Josh Friedlander

Alone, none of this breaks the economy, but together, it clouds travel confidence, delays planning and slows bookings. U.S. Travel's research team breaks down what happened, what it means for travel & what to watch next. ustravel.org/research/72-hou…

What can 72 hours tell us about the future of travel? A lot, it turns out. Tariff rulings. A GDP slowdown. A PreCheck suspension reversed within hours. This week packed months of policy whiplash into 3 days, and it's a preview of the environment the travel industry will navigate all year. ustravel.org/research/72-hou…

Suspending Global Entry Defies Logic. It Doesn't Save Resources—It Wastes Them. Statement from @USTravel CEO Geoff Freeman on the suspension of Global Entry: "Global Entry is a force multiplier for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that saves the government tens of millions of dollars annually. In 2025 alone, the use of automated biometric technology reduced arrival wait times by 70% and saved officers more than 300,000 hours; time and attention that was redirected toward screening of unknown or higher risk travelers. Suspending this critical security program does the opposite of what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intends, adding volume to standard lines, stretching the very personnel the department is trying to protect and increasing security risks."

New tariffs on Canada could impact Canadian visitation to and spending in the United States. Canada is the top source of international visitors to the U.S., with 20.4M visits in 2024, generating $20.5B in spending & supporting 140K American jobs. ustravel.org/press/potential…

U.S. Travel’s forecast shows travel spending nearing pre-pandemic levels this year, with growth continuing through 2025 & beyond. Our estimates anticipated rate cuts and the potential of broader economic growth at rates lower than the post-pandemic recovery period. In short: We’re optimistic about travel’s future. Go deeper: bit.ly/3ZNx1Fp

The @federalreserve's half-percent rate cut will ripple across the economy. But what does it mean for travel? Following a record-breaking summer, the travel industry’s recovery has been resilient—its success a part of the broader economy.

The #TaylorSwift effect is real, according to @Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian: “I think Swift contributed a couple hundred basis points to global GDP this year. She had a much bigger impact on Hyatt than the #Olympics in Paris did.” This reinforces insights from our blog, showcasing how experiences like the #ErasTour can boost travel & the economy: ustravel.org/news/taking-swi… More: hotelsmag.com/news/hyatt-ceo…

📊 U.S. Travel’s #TravelPriceIndex (TPI) shows positive signals for travelers. According to our VP of Research @joshpfried: “With overall inflation cooling to its lowest level since 2021 and gas prices down significantly, travelers have reason to be excited. Prices of travel-related goods and services have grown less than those for the economy broadly, both annually and compared with prior to the pandemic.” More: bit.ly/Travel-Price-Index

“The results are in. And as it turns out, despite the naysayers, Americans are happy about the use of biometric security measures at airports.” Nearly 80% of travelers support using biometrics at @TSA security checkpoints to confirm a passenger's identity, according to new data from @USTravel & @Ipsos. Go deeper: travelpulse.com/news/airline…

Air travelers overwhelmingly support @TSA’s use of biometric technology to strengthen security & improve the travel experience, according to new U.S. Travel and @Ipsos data. As our country prepares to host a decade of global sporting events, Congress must act to fund and widely utilize biometrics at our nation’s airports, offering a more seamless & secure travel experience for the millions of visitors headed to the U.S. Learn more: ustravel.org/press/survey-4-…

Over the past few days, we've seen heightened chatter surrounding global economic conditions. But what does it all mean for travelers and the U.S. travel industry? U.S. Travel VP of Research @joshpfried breaks it down in a new blog 👇 ustravel.org/news/update-eco…

Get ready for longer waits in airport security lines—120 million additional hours per year—if a reckless amendment to the FAA reauthorization bill, aiming to ban TSA’s facial recognition tech, passes. Read more ⬇ ustravel.org/news/congress-t…