February 22, 2010
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(Washington, D.C) Several restaurant industry executives have been appointed to a major U.S. tourism council, and their presence on the advisory board reaffirms the important role the restaurant industry plays in the travel and tourism industry, the National Restaurant Association announced today.

The 2010-2011 U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, appointed by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, counsels the secretary on tourism, which is also an essential driver of restaurant profitability. Travel and tourism account for about one-fifth of restaurant industry sales.

“We are gratified to see that the restaurant industry is so well represented in these critical discussions about travel and tourism, which are so important to our industry,” said Dawn Sweeney, National Restaurant Association President and CEO. “Together with our state restaurant association partners, we are a long-time champion of tourism-related issues that benefit the country and our nation’s nearly one million restaurant and foodservice outlets.”

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