IAEM Applauds Senate Action on Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
IAEM Applauds Senate Action on
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
DALLAS, 19 May 2006
'" The International Association for Exhibition Management (IAEM) praises the
U.S. Senate'™s adoption of the Stevens-Leahy amendment on 17 May 2006. Introduced
by Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the bipartisan
amendment extends the travel document deadline for the Western Hemisphere Travel
Initiative (WHTI) from 1 January 2008 to 1 June 2009.
A topic of much interest to
the exhibition and event industry, the WHTI will require all travelers to and
from the Americas, the Caribbean and Bermuda to have a passport or other
accepted document that establishes the bearer'™s identity and nationality to
enter or re-enter the United States. This is a change from prior travel
requirements. The goal is to strengthen border security and facilitate entry
into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors.
The extension allows
organizers of exhibitions and events who are especially dependent upon visitors
and exhibitors from Canada and Mexico to have sufficient time to ensure that all
of their audiences are properly informed and prepared for new travel
documentation requirements.
IAEM President Steven Hacker,
CAE says, "IAEM also thanks all members who participated in this important
legislative project."
For more information about
IAEM'™s advocacy initiatives, visit
www.iaem.org.
About IAEM
Since 1928, the International
Association for Exhibition Management (IAEM) continues to provide quality and
value to its members through leadership, service, education and strong
relationships. IAEM is the largest association of the exhibition and event
industry in the world, with a membership of show organizers, exhibitors and
exhibition suppliers. Organizers of more than 20,000 exhibitions and
buyer-seller events around the world are members of IAEM. Through the 2006
consolidation with the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR), IAEM
delivers valuable industry research reports. IAEM also supports IAEM Services,
Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary that partners with industry suppliers and
service providers to offer high quality, low cost exhibition products and
services to the industry. For more information, visit
www.iaem.org.
### Mary Tucker
+1 (972) 687-9226
mtucker@iaem.org |
