The Honorable Mitch McConnell Majority Leader United States Senate Washington, DC 20510

August 14, 2020

Dear Leader McConnell,

The travel and tourism industry is deeply appreciative of all you have done to support travel employees and small businesses throughout this public health and economic crisis.

Unfortunately, millions of workers and small businesses are still struggling, and we cannot afford to lose more ground in the fight to keep them afloat. Though substantial segments of the travel industry were unable to access earlier rounds of relief, Congress was making significant strides toward securing protection for this hardest hit of economic sectors before negotiations ceased last week.

The travel industry workers and small businesses who have suffered so much during this crisis need relief today. Relief cannot wait until the fall or until after the election. Congressional and administration negotiators must come back to the table right away to find a solution to help save and bring back the jobs of millions of Americans.

It is abundantly clear that a revival of the American economy is not possible without immediate, significant, targeted relief for travel and tourism businesses and its workforce. A new report from Tourism Economics underscores the unique pain this crisis has inflicted on the industry:

• 40% of excess U.S. unemployment is in the Leisure and Hospitality (L&H) sector, despite that sector accounting for 11% of all pre-pandemic employment in the U.S. • Nearly half of the 16.9 million jobs in the L&H sector were wiped out in March and April. • If every industry recovered to its pre-pandemic employment level except for L&H, the overall employment rate would fall from 10.2% to 6.2%—still 2.7% higher than pre-pandemic levels.

To restore these vital jobs and put millions of Americans back to work, Congress must immediately extend the Paycheck Protection Program and expand its eligibility to include nonprofit and quasi-governmental destination marketing organizations. Failure to do so will jeopardize an economic recovery before it even begins.

Destination marketing organizations are small business champions, driving demand for travel businesses in every congressional district. Once Americans are ready to travel again in earnest, these are the organizations that will bring back the visitors who will spend tourism dollars in restaurants, shops, hotels and attractions— and by extension, other travel-dependent businesses across economic sectors—restoring jobs and providing a much-needed boost to communities throughout the country. These are the very businesses the Paycheck Protection Program originally sought to protect, and they desperately need a lifeline—not only to survive this crisis, but to help lead a nationwide economic recovery.

1 Please, this cannot afford to wait any longer. The entire travel and tourism industry—and the millions of workers whose livelihoods depend on this industry—urges you to return to the negotiating table right away and finish the good work you began. Americans are counting on it.

Sincerely,

Robert Quick David Beck President & CEO President & CEO Commerce Lexington Inc. State Fair Board

Danny Hayes Mary Quinn Ramer CEO President and CEO Danny Wimmer Presents VisitLEX

Eric J. Frankl Julie Kirkpatrick, CDME Executive Director President & CEO Blue Grass Airport MeetNKY | Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau Bill Thomason President and CEO Nick Ellison Keeneland Association Managing Member Hofbrauhaus Newport Donald Lassere President & CEO John Hassmann President A Taste of Kentucky Adam Johnson Senior Director, Kentucky Bourbon Trail Martha McCoy Kentucky Distillers’ Assoc Owner Ah, Whatta ‘Bout Mimi Karen Williams President & CEO Mary Moseley Louisville Tourism Owner Al J. Schneider Company Mark Looy Co-Founder/CCO Darrell Lay Ark Encounter and Creation President Alpha Productions Hank Phillips President & CEO Rayna Wallen Kentucky Travel Industry Association Owner Always Planned-Lunasa Events-Rackhouse Events Nancy Allen Turner President Jared Stancil Kentucky Association of Convention and Visitors COO Bureaus Anchor Transportation

2 Jeff Anderson Chad Coulter President CEO Anderson Hospitality Group Biscuit Belly & LouVino

Olivia Guelda Justin Lewis Event Manager President Angel’s Envy Bluegrass Karting & Events

Deja Lawson Roxanne Tromly Sales, Events & Marketing Manager Director of Operations Angel’s Envy Distillery Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum

Paula T Bader Joey Myers President Owner Bader’s Food Mart Bourbon Excursions

Kevin Smith Sherry Murphy VP KY Bourbon Affairs Executive Director Beam Suntory Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Bethany Tiesman Brad Walker Owner Vice President BEAUTY by Bethany Studio Brown Hotel

Krista Snider Nader Masadeh CEO CEO Belle of Louisville Riverboats Buffalo Wings and Rings

Betty Cissell Bill Stevens Group Sales Manager Executive Director Belle of Louisville Riverboats Cadiz-Trigg County Tourist & Convention Commission Mark K. Wourms Executive Director Christopher K. Rodgers Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest Owner canvas event furniture Magen Hoskins GM Scott Kade Best Western General Manager Cardinal Hall of Fame Cafe Victor Patel Co-Op Chairman, Best Western Hotels of Kentucky Misty Wheeler Best Western Hotels of Kentucky Executive Director Carrollton/Carroll County Tourism Simone Mangold General Manager Jennifer McNett Best Western Louisville Airport/Expo Center Co-Executive Director Cave City Tourism

3 Missy H. Missy Tim Bryant Owner President Chateau Bourbon Derby City Gaming ( Inc)

Jack Brandt Philip W. Morris General Manager Managing Member Cincinnati Marriott RiverCenter Diamond Hospitality LLC

Brandon Pennington Rene F. True Executive Director President City of Harlan Tourist and Convention Commission Downtown Frankfort, Inc.

