Hawaiʻi’s Hannemann, Ingram appointed to US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board

Peter Ingram, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, and Mufi Hannemann, president and CEO of the Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association, have been appointed to a two-year term on the US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board.

The announcement of the 32 board members was made on Jan. 12 by US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.

“Travel and tourism returned with force in 2022 as we opened up our country once again to visitors from around the globe,” Secretary Raimondo said in a press release. “Since day one of the Biden Administration, the Commerce Department has taken decisive actions to support this industry’s recovery.

“The US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board plays a vital role in providing expert recommendations and industry insight to optimize the American travel experience. I look forward to working with new and returning members.”

The 32-member board serves as the advisory body to Secretary Raimondo and the Commerce Department on issues and concerns affecting the nation’s travel and tourism industry. Members represent the breadth of the American tourism industry, with representatives from state and city tourism authorities, airports and airlines, hotel chains, trade associations and labor.

Hannemann said he is “honored to represent the Hawaiian Islands in making our priorities known to the Secretary of Commerce.”

US Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman said: “This outstanding and diverse group of leaders will provide invaluable expertise to Secretary Raimondo and the Commerce Department as the US addresses pressing issues to grow the travel industry. Having cooperation between industry and government is critical to establishing travel as an essential component of economic activity and job growth.”

Hannemann has headed the Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association since 2015 and served as the organization’s executive from 2011 through 2012.

He has also served in various capacities with numerous other national organizations. While mayor of Honolulu, he chaired the US Conference of Mayors’ Tourism, Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports Committee, which championed the inclusion of the tourism industry for the first time in the mayors’ “10-Point Plan for America’s Cities”.

Hannemann served as a White House Fellow in the office of then-Vice President George H. W. Bush. Prior to this appointment with the Department of Commerce, he was named by consecutive presidential administrations to posts with the US departments of Transportation, Labor, State and the Interior.

The US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board’s membership for the 2023-2024 term also includes:

1. Reggie Aggarwal, Founder and CEO, Cvent
2. Balram Bheodari, Aviation General Manager, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
3. Adam Burke, President and CEO, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
4. Brian Chesky, Cofounder and CEO, Airbnb
5. Julie Coker, President and CEO, San Diego Tourism Authority
6. Brad Dean, CEO, Discover Puerto Rico
7. Christine Duffy, President, Carnival Cruise Line
8. Fred Felleman, Commissioner, Port of Seattle
9. Liz Fitzsimmons, Managing Director, Maryland Department of Commerce Office of Tourism and Film
10. Matt Goldberg, President and CEO, Tripadvisor, Inc.
11. Russ Hedge, President and CEO, Hostelling International USA
12. Bill Hornbuckle, President and CEO, MGM Resorts International
13. Stephanie Jones, Founder and CEO, Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance
14. Andrew Leary, Director of Sustainable Tourism and Partnerships, Leave No Trace
15. Eric Lipp, Founder and Executive Director, Open Doors Organization
16. Casandra Matej, President and CEO, Visit Orlando
17. Peter Millones, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Booking Holdings, Inc.
18. Will Morey, President and CEO, The Morey Organization
19. Tricia Primrose, Executive Vice President and Chief Global Communications & Public Affairs Officer, Marriott International
20. Lana Ramos, Vice President, Marketing and Community Relations, Locally Grown Restaurants
21. Carroll Rheem, Founder and CEO, iolite group
22. Dan Richards, Founder and CEO, The Global Rescue Companies
23. Adam Sacks, President, Tourism Economics
24. John Sage, President, Accessible Travel Solutions
25. Stephen Scherr, CEO, Hertz Corporation
26. Greg Schulze, Senior Vice President, Strategic Travel Partners, Expedia
27. Monica Smith, President and CEO, Southeast Tourism Society
28. Jerry Tan, President and CEO, Tan Holdings
29. Donald “D” Taylor, President, UNITE HERE
30. Peter van Berkel, President, Travalco USA, Inc.

To read the announcement issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce, please visit this link: https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2023/01/secretary-raimondo-appoints-members-us-travel-and-tourism-advisory