counsel.

"Having someone of Steve's renown and broad expertise is nothing but a huge win for the NTA membership, our association and the industry overall," said NTA Chairman and CEO Randy Julian. "Through NTA's government and industry relations efforts, the association always focuses on building bridges and bringing together various industry partners to get things accomplished. Steve's connections and his PR prowess will lead NTA to even more victories, which in the end, serve the entire industry."

In his role, Richer will work with Santini to continue executing government relations in Washington, D.C., with an eye toward the next administration, while continuing to build relations with the current administration.

Also, Richer will establish stronger and more meaningful ties with other travel industry related organizations, including those involved in tourism sales, marketing and policy, and he will reach out through the media to involve more companies, tourism offices and tour packagers in the work of NTA.

"NTA long ago established itself as a leader in the government relations arena," said Richer. "From our work with the National Park Service to our latest quest for an Executive Department of Travel and Tourism, NTA continually recognizes the needs of its members and the industry and sets out to make a change. I'm extremely pleased to be asked to be a part of this significant work."

Richer has been active in NTA leadership for many years including service on the Board of Directors and at the committee level. Before joining the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau in 1996, Richer was involved in leadership at the Greater Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Nevada Commission on Tourism.

The National Tour Association was established in 1951 as a unified voice to fight legislation in the newly formed packaged travel industry. Today, NTA's government relations activities include monitoring security issues, as well as state and federal legislation and regulatory issues affecting the travel and tourism industry. NTA maintains full-time representation in Washington, D.C., to serve as the association's voice on Capitol Hill. Additionally, NTA empowers its members to be advocates for the association on the local level, as well as to provide support for NTA's positions on national priority issues through its Grassroots Action Network. For more information on NTA's government relations activities, please visit www.NTAonline.com or call 800.682.8886.