News Type: Roundtable Weekly

Roundtable, Industry Coalition Voice Concerns That “Enhanced Vetting” Proposal Could Dampen Economy by Deterring International Visitors to U.S.

Posted on by Trey Jackson

A multi-industry travel and tourism coalition that includes The Real Estate Roundtable submitted formal comments on May 29 urging the State Department to withdraw an “enhanced vetting” proposal for visitors traveling to the U.S. – a dramatic expansion of information collection that could further reduce the downward trend of in-bound tourism and its significant economic benefits.  The Roundtable is also part of the  VisitUS Coalition , which expressed concerns about the proposal in April.  [Roundtable Weekly, April 13, 2018.] 

A multi-industry travel and tourism coalition that includes The Real Estate Roundtable submitted  formal comments  on May 29 urging the State Department to withdraw an  “enhanced vetting” proposal  for visitors traveling to the U.S . 

The business coalition concerns submitted this week addressed: 

  • The “highly competitive” global market to capture foreign travelers “is sensitive to new and evolving security protocols.”  The comments also address the department’s proposal to require all visitors seeking a U.S. visa – about 15 million applicants each year – to provide extensive information on social media use, history of international travel, and other matters.  Currently, only a much smaller subset of visa applicants identified as presenting a “threat profile” to national security must answer these questions. 
  • “New requirements that make it more challenging to obtain U.S. visas can affect the willingness and interest of international travelers to visit the United States rather than other countries,” the coalition wrote.  “Safeguarding national security and growing the U.S. economy by encouraging international visitors are compatible, significant objectives. America can be both the most secure and the most visited country in the world.”     
  • Noting that the U.S. has attracted 7.4 million fewer overseas travelers in 2016-2017 – with corollary declines in visitor spending at American hotels, resorts, stores and attraction properties – the coalition urged the State Department to re-think its “enhanced vetting” proposal.  
  • The comments also explained that the dip in the U.S. share of the global travel market hinders the Trump Administration’s foreign trade goals.  “Money spent here by foreign travelers counts as an export for the United States; indeed, international travel is our country’s largest export of services accounting for $245 billion in total travel exports, and the second largest of any economic sector,” the coalition wrote.  

Roundtable Panel on Enhancing International Travel and Tourism

  • The Trump Administration also announced this week that it will begin limiting the length of validity for some visas issued to Chinese citizens, starting June 11.  (Bloomberg, May 29) 
  • To address policies that may encourage or discourage in-bound travel to the U.S.– as well as the impact of  the travel and tourism market on CRE – The Roundtable will host a panel discussion during its June 14 Annual Meeting. 

The American Hotel & Lodging Association and the U.S. Travel Association lead the multi-industry VisitUS coalition, which also includes the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Resort Development Association.  (VisitU.S. Policy Agenda, Roundtable Weekly, March 2)

Industry Execs Engage Lawmakers on National Policy Issues; Ventas CEO Debra Cafaro Elected Roundtable Chair

Posted on by Trey Jackson

Congressional lawmakers and industry leaders discussed national policies affecting commercial real estate this week during The Real Estate Roundtable’s 2018 Annual Meeting, where Debra A. Cafaro (Chairman & CEO, Ventas, Inc.) was elected to a three-year term as Roundtable Chair. 

Debra A. Cafaro  (Chairman & CEO, Ventas, Inc.), right, was elected to a three-year term as Roundtable Chair, following  William C. Rudin ‘s (Vice Chairman & CEO, Rudin Management, Inc.), left, term.

