Promoting Travel while Protecting National Security

In response to the U.S. market share of spending by international travelers falling by 30% over the past decade, President Obama recently issued an Executive Order calling on U.S. consular services to expand and expedite visa processing services, especially for travelers from fast-growing nations such as China and Brazil, as well as expanding the Visa Waiver Program and reciprocal travel programs.  Realizing the opportunities presented by these initiatives intended to increase tourism and business travel, however, will require finding a balance with potential security concerns, and will necessitate coordination across multiple departments, agencies, and sectors.  Through a keynote address and three panel discussions, this half day conference will seek to examine the opportunities and challenges associated with these initiatives.

AGENDA

1:00 – 1:30pm: Registration
 
1:30 – 2:45pm: Panel 1 - The Economics of Travel

• Julie Heizer, Acting Director, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, U.S. Department of Commerce
• Steven Hacker, President, International Association of Exhibitions and Events
• Elliott Ferguson, President and CEO, Destination DC
• Kathleen Ruiz, Vice President of Marketing, Saks Fifth Avenue
• Moderator: Honorable C. Stewart Verdery, Jr., CSIS Senior Associate and former Assistant  Secretary of Homeland Security for Border and Transportation Security Policy

2:45-3:00pm: Break
 
3:00 – 4:15pm: Panel 2 - Encouraging Travel by Streamlining Visa Processing

• David T. Donahue, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Visa Services
• Geoff Freeman, COO and Executive Vice President, US Travel Association
• Edward Alden, Bernard L. Schwartz Senior Fellow, U.S. Economic Competitiveness, U.S. Trade Policy, Visa and Immigration Policy, Council on Foreign Relations
• Moderator: Rick “Ozzie” Nelson, Director, CSIS Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Program

4:15 – 4:30pm: Break
 
4:30 – 5:30pm: Panel 3 - Expanding the Visa Waiver Program

• Mark Koumans, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of International Affairs, Office of Policy, Department of Homeland Security
• Scott Payne, Legislative Assistant, Senator Barbara Mikulski
• Marc Frey, Senior Director, Steptoe & Johnson and former Director of the Visa Waiver Program, Department of Homeland Security
• Pawel Kotowski, First Counselor and Head of Political Section, Embassy of the Republic of Poland
• Moderator: Norma Krayem, Senior Policy Advisor, Patton Boggs LLPSponsored by U.S. Travel Association