More than a dozen U.S. travel industry supplier and association leaders in a letter sent Monday urged federal government officials to incorporate increased Covid-19 testing in the next coronavirus legislative package to help ignite an economic revival, according to the U.S. Travel Association.
"The events of recent weeks have made very clear one indispensable component of efforts to spur a national recovery from the health and economic crisis: broadening the availability of efficient, effective, 24-to-28-hour Covid-19 testing," read the letter. "As a start, we urge the swift consideration and passage of the TEST Act, bipartisan legislation that would enhance the resources and collaboration tools the federal government devotes to Covid-19 testing."
The TEST Act, introduced in the Senate earlier this month, would expand federal testing capability, among other actions.
The letter outlined specific areas of need, including improving the accuracy and speed of data collection for testing and contract tracing; increasing available resources for research, development and validation of new, rapid and accurate tests; increasing access to worker testing; and updating and expanding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention testing guidelines.
The plea also referenced a white paper produced by USTA in which it found that wider availability of testing would help to determine whether reopening is safe, help to keep employees safe and businesses open, promote safe and healthy travel, and restore consumer confidence and generate travel demand, which would lead to accelerated rehiring.
The letter was addressed to President Donald Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
In addition to USTA president and CEO Roger Dow, the 12 industry CEO signees were Accor North America's Heather McCrory, Best Western's David Kong, Choice Hotels' Pat Pacious, Enterprise Holdings' Chrissy Taylor, Hilton Worldwide's Christopher Nassetta, Host Hotels & Resorts' James Risoleo, Hyatt Hotels Corp.'s Mark Hoplamazian, Las Vegas Sands Corp.'s George Markantonis, InterContinental Hotels Group Americas' Elie Maalouf, Loews Hotels & Co.'s Jonathan Tisch, Marriott International's Arne Sorenson, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts' Geoff Ballotti.