GBTA Applauds Confirmation of Grant Harris As U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Analysis

Alexandria, VA  – GBTA applauds the confirmation of Grant Harris to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Analysis at the U.S. Department of Commerce.  

GBTA had advocated on behalf of its membership and chapters for a swift confirmation of Harris to serve in this important senior leadership role for the business travel industry which had been vacant for over a year.   

The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Analysis position works to promote international travel to the United States. It also oversees the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO), the lead office for travel and tourism within the federal government.  

The business travel industry relies on NTTO to represent the economic interests of our sector in U.S. policymaking within the federal government, to produce high-quality data on U.S. travel and tourism exports to inform private sector decision-making, and to collaborate in developing strategy and policies that support the travel and tourism industry. 

“Harris is highly qualified and has the right private and public sector experience to execute this important role. He brings first-hand knowledge and expertise in increasing U.S. exports and working with stakeholders abroad, which will be a critical skill set to support the recovery of international travel to the United States,” said Suzanne Neufang, CEO, GBTA. 

“We are proud of how hard our industry is working to recover and grow in the wake of COVID-19,” she added. “There is a lot more to be done, and our success will require strong representation and partnerships across the board.”