Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/646776
B M & T ••• January/February 2016 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 11 U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued the fol- lowing statement recently in support of Senate Homeland Security Chairman Ron Johnson's Visa Waiver Program Improve-ment & Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015: "Chairman Johnson's bill fur- ther strengthens the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), already a power- ful tool in helping America fight terrorism and prevent potential enemies of the United States from entering our country. This bill is a strong reminder that even in the wake of events like the horrific terrorists attacks in Paris, Congress can put aside political gamesmanship and offer thoughtful solutions that advance our national security. "Like Rep. Candice Miller's bill in the House, the Johnson bill will ensure better information sharing among intelligence and law enforcement agencies. It also provides for better screening to identify high-risk travelers and makes it harder for extremists to falsify their identities and enter the U.S. on fraud- ulent passports. The bill will also require the Department of Homeland Security and other U.S. agencies to strengthen their background checks on travelers and conduct stringent threat assessments on all VWP countries. "Security is critical for travel, which is why the U.S. Travel Association has supported efforts to enhance the already strong VWP for the past six months. "The Johnson bill — like the Miller bill in the House — deserves strong, bipartisan support. We urge Congress to quickly pass these VWP enhancements and send them to President Obama for his immediate signature." LEADING CONVENTION HUBS LAUNCH GLOBAL ASSOCIATION HUBS PARTNERSHIP Dubai Association Centre, Destination DC, Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau and visit.brussels have announced the launch of the Global Association Hubs Partnership.The partnership will assist international associations grow and better serve their overseas members by using respec- tive partner cities as regional conduits to extend their efforts around the world. The development cements the positions of the four partner cities – Dubai, Washington DC, Singapore and Brussels – as the leading global hubs for international associations and creates synergistic relationships, which ensure key advantages for inter- national associations. The partnership will also help reduce bar- riers, and facilitate the activities of international associations seeking to work across different cultures. The partner cities, each global hubs for international associa- tions, will leverage the synergies of working together while still promoting their individual destinations. The partners will use each city's status as a gateway to support association activities in their respective part of the world. Furthermore, the partnership will also allow cross-promotion of partner cities to decision mak- ers in charge of global strategies and expansion plans. The initiative comes as a response to the increasing decen- tralization of international associations, which are looking to develop and better support their global membership base. The new partnership will also serve as an effective global plat- form upon which international associations can build capaci- ty in each region, and capitalize on the potential of each region's growth in activities and membership. "International associations are constantly on the lookout to establish a strong base in key regions around the world in order to offer value and customized services to their membership. By leveraging this new partnership, international associations now have the opportunity to roll out global strategies and take advantage of local opportunities in key partner countries in a manner that is simple, well-coordinated and highly convenient," said Hervé Bosquet, visit.brussels, speaking on behalf of the partnership. The Global Association Hubs each have a strong identity, pri- orities and course of action in growing international associations' activities in their specific city. However, they share a common understanding and expertise in working with international asso- ciations, giving them a unique competitive advantage: • According to the Union of International Associations (UIA), the cities are the leading bases for association headquar- ters and regional offices in their respective regions of the world. • They have established creative partnerships with local eco- nomic development agencies and have engaged in innovative teamwork with their local association partners, making them the natural gateways into their respective Regions. • They already perform a wide range of specific services for international associations. The Partnership is proud to rely on the insights, advice, guid- ance and unanimous support of eminent international associa- tion executives. U.S.T.A SUPPORTS VISA WAIVER PROGRAM