U.S. Travel Association Names Roger Dow’s Successor in Geoff Freeman

Geoff Freeman, the former senior vice president of public affairs, is rejoining U.S. Travel Association as the successor to the current president and CEO Roger Dow. 

Freeman will take the reins on Sept 1, taking over for Dow who is wrapping up a 17-year tenure as U.S. Travel’s leader. 

Freeman spent a little over seven years with U.S. Travel from 2006 into May 2013, ultimately serving as COO. During his time at U.S. Travel, he helped establish the Travel Promotion Act of 2009, which created Brand USA, one of the Association’s signature accomplishments. He also helped the industry effort behind the creation of TSA PreCheck and the Meetings Mean Business Coalition.

He then served as president and CEO of the American Gaming Association for a little over five years before moving to the Consumer Brands Association, where he also served as president and CEO. 

During his time with Consumer Brands Association, he also served as a board member of the American Gaming Systems association. 

In a statement, Freeman said he was “eager to get to work on behalf of this incredible industry, which has long held a special place for me.” 

“There are few industries more essential to the nation’s economy, more connected to consumers, and more critical to bringing Americans together than the travel industry. I believe U.S. Travel’s talented team can continue to raise the bar, and I’m excited to roll up my sleeves and get started,” he said. 

Freeman also said he was “proud and honored to succeed Roger Dow, who has been a profound leader and important mentor to me. I give Roger my sincere thanks for all he has done, for me and for the travel industry.”

Dow helped guide the travel industry through the COVID-19 pandemic, leading the effort to push for meaningful backing during the worst of the pandemic. In his final State of the Travel Industry address earlier this year, Dow laid out the most pressing industry challenges, from getting employment back to continuing to focus on sustainability.

“The past two years have been challenging for our industry and testing us in ways like never before,” he said. “The worst of the pandemic is truly behind us, but there is a lot of work ahead.”

Freeman was selected after a nationwide search guided by a nine-member Search Committee representative of the different segments of the travel industry, led by Carnival’s Christine Duffy.