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Travel industry speakers invite airlines to team up
January 14, 2010

Airline CEOs should view themselves as part of the travel and tourism industry and join with hoteliers, car rental companies and cruise lines to "speak with one voice," panelists at a trade show said Tuesday. The remarks came one day after the heads of Fort Worth-based American Airlines Inc. and Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. spoke at the show, the Professional Convention Management Association's annual meeting, at the Dallas Convention Center.

Yet American's Gerard Arpey and Southwest's Gary Kelly, and the other major airline CEOs, have been invited twice to CEO roundtables put together by the U.S. Travel Association, one of the industry's biggest trade groups, but did not attend, said Roger Dow, president of the group. The first meeting, in March, included chief executives from hotels, cruise lines and theme parks – and President Barack Obama, Dow said.

"The airlines have not been at the table, and they have to be at the table," said Dow, adding that he had lunch with Arpey on Monday to talk about increased involvement. "People don't get on planes because of the fun of the trip." Jonathan Tisch, chief executive of Loews Hotels, said he recognizes that the airlines have been "under siege" as fuel prices have soared and travel has waned. That's all the more reason to team up, he said.

"Our industry is only going to survive and grow because all of us are working together," said Tisch, who also is co-owner of the New York Giants. "We need [airlines] to be side-by-side with us so that when we meet with elected officials we are unified." David Castleveter, a spokesman for the Air Transport Association, noted that an official with his group also serves as a liaison to the travel group. So "our voice is often conveyed" to the travel group, he said.

American Airlines executives have been "up to our ears" in pressing business matters, including making an equity bid for Japan Airlines, said spokesman Tim Smith.

"It's no disrespect to the other parts of the travel industry," he said. "It's just a plate that's overflowing onto the table cloth." Dow said he plans to lobby for more airline involvement for the travel association's May CEO meeting.

Source :- http://www.dallasnews.com/