  • Roundtable Chair William C. Rudin  (Vice Chairman & CEO, Rudin Management, Inc.) kicked off yesterday’s business meeting with a summary of the organization’s successful efforts to diversify the membership and announced its newly-released FY2018 Annual Report, “Building Success.”  
  • Following Cafaro’s approval as Chair starting July 1, Real Estate Roundtable and President Jeffrey DeBoer said, “Bill Rudin and Deb Cafaro follow a long line of distinguished business leaders who have pursued a fact-based, pro-growth agenda in Washington on behalf of the industry.  We are confident that our new Chair will continue that tradition and we look forward to her leadership.” 
  • Cafaro noted The Roundtable’s public policy agenda remains full of key issues that require further engagement with policymakers: “Above all, we must uphold our independent & respected position on Capitol Hill, emphasizing our optimism about the economy and the positive contributions the real estate industry provides as a job creator and as a cornerstone for retirement savings.”   
  • Cafaro’s election as the first female chair for The Roundtable culminates years of service.  She joined its board of directors in 2011, became board secretary in 2015 and chair-elect and secretary in 2017. 

National policymakers and featured speakers at yesterday’s meeting included: 

The economic importance of foreign travel and tourism to the United States’ economy and commercial real estate industry was the focus of a panel discussion during The Roundtable’s 2018 Annual Meeting. (enlarge photo)

  • House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) discussed policy issue priorities for their party. 
  • House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) was presented with The Roundtable’s Champion of the Economy Legislative Leadership Award.  He also engaged meeting attendees on the results of recently enacted tax legislation. 
  • Rep. John Larson (D-CT) and Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) focused on the House Democratic legislative agenda. 
  • The economic importance of foreign travel and tourism to the United States was the focus of a discussion that included Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN); American Hotel & Lodging Association President & CEO Katherine Lugar; U.S. Travel Association President & CEO Roger Dow; and Empire State Realty Trust Chairman and CEO Tony Malkin. The Roundtable is a member of the VisitU.S. Coalition, which is encouraging policy solutions to address a recent drop in travel to the U.S. and the resulting loss to the economy and jobs. (Roundtable Weekly, Feb. 9) 
  • Cook Political Report National Editor Amy Walter and former Governor of Virginia Terry McAuliffe offered separate insights and remarks on the upcoming mid-term elections. 
  • An evening dialogue with former White House Press Secretary to President Barack Obama Josh Earnest and former Deputy White House Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush Karl Rove focused on how their experience with past Administrations offers perspective about current and future legislative efforts. 

The Roundtable’s Policy Advisory Committees also met this week in conjunction with the Annual Meeting for in-depth discussions in the policy areas of tax; capital and credit; energy and environment; and homeland security.  Next on The Roundtable’s calendar is the Fall Meeting on September 26 in Washington, DC (Roundtable-level members only).

29 Industry Organizations Launch “Careers Building Communities” to Encourage Real Estate Talent Development

Posted on by Trey Jackson

The Roundtable and 28 other real estate industry organizations – representing more than 10 million jobs – yesterday launched Careers Building Communities, a website highlighting diverse career paths within the real estate sector. The public policy area of the site links to Roundtable resources.

Careers Building Communities highlights diverse career paths within the real estate sector.

  • With changing demographics, technological advances and evolving preferences in how different generations live, work and play, Careers Building Communities seeks to encourage students, educators, career changers and others to explore opportunities in real estate.  
  • Housing Wire reported today that individuals can use the website to learn about real estate industry trends and take an interactive quiz to explore possible career pathways in the industry.
  • Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer said, “This is the kind of positive collaboration that has proven to be a winning formula for policy action in Washington.  And now, thru this new collaboration, we will apply this formula to raise the awareness that everyone, particularly young people, minorities and people of color, have regarding the tremendous career opportunities that real estate offers.”

By attracting diverse talent to the many careers available across the built environment, Careers Building Communities also responds to a consistent theme among industry stakeholders – the increased need for talent. 

House GOP Unveils “Tax Reform 2.0” Outline; Capital Gains Indexing Bill Introduced

Posted on by Trey Jackson

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) on July 24 outlined a proposed second round of tax cuts to House Republicans, who hope to vote on “Tax Reform 2.0” before the midterm elections..

In an interview with CNBC, Brady expanded on the three core components of the Tax Reform 2.0 proposal.

