LAS VEGAS – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke announced that Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCCA) President and CEO Rossi Ralenkotter was chosen to lead the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board.

“It is an honor to be selected as the chair of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and I would like to thank Secretary Locke for the appointment," Ralenkotter said.  “I look forward to working with the board to continue to promote the importance of the travel and tourism industry to our nation’s economy.”

The board provides counsel to the Secretary on government policies and programs that affect the U.S. travel and tourism industry, and provides a forum for discussing and proposing solutions to industry-related concerns. Travel and tourism is one of the nation’s most significant exports, accounting for 2.7 percent of the nation’s GDP and supporting more than 8 million jobs.

“The health and stability of the travel and tourism industry touches all regions and impacts employment and economic strength across the country,” Locke said.  “I look forward to working with the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board to develop policies that can help put Americans back to work in this critical sector.”

Ralenkotter, who has more than 35 years experience in the travel and tourism industry, will be sworn in as the chair at the board of directors meeting in April. He joins 28 other travel industry professionals on the board.