Roger Dow to be inducted into U.S. Travel Hall of Leaders

Roger Dow, outgoing president/CEO, U.S. Travel Association, will be honored as the 2022 inductee into U.S. Travel’s Hall of Leaders.

With Dow’s induction, 104 distinguished travel luminaries have been named to the U.S. Travel Hall of Leaders since it was established in 1969 to recognize “sustained, noteworthy contributions that have positively impacted the travel industry.”

“It’s difficult to imagine a more effective advocate for travel today than Roger Dow,” said Christine Duffy, president, Carnival Cruise Line and national chair, U.S. Travel. “His selection to our most distinguished body reflects his countless contributions and our industry’s deep respect and gratitude. As he concludes a celebrated career as head of U.S. Travel and, previously, as a leader of Marriott, his induction honors all that Roger has achieved to advance and guide this industry and its workers.”

Dow has led U.S. Travel as CEO for 17 years. Prior to his appointment in 2005, Dow served for 34 years at Marriott International, where he led the company’s global sales and marketing functions, notably developing the first hotel loyalty program, which would become Marriott Bonvoy and the related Marriott credit card. However, Dow has often stated that his greatest accomplishment at Marriott was his decades-long commitment to the development and mentorship of tens of thousands of salespeople.

At U.S. Travel, Dow’s forward-thinking approach resulted in signature legislative victories, including the creation, enactment and renewal of Brand USA, the nation’s destination marketing organization. Thanks to these efforts, and his expansion of U.S. Travel’s IPW trade show and the addition of more than a dozen nations to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program during his time at U.S. Travel, inbound travel to the U.S. has increased 61% during Dow’s tenure, according to the association.

Dow is credited with significantly building travel’s profile in Washington and has held multiple meetings with sitting U.S. presidents, Cabinet secretaries and members of Congress. Further, he established the Meetings Mean Business Coalition, which positions the value and benefits of business meetings, trade shows, conferences and conventions.

To aid the travel industry in its greatest moment of need, Dow secured pandemic-related federal relief and recovery funding for travel businesses and destination marketing organizations. He and the U.S. Travel team also successfully fought for the reopening of international air travel and the repeal of inbound pre-departure COVID testing.

Dow will be honored by the U.S. Travel board of directors at a dinner on Nov. 14, during its fall meeting.

Previous inductees into the Hall of Leaders include Bob Moore, former SVP sales, Hilton (2019); Arne Sorenson, former president/CEO, Marriott International (2017); and Chris Nassetta, president/CEO, Hilton (2016).