  • Chairman Brady stated. “With this framework, we are taking the first step to change the culture in Washington D.C. where tax reform only happens once a generation. We plan to work off this framework to build on the growing successes of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and ensure this energized economy continues moving forward.”  (House Ways and Means Statement, July 24)
  • In an interview with CNBC, Brady expanded on the three core components of the 2.0 proposal: 
    • making the individual and small business tax cuts enacted by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent’
    • promoting family savings through retirement accounts, a new universal savings account, and
    • expanded 529 education savings accounts; and spurring business innovation by allowing new businesses to write off more of their initial start-up costs, and removing barriers to growth.
  • The central feature of the proposal – a permanent extension of tax cuts for individuals – is unlikely to pass the Senate, where it would need Democratic support.  (The Hill, July 24) 

    Senior Ways and Means Committee Member Devin Nunes (R-CA) has introduced legislation (H.R. 6444) to index capital gains to inflation – a proposal that would reduce the tax burden on long-lived assets, including real estate.

  • Although House Republicans aim to vote on “Tax Reform 2.0” legislation in September, a tax technical corrections bill may not be voted on until after the November elections. (Roundtable Weekly, July 20)
  • Meanwhile, senior Ways and Means Committee Member Devin Nunes (R-CA) has introduced legislation (H.R. 6444) to index capital gains to inflation – a proposal that would reduce the tax burden on long-lived assets, including real estate.  An inflation adjustment for capital gains previously passed the House in the 1990s but died in the Senate.  House tax-writers may consider indexing capital gains as part of Tax Reform 2.0.  (The Hill, July 20)
  • Separately, attention this week was focused on a mistake affecting qualified improvement property cost-recovery tax rules. An amendment (# 3597) introduced yesterday by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) to an appropriations bill (H.R. 6147) would correct a drafting error in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that unintentionally pushed the recovery period for property improvements from 15 to 39 years.  As a result of the mistake, businesses across the country are delaying, or significantly reducing, capital expenditures for building improvements, undermining job creation and economic activity. (BGov, July 26)
  • Additionally, the Treasury Department has sent draft regulations regarding the new deduction for pass-through business income to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for formal review.  Under a recent agreement between the two agencies, OMB has 10 days to review the regulations before they are issued, unless the parties mutually agree to extend the review period.  (TaxNotes, July 25)

In January, The Roundtable wrote to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin  offering several suggestions designed to maximize the economic impact of the pass-through deduction and avoid unnecessary disruptions to business activity.  [Roundtable Letter, Jan. 18].

Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Create Task Force on Affordable Housing Policy

Posted on by Trey Jackson

With millions of workforce and low-income Americans facing a lack of affordable housing, a group of nine bipartisan Senators recently introduced legislation that would create a task force focused on policy recommendations to address the nation’s housing scarcity problem.  (Sen. Heller News Release, July 18)

With millions of workforce and low-income Americans facing a lack of affordable housing, a group of nine bipartisan Senators recently introduced legislation that would create a task force focused on policy recommendations to address the nation’s housing scarcity problem.  (Sen. Heller News Release, July 18) 

  • The Task Force on the Impact of the Affordable Housing Crisis Act – introduced by Senators Dean Heller (R-NV), Todd Young (R-IN), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Angus King (I-ME), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Doug Jones (D-AL), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Chris Coons (D-DE) – would create an 18-member Task Force with two co-chairs.  The affordable housing task force would evaluate and quantify the impact of housing costs on other government programs and provide recommendations to Congress on how to increase affordable housing.  (One-page Task Force Overview)  
  • Sen. Heller commented, “While we welcome (an) explosion of growth and the jobs and economic opportunities that come with it, there is a lack of affordable housing because the demand for it is outpacing the supply. We need to develop solutions.” 
  • Sen. Cantwell noted, “This year we were able to boost the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, which has built 90 percent of affordable housing in our country.  More needs to be done to get to the root causes of the affordable housing crisis and show that the LIHTC is cost-effective and creates jobs.” 
  • Sen. Cantwell discussed the shortage of housing for workforce and low-income Americans with Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer last year during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on business tax reform. (Hearing Video Clip, Sept. 19, 2017)  

    Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer testified before the Senate Finance Committee: “And we need to focus on ways to incentivize affordable housing, not just low-income housing, which is obviously needed, but workforce housing as well … it is certainly a growing and troubling problem. And as we go forward, that part of our nation has to be included in whatever is done in economic growth.” (Hearing Video Clip, Sept. 19, 2017)
  • In response to a question from Sen. Cantwell, DeBoer said, “Most businesspeople that operate certainly in urban areas recognize that there’s a tremendous and growing shortage of what we would call workforce housing. And so people that are middle-American citizens, firemen, teachers, what have you, combined incomes, working very, very hard, are being priced out of our nation’s cities.”  
  • DeBoer continued, “And we need to focus on ways to incentivize affordable housing, not just low-income housing, which is obviously needed, but workforce housing as well … it is certainly a growing and troubling problem. And as we go forward, that part of our nation has to be included in whatever is done in economic growth.” (Hearing Video Clip, Sept. 19, 2017) 
  • Housing in the nation’s economically distressed communities could also benefit from the new federal “Opportunity Zones” program, which seeks to encourage investment, economic development, and job creation in low-income areas.  Opportunity Zones are the focus of a July 16 GlobeSt.com  interview with Real Estate Roundtable President & CEO Jeffrey DeBoer and Roundtable SVP and Counsel Ryan McCormick.  With implementation guidance about the program expected soon from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the article highlights major tax considerations and regulatory questions, which are also discussed in greater detail in a Roundtable June 28 Opportunity Zone comment letter.  (Roundtable Weekly, July 20).  Treasury rules are expected to confirm that Opportunity Zone tax benefits extend to the construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing.  

The Roundtable’s 2018 Policy Agenda, released in February, recognizes the affordable housing challenge – “As many of our nation’s urban areas become more expensive, our industry continues to recognize and support housing not only for lower income residents, but also for the nation’s middle income workforce. A stable, healthy commercial and residential real estate economy facilitated by sensible federal policies can continue to improve our national standard of living.”  (Introduction, 2018 Roundtable Policy Agenda)

Roundtable Q3 Survey: Commercial Real Estate Executives Report Balanced and Strong Current Market Conditions, Concern for the Future

Posted on by Trey Jackson

The Real Estate Roundtable’s latest quarterly Economic Sentiment Index reported commercial real estate industry executives continue to see balanced and stable market conditions for Q3, despite growing concerns that the market may be at peak pricing and could be nearing the end of its current cycle. 

The  Roundtable’s Q3 2018 Economic Sentiment Index registered at 52 — a one point increase from the last quarter. However, this quarter’s Future-Conditions Index of 49 is seven points lower than the Current-Conditions index of 56.

  • “As we move into the second half of the year, we continue to see robust markets, with debt and equity available, and asset values strong. The commercial real estate industry remains confident for the remainder of 2018,” said Roundtable CEO and President Jeffrey DeBoer. “The positive snapshot of current commercial real estate markets reflects a general absorption of recent interest rate increases, coupled with overall economic stimulation from tax reform.”  
  • The Roundtable’s Q3 2018 Sentiment Index registered at 52 — a one point increase from the last quarter. [The Overall Index is scored on a scale of 1 to 100 by averaging Current and Future Indices; any score over 50 is viewed as positive.] This quarter’s Current-Conditions Index of 56 increased four points from the previous quarter, and rose 5 points compared to the Q3 2017 score of 51. However, this quarter’s Future-Conditions Index of 49 is seven points lower than the Current-Conditions index of 56.

