Official Card:

SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

Union Station
50 Massachusetts Ave NE
Washington, DC 20002

Full Recording Available Below

The Second Annual Future of Travel Mobility Conference

On September 20, U.S. Travel hosted its second annual Future of Travel Mobility conference at Union Station in Washington D.C. This unique gathering brought together global travel and business leaders, along with government officials and policymakers, to accelerate action on central issues impacting the traveler experience.

This year’s inaugural event featured prominent participants including American Airlines CEO Robert Isom, MGM Resorts CEO and President William Hornbuckle, Enterprise Holdings President and CEO Chrissy Taylor, Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO), U.S. Department of Transportation Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy Carlos Monje, Jr. and White House Senior Advisor & Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator Mitch Landrieu.

Through in-depth, thought-provoking dialogue, we examined the critical issues shaping travel mobility’s future—and the policies needed to seize the opportunities before us—including:

Sustainable Travel

Throughout the travel industry, businesses and destinations are working to lower carbon emissions and reduce their environmental impact. What obstacles must be overcome to make travel more sustainable? Where should EV charging infrastructure be built to ease range anxiety among travelers and ensure travel destinations aren’t left behind? How can travel sectors work together to realize a more sustainable future?

Seamless and Secure Travel

New technologies such as biometrics and touchless digital technology hold the promise of creating a frictionless and more secure travel experience—from airport security to curbside pick-up to hotel check-in. How can policymakers, transportation leaders, hospitality and other travel partners work together to create seamless solutions for travelers? How can trusted traveler programs be improved and screening processes be streamlined? As technologies evolve, how do we address privacy and equity concerns?

Innovative and Emerging Travel

Cutting-edge modes of transportation will transform the ways travelers move to and around destinations. How might these innovations create a more enjoyable and comfortable travel experience? What could they mean for destinations and attractions? What policies are needed to support new transportation modes?

Thank you To all our sponsors

Expert Panel Sponsors

Wi-Fi Sponsor

Networking Reception Sponsors

Supporting Sponsors

AGENDA

Note: The Future of Travel Mobility conference's full schedule will continue to be updated on an ongoing basis. Timing is subject to change.

8:30 AM - Networking Breakfast

9:30 AM - Event Framing Remarks

Tori Emerson Barnes, Executive Vice President, Public Affairs and Policy, U.S. Travel

9:35 AM - Opening Keynote and Q&A

William J. Hornbuckle, Chief Executive Officer and President, MGM Resorts International

Q&A moderated by Geoff Freeman, President and CEO, U.S. Travel Association

Session Details

Bill Hornbuckle, CEO and President of MGM Resorts and Chair of the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, joins us to deliver keynote remarks at this year’s conference. Mr. Hornbuckle will underscore why welcoming, accessible and seamless experiences are critical to the future of travel and what it takes to create them – from upgrading travel infrastructure to strengthening the travel workforce to powering continued innovation.

10:10 AM - Sustainable Travel Framing Remarks

Brendan Jones, President of Blink Charging

Session Details

Brendan Jones, President of Blink Charging, introduces our session on Sustainable Travel by discussing Blink’s investments to speed the adoption of electric vehicles and to build robust EV charging infrastructure supporting the Green American Road Trip.

10:25 AM - Sustainable Travel Panel: Toward End-to-End Travel Sustainability

Mike Daher, Vice Chair, US Transportation, Hospitality & Services, Deloitte
Jean Garris Hand, Vice President of Global ESG, Hilton
Sangeeta Naik, Global Head of Strategic Partnerships & Marketing, American Express Travel

Moderator: Julia Cosgrove, VP, Editor in Chief, AFAR Media

Session Details

Business and leisure travelers alike are seeking more sustainable travel options. As businesses commit to lowering their carbon footprints, many are taking a hard look at travel spending. Leisure travelers are increasingly aware of the impact their vacations can have on the planet and local communities. Panelists will discuss how robust corporate environmental commitments and changing traveler expectations will impact travel and what could enable continued industry growth in a more sustainable future.

