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IN THE NEWS THE WASHINGTON CONVENTION AND SPORTS AUTHORITY RECEIVES CLEAN AUDIT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 The Wash- ington Conven- tion and Sports Authority anno- unced recently that the audit firm of KPMG reported to the organizat ion’s Board of the Directors that the Authority received an unqualified opinion or clean audit on their financial statements for Fiscal Year ending in September 30, 2010. Fiscal Year 2010 represented the first year of operations for the new entity formed when the Washington Convention Center Authority merged with the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission. KPMG also reported that it had reviewed all internal controls over financial reporting for the new entity and found no deficiencies. Further, KPMG did not propose any adjustments to the Authority’s 2010 financial statements. “This is our first year with KPMG as our outside auditor and their audit process was comprehensive and thorough,” said Gregory A. O’Dell, WCSA president and chief executive officer. “The Authority’s Board was very pleased with the consistency of the superior perform- ance of our financial management operation.” ADD BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO OUR ECONOMY, U.S. TRAVEL CHIEF SAYS Passage of legislation being considered by the Senate to reauthorize funding and programs for the Federal Aviation Administration is critical to improve the air travel process,which would support hundreds of thousands of jobs and add bil- lions of dollars to the economy, the head of theU.S.TravelAssociation said recently. RogerDow,U.S.Travel’s president and CEO, said that simply reducing delays could add $17 bil- lion dollars in travel spending back into the economy. That spending could support more than 155,000 jobs in the travel industry, primarily in lodging, food services, amusement, recreation, and retail. “In order for our economy to fully recover, we need to get business travelers moving effi- ciently fromcity to city,and notwaiting for hours on end in airport lobbies or on tarmacs,”Dowsaid. “We need tomake it easier for small businesses to expand and reach othermarkets around the coun- try.And we need to build an air travel systemfor the 21st century.The FAAReauthorization bill is an essential step in accomplishing these goals.” The FAA Reauthorization bill will reduce delays and airport congestion by accelerating airport modernization efforts through implementing the NextGen air traffic control system, converting the nation’s air traffic control froma ground-based systemto one that usesGPS. The bill also improves consumer protections for air travelers by requiring airlines to develop con- tingency plans for delays while passengers are on an aircraft.Plansmust include how the airlines will provide adequate food, water and access to restrooms.Airlines must also provide passengers with timely and accurate information regarding the flight.. “The risk to our nation associated with deterioration of the air travel systemisn’t academic,”Dow said,“it’s real, tangible, and measurable.A 2008 U.S.Travel survey found that air travelers avoided 41 million trips fromMay 2007 toMay 2008, or slightlymore than 100,000 trips per day.That translates into a $26.5 billion loss to theU.S. economy. “WhenAmericans avoid travel,we losemore than just an airline ticket,”Downoted.“Hotels lose customers.Local restau- rants lose patrons. Salesmen lose clients.And businesses lose the opportunity to purchase valuable goods and services. “By reducing the ‘hassle factor’ in flying, we can build an aviation system that truly facilitates commerce, instead of dis- couraging it.” 8 Black Meetings & Tourism January/February 2011: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com FAA REAUTHORIZATION CRITICAL TO CREATE JOBS AND