The report’s Topline Findings include:

Roundtable CEO and President Jeffrey DeBoer noted, “Looking to future market conditions, industry executives are noting uncertainties regarding the November midterm elections and growing interest rate and international trade concerns. Policymakers must stay focused on developing pro-growth policies that continue to benefit the overall economy and spur job growth.”

  • The Q3 index came in at 52, a one point increase from Q2. Responders view the market as balanced in terms of property supply and demand. Some responders pointed to pockets where the balance is slipping, but felt the general market conditions are positive and will continue to be so, barring an unexpected event. 
  • Most responders feel market conditions are stable, but there is growing sentiment suggesting the industry is nearing the end of its current cycle. This sentiment is reflected in the seven point spread between current and future real estate conditions shown in Exhibit 1.
  • Most responders suggested asset values have reached peak pricing for many property types, and certainly in major gateway cities. Despite potential peak pricing, industrial properties continue to attract a large volume of investors. 
  • Debt and equity capital sources remain plentiful, but responders expressed concerns about the amount of debt available and the ramifications of the mounting time pressure some lenders have to invest their capital.

DeBoer added, “Looking to future market conditions, industry executives are noting uncertainties regarding the November midterm elections and growing interest rate and international trade concerns. Policymakers must stay focused on developing pro-growth policies that continue to benefit the overall economy and spur job growth.” 

Data for the Q3 survey was gathered in July by Chicago-based FPL Associates on The Roundtable’s behalf. The next Sentiment Survey covering Q4 2018 will be released in November. 

 

Treasury Issues Regulations on New Pass-Through Business Income Deduction

Posted on by Trey Jackson

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of the Treasury on August 8 released guidance on the new pass-through deduction enacted in last year’s tax overhaul bill. 

“The pass-through deduction is an important tax cut for small and mid-size businesses, reducing their effective tax rates to their lowest levels since the 1930s,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, above. “Pass-through businesses play a critical role in our economy. This 20-percent deduction will lead to more investment in U.S. companies and higher wages for hardworking Americans.” 

  • The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed by President Trump in December included a new 20 percent pass-through deduction (section 199A) that can lower the top tax rate on qualifying pass-through business income to 29.6 percent. Such income was previously taxed at a top rate of 39.6 percent.   
  • According to Treasury’s press release, the guidance is intended to: 
    • “Ensure that all small business income below $315,000 for married couples filing jointly (and $157,000 for single filers) is eligible for the deduction”;  
    • “Provide clarity and flexibility for filers over those income thresholds by:  
         • Including ‘aggregation rules’ for filers with pass-through income from multiple sources;… 
         • Issuing guidance relating to specified service, trade or business (SSTB) income above the thresholds, which may be subject to limitation for the purposes of claiming the deduction; and… 
         • Allowing a de minimis exception to avoid unnecessary compliance costs for businesses earning only a small percentage of SSTB income”; and 
    • “Establish anti-abuse safeguards to prevent improper tax avoidance schemes, such as relabeling employees as independent contractors.” 
  • “The pass-through deduction is an important tax cut for small and mid-size businesses, reducing their effective tax rates to their lowest levels since the 1930s,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.  “Pass-through businesses play a critical role in our economy.  This 20-percent deduction will lead to more investment in U.S. companies and higher wages for hardworking Americans.” 
  • “The proposed pass-through regulations are a critical step forward in the implementation of tax reform provisions affecting real estate investment, jobs, and economic activity,” said Jeffrey DeBoer, Real Estate Roundtable President and CEO.  “A regulatory framework for the pass-through deduction is necessary to give taxpayers the certainty they need to move forward with new job-creating real estate projects that strengthen and enhance communities.” 
  • The proposed regulations address several issues affecting real estate, such as the ability to aggregate income from multiple real estate partnerships.  Some areas may need further development, such as the rules related to like-kind exchanges. 
  • In January, The Roundtable wrote to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin offering several suggestions designed to maximize the economic impact of the pass-through deduction and avoid unnecessary disruptions to business activity. [Roundtable Letter, Jan. 18].  

