Travel Business Roundtable Annouces New Leadership

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. October 14, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC, Ocober 20, 2996. On the heels of the recent Travel Business Roundtable (TBR) Fall Board meeting in New York City, three new officers will join Chairman Jonathan M. Tisch in helping to set the strategic direction for the organization and the industry's public policy agenda, drawing official recognition to their increasingly significant roles within TBR. The new officers are:

Vice Chairman - Stevan D. Porter, InterContinental Hotels Group

President - Charles L. Merin, BKSH & Associates

Secretary - Jeffrey D. Stewart, Loews Hotels

"For 11 years, TBR has been a leading voice on Capitol Hill for the travel and tourism industry," said TBR Chairman and Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels, Jonathan M. Tisch. "Formalizing the leadership role of these three important individuals will strengthen the industry's voice and allow TBR to be even more effective in advocating for improved visa and passport policies and procedures, developing a more welcoming environment for incoming international travelers and inviting more travelers to experience our nation first hand."

Stevan Porter serves as president, the Americas, for InterContinental Hotels Group and holds additional duties as global leader franchise strategy and executive director of InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms. A 30-year veteran of hospitality and related industry, Mr. Porter currently serves as chairman of the Discover America Partnership, a private-sector led advocacy campaign to enhance America's image around the globe by increasing international travel to the U.S., and as chairman of the American Hotel & Lodging Association Government Affairs Committee. He has been on the TBR Board of Directors since 2003.

As Managing Director at the Washington, DC lobbying firm BKSH & Associates, Charles Merin has served as TBR's chief Washington representative and staff delegate to the Board of Directors since the organization's inception in 1995. He possesses more than 35 years of Washington experience, beginning with service as a congressional staffer in 1969. Over his career, Merin has represented nearly all facets of the burgeoning travel and tourism industry, including current clients the National Restaurant Association, the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the International Council of Shopping Centers, the International Franchise Association, Coca-Cola and the Travel Industry Association. Mr. Merin also serves as the TBR representative on the Board of Directors of Business for Diplomatic Action, an initiative begun in 2001 to improve American business diplomacy.

Jeffrey Stewart is the Senior Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs for Loews Hotels. On behalf of TBR, Mr. Stewart has testified before the United States Congress and has been quoted in leading publications and appeared on television in the US and abroad about the importance of travel and tourism; Travel Agent magazine recognized him as a "Rising Star" in the travel and tourism industry. Mr. Stewart is a member of New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and served as Staff Director of New York Rising, a special emergency task-force set up by NYC & Company after 9/11, to stabilize and revive the $25 billion local travel and tourism industry.