Travel Leaders Meet with President at White House
Target 100 Million International Visitors in 2030
By Todd McElwee
President Donald Trump met with Geoff Freeman President & CEO, U.S. Travel Association, and a collection of travel industry CEOs in the Oval Office on September 2.
The group set a goal of attracting 100 million international visitors by 2030.
“We had a productive meeting with President Trump about the opportunity ahead for the U.S. travel economy,” Freeman said. “President Trump already holds the record for international visitation to the United States—nearly 80 million visitors in 2018. Now we have an opportunity to build on the momentum from a successful World Cup—and go much bigger. “The World Cup, America250 and a strong summer of travel showed what’s possible when we get travel right. The next goal should be 100 million international visitors a year by 2030—striving to make the United States the most visited country in the world.”
U.S. Travel provided USAE a roster of the travel CEOs who attended: Bill Hornbuckle, CEO & President, MGM Resorts International and National Board Chair, U.S. Travel Association; Omer Acar, CEO, Raffles & Fairmont; Anthony Capuano, President & CEO, Marriott International; Robert Isom, CEO, American Airlines Inc.; Elie Maalouf, CEO, IHG Hotels & Resorts; Chris Nassetta, President & CEO, Hilton; Josh Weinstein, CEO, Carnival Corporation; Geoff Freeman, President & CEO, U.S. Travel Association; Tom Reeg, CEO, Caesars Entertainment; James F. Allen, Chairman, Hard Rock International and Hard Rock Gaming; Glenn Fogel, CEO & President, Bookings Holdings; and Patrick Nichols, President & CEO, Venetian.
The National Travel and Tourism Office’s (NTTO) International Forecast showed more than 68 million international arrivals came to the United States in 2025. NTTO is predicting more than 70 million arrivals this year and north of 74 million next.
France is the world’s most visited nation, attracting a record 102 million foreign tourists in 2025, including 5 million Americans, which was up 17% over 2025, Reuters said.
U.S. tourism got a boost from this summer’s FIFA World Cup. Travel spending rose 6.2% year over year in June to $122.1 billion, its strongest monthly reading in a year, Reuters said. A U.S. Travel study found 81% of Americans say seeing international visitors enjoy the nation gives them a sense of pride and 70% believe the U.S. should pursue more major international events.
Freeman said: “The World Cup, America250 and a strong summer of travel showed what’s possible when we get travel right. The next goal should be 100 million international visitors a year by 2030—striving to make the United States the most visited country in the world. Getting to 100 million would result in $81 billion in additional spending, more than 400,000 American jobs and millions more people coming here, experiencing America for themselves and telling their friends and family that they should do the same. The American people are the best ambassadors we have. Let’s give them the opportunity to show our great country off. Our industry is ready to work with the president and his administration to build on today’s momentum.”
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