Al Weiss, a UCF alumnus and president of Worldwide Operations for Disney Parks and Resorts, will join other members of the tourism industry on a national board that encourages people from across the globe to travel to the U.S.
Weiss is one of 11 leaders who have been appointed to the Corporation for Travel Promotion’s Board of Directors. The CTP is a new nonprofit corporation that will promote travel to the U.S. and improve the entry process for international visitors to the U.S.
“I’m honored to be appointed and look forward to serving along with industry leaders I greatly admire and respect as we bring the U.S. onto the global stage to compete for international visitors,” he said.
Weiss graduated from UCF in 1976 and has since been honored as a Distinguished Alumnus. He is also a member of the College of Business Administration’s Hall of Fame.
He was appointed to the CTP by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, and will be working to promote America as a travel destination alongside board members such as David Lim, chief marketing officer for Amtrak, and Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of the California Travel & Tourism Commission.
“We are extremely pleased to join with this diverse group of talented travel and tourism industry leaders as we work together to strengthen this important sector of the U.S. economy,” said Locke. “President Obama recognizes the critical role that attracting international visitors to the United States plays in creating jobs and growing our economy.”
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the travel and tourism industry represents $1.3 trillion of the U.S. economy, supports 8.2 million jobs and accounts for 8 percent of all U.S. exports. One out of every 16 Americans works, either directly or indirectly, in a travel and tourism-related industry.