Congress to Ban Meetings and Events

Take a look at the National Business Travel Association article on what Senator Kerry is up to in Congress. Sen. Kerry has introduced legislation that would ban all 421 firms including the nation's largest banks that received money from the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) from hosting, sponsoring or paying for conferences, holiday parties and entertainment events.

Does Senator Kerry, or any member of Congrees for that matter, attend conferences, accept money from lobbyist included under the TARP package? I am sure they don't. Hmm.. But they are sending a message to all those employers that offer a "morale" boost to employees for a job well done. Why can't hard working employees be treated to a nice conference, event or Holiday party?

I do agree that spending on events has been excessive, or so that is what the media is telling us, but to put a total ban on any type of tourism related activity (meeting, events, conference, trade show, etc..) is putting even more of a strap hold on the economy.

Please read the response below from the National Business Travel Association- providing statistical basis for what the meeting industry is and why it is essential to the economy:

"I was dismayed to hear that Sen. Kerry has introduced legislation that bans Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) recipients from hosting, sponsoring or paying for conferences, holiday parties and entertainment events. I understand and share the concern that taxpayer funds are being used for questionable items, but Sen. Kerry's comments amd actions are part of a disturbing trend that paints company travel and events as a picture of lavish, unnecessary parties. When in truth, the vast majority of meetings, conventions and conferences are cost efficient, well planned tools used by companies to drive business and are an economic boon to cities that host the meetings.

The industry recognizes there are concerns with how companies are spending money. My association, the National Business Travel Association has been at the forefront of managed travel for forty years. A well managed travel program ensures companies are following guidelines that include competitive bidding, expense reporting, cost containment, and policy compliance. Exactly the type of transparency and accountability President Obama has called for. The travel industry believes so strongly in the benefits of effectively managed travel that it has published a set of standards that are being recommended to TARP companies. The industry is also working with the Treasury Department to ensure that these real world practices are a part of the solution.
The introduction of legislation and media driven stories are having a chilling effect on the entire travel community, not just TARP recipients. Companies that have never taken a cent of TARP money are canceling meetings and other events because they are afraid of being attacked as wasteful. This hurts the business travel industry, but it also affects the bellman, the maid, the waitress and other hourly employees that will be laid off as these meetings and conventions decline.

As a member of a community that creates $244 billion in spending, 2.4 million America jobs and $39 billion in tax revenue at the federal, state and local level, I hope you will listen to our ideas and suggestions. Let the Treasury Department work with the business travel industry to set guidelines for managed travel. The worst possible step Congress can do now is to ban meetings and conferences. This knee-jerk reaction would not only hurt the targeted companies, it would hurt the entire American economy."

Why put even more Americans out of work?