Ilsa Johnson R. David Dunn Executive Director President & COO City of Leitchfield Tourism and Convention Dunn Hospitality Group Commission Tobi Denise Hammond Michele Edwards Senior Sales Manager Exective Director Live! Dining & Entertainment District ECI, Inc. City of Marion KY Tourism Commission Janna Clark Jeffrey Edwards Executive Director Chief of Staff Elizabethtown Tourism and Convention Bureau City of Somerset Rebecca H. Morris Brian Fry Managing Member President Emerald Hospitality LLC Commonwealth Hotels Tracy L. Wood Kate Meador Sales Manager Executive director EP Tom Sawyer State Park Conrad-Caldwell house museum Lee Carter Larry Carrico Executive Director General Manager Equestrian Events, Inc. Courtyard Louisville East Cynthia Bohn Kal Patel Owner CEO Equus Run Vineyards LLC Crestpoint Companies Ben Allgeier Erica Outlaw Branch Manager Director Excel Decorators, Inc. Crushed Ice Catering Linda Ruffenach Steve Deckel CEO/Founder CEO Execuity LLC Deckel & Moneypenny

4 James H. Simpson Abby Dixon General Manager Executive Director Executive Transportation System Henderson Tourist Commission

Robin Antenucci Ray Weaver Executive Director Owner Frankfort Franklin County Tourist Commission Highland Chamber Players

Andy Treinen Hannah Zimmerman President/CEO Marketing and Communications Director

Ted Burunoff Carol Ely, Ph.D. COO Executive Director Full House, Inc. dba: Hampton Inn of Bardstown, KY Historic Locust Grove, Inc.

Lori A. Saunders Jamie S. Johnson Executive Director Executive Director Georgetown/Scott County Tourism Historic RailPark & Train Museum

MacLean Lessenberry Charles Blair Executive Director General Manager Glasgow-Barren County Tourist & Convention Holiday Inn Express Commission Tommy Smith, CHA David Meier General Manager Owner Holiday Inn Express Louisville Downtown Glenns Creek Distilling Seth McClain Jamie Baker General Manager Executive Director Holiday Inn University Plaza Grant County Tourist & Convention Commission Tricia Noel Sarah Davasher-Wisdom Executive Director President & CEO Hopkins Co. Tourist & Convention Comm. Greater Louisville Inc. Brooke Jung Damon Andrew Embry Executive Director Training and Development Coordinator Hopkinsville-Christian County CVB Heaven Hill Distillery Sandra T. Wilson Melissa Montgomery Executive Director Property Manager Horse Cave/Hart County Tourism Hazelnut Farm Kristin Olsen Rakesh Patel CEO President Hot Spot Yoga LLC Hemish LLC

5 Shannon Murphy Craig A. Potts Regional Director of Operations Executive Director & State Historic Preservation Hotel Officer Kentucky Heritage Council Mike Patel Owner John Crowell Hotel/Motel Interim Executive Director Kentucky Horse Park H. Brandt Niehaus President Blake Henry Huff, Niehaus & Associates, Inc. General Manager Kentucky International Convention Center Lindsey Tallarico Director of Sales Kim Baker Hyatt President and CEO Kentucky Performing Arts Todd Roberts President/CEO Greg Mathews JACO Limo, Tours and Charters Executive Director Melanie VanHouten Director Mike Norman Josephine Sculpture Park Chief Executive Officer Daniel S. Lipton CEO Pamela Denny Kentuckiana Express Shuttle - Limo LLC Executive Director Kentucky Travel Guide Nick Lopez Vice President of Operations Krista Embry Kentucky Bourbon Tours, LLC Co-Owner KIS Pop-Up Weddings, LLC Aukram Burton Executive Director Kathleen Cummins Kentucky Center for African American Heritage Board Member KY Events Coalition Mike Mangeot Commissioner Debi E. Dodd Kentucky Department Of Tourism Executive Director Lake Barkley Tourist Commission Matthew A. Gibson President & CEO Janette Marson Kentucky Derby Festival, Inc Executive Director Lake Cumberland Tourist Commission Patrick Armstrong President & CEO Charles R. Lanham Jr President Lanham Media Service

6 Ken Patel Anne Jewell General Manager VP, Executive Director Laquinta Inn Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory

Kendall Clinton Karl F. Schmitt, Jr. Executive Director President & CEO Lawrenceburg/Anderson County Tourism Louisville Sports Commission Commission Deborah Bilitski Guy Genoud President/Executive Director President Louisville Waterfront Park LeMistral Inc. Kristie Daniel Sara Elliott Owner Executive Director LTD Consulting LLC Liberty Hall Historic Site Luigi Gelsomini Heather Cundiff Owner/operator Tourism Director Luigi’s Pizzeria Liberty Tourism & Convention Commission Alison Hawthorne Audrey Petty Co-Owner President M2-Maximum Media Limestone Events Laurie Anne Roberts Sydney Anthony Executive Director Director of Event Sales Main Street Association Live Nation - Louisville Palace & Mercury Ballroom Ruth Jenkins Kimberly Collier Vice President Executive Director Mane Event Decorators, Inc. London-Laurel County Tourist Commission Ann Thomas Karl F. Schmitt General Manager President & CEO Marks Feed Store Louisville Elena Blevins Vic Gregovits Executive Director President Marshall County Tourist Commission/Kentucky Lake Louisville Bats CVB

