Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/113255
•pg_3-13__BMT_pg3-58 2/27/13 6:28 AM Page 9 In September 2012, thousands of hopefuls from around the world submitted applications for a seat on the panel. From the many passionate applications, 19 new moms and dads have taken their seat with the 2013 Disney Parks Moms Panel. The new panel will be joined by select alumni panelists – representing all previous panels – to help answer the influx of Disney vacation questions submitted to the site each week. In addition to browsing answers, guests can access a variety of helpful how-to videos in both English and Spanish. Along with the new name, Disney Parks will look to revamp the Moms Panel website in 2013 with exciting new features, blog content and mobile-friendly options. About the Disney Parks Moms Panel: The Disney Parks Moms Panel is an online forum where guests can get tips and insights for a Disney vacation from real moms, dads and grandparents who have mastered the art of planning Disney vacations. Guests can pose questions to the panelists in both English and Spanish, as well as gain access to other vacation-planning tools for booking a Disney vacation. Featuring just 12 members during its inaugural year in 2008, the panel now boasts 47 park-savvy panelists as a result of the popularity of the site and an ever-growing number of questions submitted by curious parents. For more information and to meet the panelists, visit www.DisneyParksMomsPanel.com. U.S. TRAVEL APPLAUDS EXPANSION OF TSA PRECHECK TO 35 AIRPORTS The following is a statement by Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, regarding recent Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announcement of John Wayne Airport as the 35th U.S. airport to participate in PreCheck: "Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and TSA Administrator John Pistole deserve our thanks for their commitment to expanding the PreCheck trusted traveler program and reaching their goal of 35 participating airports by year's end. Air travel continues to be the gateway to commerce and improving efficiency while maintaining the current high level of security is a win-win for travelers and the American economy. ROGER DOW "The volume of U.S. air travel is expected to double in 20 years. This forecast, combined with rapidly rising costs to screen passengers, underscores the need to expand trusted traveler programs such as PreCheck, especially as our nation moves away from a onesize-fits-all approach to a more intelligence-driven, risk-based transportation security system. "With two million travelers flying daily, PreCheck can only succeed if participation is greatly expanded beyond the five million passengers that have currently been screened. We are encouraged by recent news that TSA is exploring new methods to expand usage of the program." B M & T ••• January/February 2013 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 9