Kurt Ekert, President and CEO of CWT, the global travel management company, has been appointed Vice Chair of the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board by Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.
Established in 2003, the Board advises the Secretary of Commerce on key matters affecting U.S. travel and tourism, and provides a forum for industry-related discussions.
“I am honored to be part of this team of experts who play such an important role in shaping the travel industry,” said Kurt Ekert. “We will focus our efforts on attracting new visitors to America, solving issues, and continuing to boost the US economy.”
The Board is comprised of up to thirty-two members representing companies and organizations in the travel and tourism industry, spanning a broad range of products, services, sizes and locations. Past Boards have provided counsel on issues including travel facilitation, visa policy, infrastructure, aviation security, research, energy policy and economic sustainability. CWT’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Natalie Volin Lehr, will serve as Ekert’s deputy.
Ekert has more than twenty years of experience in travel, tourism and technology. He was appointed President and CEO of Carlson Wagonlit Travel in April 2016, previously holding leadership and governance positions at Cendant, Continental Airlines, eNett, GTA, Orbitz Worldwide and Travelport. Ekert is currently a director of Passur Aerospace and the World Travel & Tourism Council, an advisor to Freebird Inc., and serves on the board of the UNGA Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children.
Carlson Wagonlit Travel
Companies and governments rely on us to keep their people connected. We provide their travelers with a consumer-grade travel experience, combining innovative technology with our vast experience. Every day, we look after enough travelers to fill more than 260 Boeing 787s and 100,000 hotel rooms - and handle 105 events. We operate in around 150 countries, and in 2017 posted a total transaction volume of more than US$ 23 billion.