11:10 AM - Sustainable Travel Fireside Chat

Chrissy Taylor, President and CEO, Enterprise Holdings

Moderator: Tori Emerson Barnes, Executive Vice President, Public Affairs and Policy, U.S. Travel Association

Session Details

During a fireside conversation, Chrissy Taylor, President and CEO of Enterprise Holdings, will share the company’s vision for the future of travel—including its plans to meet consumer demands for more sustainable travel options and insights into how it is preparing for the electrification of the auto sector.

11:40 AM - The Rail Passenger Experience

Dennis Newman, Executive Vice President, Strategy, Planning & Accessibility, Amtrak

Session Details

Amtrak EVP, Dennis Newman, welcomes the audience to Union Station and shares Amtrak’s plans for future rail travel.

12:05 PM - Luncheon Fireside Chat

Robert Isom, CEO, American Airlines

Moderator: Christine Duffy, President, Carnival Cruise Line

Session Details

Robert Isom, CEO of American Airlines, will discuss the company’s plans to make air travel more sustainable and meet its net-zero emissions goal. Isom will also discuss how the company plans to create a more seamless and enjoyable travel experience for its customers and its investments in future technologies that will profoundly change the ways we travel.

1:05 PM - Administration Spotlight

Carlos Monje, Jr., Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy, US Department of Transportation

Session Details

Carlos Monje, Jr., Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy at the Department of Transportation, will join us to discuss progress on travel infrastructure and sustainability projects made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act.

1:45 PM - Innovative & Emerging Travel Transportation Fireside Chat

Gil West, Chief Operating Officer, Cruise

Moderator: James Fallows, Co-Author, ‘Our Towns,’ Contributing Writer, The Atlantic

Session Details

Cruise COO, Gil West, will provide a glimpse into the future of autonomous vehicles and discuss how Cruise’s fully electric driverless cars are already making transportation safer, more sustainable and more accessible.

2:15 PM - Innovative and Emerging Travel Spotlight Remarks

Mitch Landrieu, White House Senior Advisor & Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator

Session Details

As Senior Advisor and Infrastructure Coordinator for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu is playing a central role in implementing historic investments in travel. Landrieu will provide insights into how these investments are modernizing America’s roads, bridges, rail, airports and transit.

2:30 PM - Innovative & Emerging Travel: Public & Private Sector Solutions

Mitch Landrieu, White House Senior Advisor & Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator
Walt Leger, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, New Orleans & Company
Patrick Goddard, President, Brightline Trains

Moderator: Jessica Wehrman, Transportation and Infrastructure Reporter, CQ Roll Call

Session Details

The U.S. is on the cusp of revolutionizing travel mobility. This panel will respond to Mr. Landrieu’s remarks and discuss how the public and private sectors can work together to transform and grow travel by enabling new opportunities for passenger rail in the U.S.

3:00 PM - Seamless & Secure Travel: Creating A More Frictionless Travel Experience

Erik Hansen, Vice President, Government Relations, U.S. Travel
Kevin Yoder, Partner, HHQ Ventures
Lisa Sullivan, Executive Vice President, Travel and Transport, IDEMIA

Moderator: Kendall Bentz, Managing Partner, Prologue

Session Details

Biometrics, trusted traveler programs and other identity verification technologies are already eliminating pain points at airports while making travel more secure. Panelists will discuss what policies are needed to speed the development and implementation of these new technologies and how to allay concerns about consumer privacy.

3:30 PM - Sustainable Air Travel: Ready for Takeoff?

Rachel Devine, Senior Vice President, Global Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Boom Supersonic
Alex Menotti, Head of Corporate and Government Affairs, LanzaJet
Laurence Wildgoose, Assistant Administrator for Policy, International Affairs, & Environment, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Moderator: James Fallows, Co-Author, ‘Our Towns,’ Contributing Writer, The Atlantic

Session Details

Across the global airline industry, a range of companies have committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. A panel of aviation industry leaders will discuss the challenge to scaling-up production of sustainable aviation fuel, the importance of cross-sector collaboration, the role of public partnerships and investments, and the innovative green technologies on the horizon.

4:00 PM - Policymaker Spotlight

Ranking Member Sam Graves, (R-MO), Ranking Member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives

Moderator: Tori Emerson Barnes, Executive Vice President, Public Affairs and Policy, U.S. Travel Association

Session Details

Rep. Graves, the Ranking Member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, joins us to discuss the policies needs to address the country’s travel infrastructure needs and harness innovations in transportation technology.