Three travel industry organizations, including the Travel Industry Association, are merging into a single, not yet named, new entity.

Starting January 1, 2008, TIA, the Travel Business Roundtable, and the Discover America Partnership will begin the process of becoming a single organization in 2009. As the first step in the process, the Discover America Partnership—a group of hospitality industry leaders that formed in September 2006 to lobby Congress to promote and facilitate international travel to the U.S.—will be absorbed by TIA. And by January 1, 2009, the Travel Business Roundtable—an organization made up of travel industry CEOs—will be merged into TIA. Over the course of the next year, the new combined organization will explore the possibility of a new name, says Cathy Keefe, manager, public relations at TIA.

The merger is part of the effort begun a few years ago by Roger Dow, president and CEO of TIA, to “unify the industry and create an even stronger voice with policymakers,” says Keefe. “By combining the efforts of the three organizations, we will better be able to address policy issues affecting the industry and develop an aggressive, proactive public affairs effort that articulates the positive role the industry can play,” she adds.

Next year, the “transition year,” TIA and TBR will work together to strengthen their internal government relations capabilities, create a public outreach program, establish a public policy research center, and enhance strategic communications.