The 184-page proposed regulation on the deduction will be formally published in a future edition of the Federal Register. Stakeholders and other interested parties will then have 45 days to submit public comments, followed by a public hearing on the proposed regulation on October 16.

Fed Poised to Raise Interest Rates Amid Growing Concerns About Escalating Trade Disputes

Posted on by Trey Jackson

Federal Reserve policymakers this week signaled they are likely to raise interest rates next month, after releasing minutes of their most recent Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting showing growing concerns over the economic repercussions from escalating trade disputes. 

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell today delivered remarks on “Monetary Policy in a Changing Economy” at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s annual economic symposium .  (reference:  Powell’s speech, Aug. 24)  

  • Fed Chairman Jerome Powell today delivered remarks on “Monetary Policy in a Changing Economy” at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s annual economic symposium .  Powell said the Fed faces two major risks of “moving too fast and needlessly shortening the expansion, versus moving too slowly and risking a destabilizing overheating.  I see the current path of gradually raising interest rates as the FOMC approach to taking seriously both of these risks.”  ( Powell’s speech , Aug. 24)   
  • As central bankers and economists gathered this week for the symposium, Kansas City Fed President Esther George yesterday told Bloomberg Television, “My own forecast is that it will be appropriate to raise rates a couple more times this year.”  Dallas Fed President Robert Kaplan added in a CNBC interview that he sees three or four rate increases necessary over the next nine to 12 months.  
  • FOMC members are aiming to set interest rates to a “neutral” setting — one that neither spurs nor slows economic growth.  Powell’s comments at today’s symposium come after his testimony before the Senate Banking Committee last month, when he stated, “With a strong job market, inflation close to our objective, and the risks to the outlook roughly balanced, the FOMC believes that – for now – the best way forward is to keep gradually raising the federal funds rate,” (Roundtable Weekly, July 20)  
  • Regarding commercial real estate, the FOMC’s meeting minutes released Wednesday show “CRE loans at banks maintained solid growth over the past several quarters, with growth shared across all three major CRE loan categories.”

    • FOMC minutes show growing concern among monetary policymakers over how trade disputes could pose a threat to economic growth.

  • The minutes also show growing concern among monetary policymakers over how trade disputes could pose a threat to economic growth.  “All participants pointed to ongoing trade disagreements and proposed trade measures as an important source of uncertainty and risks.  Participants observed that if a large-scale and prolonged dispute over trade policies developed, there would likely be adverse effects on business sentiment, investment spending, and employment,” according to the  Fed’s minutes.  
  • “Moreover, wide-ranging tariff increases would also reduce the purchasing power of U.S. households.  Further negative effects in such a scenario could include reductions in productivity and disruptions of supply chains,” the minutes continue.  
  • Yesterday, the U.S. and China started implementation of 25 percent tariffs on $16 billion worth of each other’s goods, according to Reuters.  The negative economic impact of tariffs on each state is the focus of a recent U.S. Chamber of Commerce analysis.  (Politico’s Morning Money, Aug. 23)  
  • Commenting on last week’s Q3 Real Estate Roundtable Economic Sentiment Index, Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer noted, “Looking to future market conditions, industry executives are noting uncertainties regarding the November midterm elections and growing interest rate and international trade concerns.  Policymakers must stay focused on developing pro-growth policies that continue to benefit the overall economy and spur job growth.” 

The FOMC’s next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 25-26.  Former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh (2006 to 2011) will address Roundtable members on Sept. 26 during The Roundtable’s Fall Meeting in Washington, DC.

Hospitality CEOs Meet With President Trump to Advocate Reauthorization of Brand USA Program; Visa Application Process Improvements

Posted on by Trey Jackson

The vital contributions to the U.S. economy and job creation by the travel and tourism industry were the focus of a meeting Tuesday between President Trump and CEOs of 13 hospitality companies, including four members of The Real Estate Roundtable. 

