BLOOMINGTON, Minn., (January 20, 2012) Maureen Bausch, executive vice president of business development for Mall of America®, was appointed to the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (TTAB) yesterday with 31 other members. The ceremony was lead by U.S. Secretary of Commerce John Bryson following President Obamas announcement of a National Travel & Tourism Strategy and corresponding Executive Order from the President. The Board, first created in 2003 by then Commerce Secretary Donald Evans, provides stakeholder feedback on the challenges being faced by the U.S. travel and tourism industry, as well as ideas for what the federal government can do to help strengthen this important sector.

This Board represents the eyes and ears of our nations travel and tourism industry and I am committed to working with each of the esteemed members to bring more visitors to the United States, Bryson said. I appreciate the Board members dedication to our economic recovery and look forward to working with Maureen Bausch to put ideas into action to bolster job creation in this critical economic sector.

Travel and tourism is a $1.2 trillion sector of the U.S. economy. Critical to the nations overall economic health, the travel and tourism industry is one of the top employers for more than half of the U.S. states and territories. Maureen Bausch recognizes the importance of travel and tourism for our countrys economic well-being. Mall of America has 40 million visitors each year and remains one of the most visited destinations in the United States. With the U.S. travel and tourism industry on its way to a record-setting year, Bauschs professional experience with tourism and development will be critical in the boards upcoming term. Through November 2011, international visitors spent an estimated $139.4 billion on U.S. travel and tourism-related goods and services year to date, an increase of 13 percent compared to the same period in 2010.

The Board consists of up to 32 members that advise the Secretary of Commerce on government policies and programs that affect the U.S. travel and tourism industry, offers counsel on current and emerging issues, and provides a forum for discussing and proposing solutions to industry-related problems. Members represent companies and organizations in the travel and tourism industry from a broad range of products and services, company sizes and geographic locations. More than half of the newly appointed members are serving for the first time as advisors on the Board.

The full list of Board members is available on the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board website.

About Mall of America®

Mall of America is the nations largest retail and entertainment complex. At 4.2 million square feet, MOA is home to more than 520 world-class shops; Nickelodeon Universe®, the nations largest indoor family amusement park; SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium, a 1.2 million gallon walk-through aquarium; Moose Mountain Adventure Golf; Theatres at Mall of America® - a 14-screen movie theater with VIP theatre and more. The Mall opened in August of 1992 and is located in Bloomington, Minn., just minutes from downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. Follow Mall of America on Facebook and Twitter or visit our blog.

Release Contact: Bridget Jewell

Mall of America

952-883-8846

bridget.jewell@moa.net

###