EXCLUSIVE: PF Contributor Rethmeier Named SVP of Public Affairs and Government Relations at US Travel Association

The U.S. Travel Association announced today that Blain Rethmeier (@BlainR) has been named Senior Vice President for Public Affairs and Government Relations for the organization. He will lead lobbying, communications, grassroots and research activities for U.S. Travel, which represents the $1.8 trillion travel industry. Rethmeier joins U.S. Travel from the American Insurance Association (AIA), where he was Senior Vice President for Public Affairs. He succeeds Geoff Freeman, who was recently promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer of U.S. Travel.

U.S. Travel continues to build momentum for industry initiatives. In 2010, President Obama signed the Travel Promotion Act, which created the Corporation for Travel Promotion, the nation’s first-ever national travel promotion and communications program. This year, U.S. Travel launched a coalition to advocate for U.S. visa reform, leading to legislation currently before the House and Senate. And this month the Transportation Security Administration launched PreCheck, a trusted traveler program that mirrors many recommendations by a U.S. Travel blue-ribbon panel.

Rethmeier joined AIA in May 2007 from the White House, where he served as Special Assistant to the President for Communications and directed all aspects of public affairs for President Bush’s National Economic Council and Homeland Security Council.

Before joining the White House, Rethmeier served as Press Secretary for the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he helped manage the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito.

Rethmeier also has experience at the U.S. Department of Justice, where he served as a Senior Public Affairs Specialist. He was also Communications Director for the House Government Reform Committee and served as Press Secretary to Rep. Scott McInnis (R-CO). Rethmeier began his career in Washington working for Rep. Mary Bono (R-CA).

Rethmeier is a native of Colorado. (PF tipster)