Among the hotel CEOs participating in the White House meeting on travel and tourism this week were former Real Estate Roundtable Chairman Chris Nassetta of Hilton, along with Roundtable members Elie Maalouf of InterContinental Hotels Group; Patrick Pacious of Choice Hotels International; and James Risoleo of Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. 

– enlarge photo –

  • The White House meeting focused on ways the Trump Administration and private industry can work together to achieve travel-related economic growth.  Among the policies discussed to help improve inbound travel: expanding and enhancing secure visa policies; supporting the Brand USA destination marketing agency; the importance of international inbound travel to reduce the growing trade deficit; and transportation infrastructure — all critical to increasing both international and domestic travel. 
  • Among the hotel CEOs participating in the meeting were former Real Estate Roundtable Chairman Chris Nassetta of Hilton, along with Roundtable members  Elie Maalouf of InterContinental Hotels Group; Patrick Pacious of Choice Hotels International; and James Risoleo of Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. 
  • The Visit U.S. coalition, which includes The Roundtable, is urging Congress to reauthorize Brand USA — the nation’s tourism marketing program, which is not supported by taxpayer dollars, but through fees on foreign visitors who do not require a visa when entering the U.S.  Legislation is needed to authorize the program beyond 2020 and ensure that visitor fees authorized for collection from 2021 to 2027 will not be diverted to the Treasury Department, as currently scheduled. 
  • An FY2017 return on investment analysis showed each dollar of Brand USA marketing generated almost 28 dollars in visitor spending.  Moreover, Brand USA-generated international visitor spending is estimated to have produced 486 million dollars in federal tax revenue, and another 526 million dollars in state and local tax revenue.
  • Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, said, “The president is a keen listener whenever you’re talking about growing the economy, and he was receptive to the idea that travel growth can be achieved without compromising security.” 

A panel discussion at The Roundtable’s June 14 Annual Meeting focused on the travel and tourism issue.  Participants included Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN); Roundtable Board Member Anthony E. Malkin, Chairman and CEO, Empire State Realty Trust; USTA’s Roger Dow; and American Hotel & Lodging Association’s President and CEO Katherine Lugar.  (Roundtable Weekly, June 15, 2018.)

Roundtable Calls for Congress to Pass Cyber Security Bill, Increase Digital Competitiveness

Posted on by Trey Jackson

The bipartisan Cyber Diplomacy Act (H.R. 3776) will advance America’s public and private efforts to safeguard cyberspace and enhance the nation’s economic competitiveness in a global digital economy.  That is the message sent by The Roundtable, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and five other national trade organizations in a joint letter last week to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and all other U.S. Senators. (Joint Letter, Sept. 26)

The  Roundtable and six other national trade organizations sent a Sept. 26 joint letter on cybersecurity policy to all members of the U.S. Senate. (Joint Letter)

  • The bill – introduced by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) – passed the House in January, was reported out of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in June and is currently under consideration by the Senate.
  • H.R. 3776 would task the State Department with establishing a unified Office for Cyberspace and Digital Economy, which would consolidate efforts relating to international cybersecurity, internet access, internet freedom, digital economy, cybercrime, deterrence, and international responses to cyber threats.  (The Washington Times, Sept. 27)
  • The Sept. 26 joint letter states, “We believe that a focused, centralized, and appropriately placed office led by an ambassador-rank official would aid U.S. cybersecurity and digital economy efforts. We believe that enactment of this bill would send a powerful message that the U.S. intends to preserve and protect a secure, reliable, and open internet.” 
  • The cybersecurity issue is a key focus of The Roundtable’s Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), which encourages measures to address the global cyber threat and effective information sharing..

The Roundtable’s Homeland Security Task Force will discuss cyber security and other issues affecting real estate during its upcoming meetings at FBI offices in New York (Oct. 18) and Washington, DC (Nov. 13).