Charles Park Gwen Thompson EVP Executive Director Louisville Mega Cavern

Kelly J. Gream Elizabeth J O’Daniel Executive Director Owner Louisville Memorial Auditorium Millennium Events and Floral

7 Sean Higgins Jody Flener CEO Executive Director Mint Julep Tours Ohio County Tourism Commission

Manish Patel Kim Buckler Hydes President Executive Director MKP Management, Inc Oldham County KY Tourism & Conventions

Joy C. Brown Josh Merideth Executive Director Owner Morehead-Rowan County Tourism Commission Original Makers Club Justin Lewis Justin Weeks President General Manager OVRDRIVE Moxy Louisville Downtown Mary Hammond Todd Warren Executive Director Owner Paducah Convention & Visitor Bureau MPI Printing Erin Gillespie Beth Newman Owner Director Passalino’s Muhlenberg County Tourism Commission Leslie Delgado Chester Musselman Owner President & CEO Peace of the Earth, LLC Musselman Hotels Carey Fieldhouse Dr. Sean Preston President President and CEO Pegasus Global Carol Hampton Frank Bennett President Chief Executive Officer PIX SHOES Michael Shouse Mitchell Pearson Owner Executive Director Pizzazzle Events Nicholasville, Wilmore - Jessamine County Joint Tourism Commission Melissa Happel Owner Manisha Plan B Managing member Nilakantha LLC Elizabeth M Taylor Owner Gretchen Landrum Poor Richard’s Books Executive Director Northern Kentucky Convention Center Miranda N. Fallen Executive Director Traci Cunningham Powell County Tourism Commission Executive Director Oak Grove Tourism & Convention Commission 8 Chetan Patel Leslie Ikerd Owner Executive Director PRAMUKH RAJ LLC Somerset Tourist & Convention Commission

Samantha Johnson Michelle Allen Executive Director Executive Director Prestonsburg Tourism Commission SOMERSET- PULASKI CO CVB

Rajesh Krishnani Chris Girdler Chief Financial Officer President & CEO Quadrant Hotels SPEDA

Kelly Barron Mark Kuiper CEO GM Radcliff Convention & Tourism Commission SpringHill Suites Louisville Airport

Prakash Maggan Craig Spears CFO Secretary Rainmaker Hospitality Stuedle Spears & Company CPAs

Paul Patel Mindy Thompson Franchise Owner CEO Red Roof Inn T&T Marketing Solutions LLC (Kentucky Waterways & Adventure Trails) Melody W. Rodgers Owner Margaret Handmaker Refined Social Events & Productions CEO TARC Lisa Kahl-Hillerich Owner Katherine O’ Callaghan RoxyNell Member TDC LLC Shawn Bowy President Scott T. Shoenberger Samba Hotel Group LLC President & Chief Executive Officer The Al J. Schneider Company H. B. Niehaus Member Bryan Gillespie Sapphire Hospitality, LLC Owner The Gillespie Chenelle Mcgee CEO Mac T. Lacy ShelbyKY Tourism President and Publisher The Group Travel Leader Inc Troy Beam Executive Director Mary Henry Shepherdsville-Bullitt County Tourist & Conv Comm co-owner The Louisville Quest Piyush Patel General Manager Claire Bridges Sohum Hotels LLC Director of Catering The Mayan Cafe catering department 9 Jennifer Benningfield Chris Zaborowski Owner Owner, Member The Thirsty Pedaler Westport Whiskey And Wine

Amy Wepf Kristen Lutes Owner Executive Director Toast on Market Restaurant Whitehall House & Gardens

Alice N. Hahn Susan Hershberg President President Tours For You, LLC Wiltshire Pantry Inc

Clay Campbell Nancy Allen Turner President Executive Director Triangle Talent, LLC Winchester-Clark County Tourism

Kalpesh Patel Mike Conway Member Manager Chairman Trideva Hospitality, LLC Winegardner & Hammons Hotel Group

Joey Myers Paul Cappiello Owner Executive Director Trolley de ‘Ville Yew Dell Botanical Gardens

Dan O’Connell Margaret Handmaker General Manager Interim Co-Executive Director Varanese Riverfront LLC TARC, Louisville’s Transit Authority

Anne Sabatino Hardy Executive Director Visit Horse Country

Dave Kirk Destination Management Visit Owensboro

Mark Calitri President/CEO VisitOwensboro

Thomas Uribazo General Manager/Managing Director Operations Vu Guesthouse & Luxury Boutique Hotel

Kasey Maier President Waterfront Botanical Gardens

Margaret Heely Owner Weekend Wedding Warrior, LLC

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