Press Releases
Ted Balestreri, Chairman and CEO of Cannery Row Company, Appointed to the U.S. Department of Commerce Travel and Tourism Advisory Board
Members Appointed to the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board
MONTEREY, Calif. – July 13, 2016 - U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced the appointment of Ted Balestreri, Chairman and CEO of Cannery Row Company to the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (TTAB). The official swearing in ceremony took place June 30, 2016 in Washington, D.C.
The TTAB, established in 2003, serves as the advisory body to the Secretary of Commerce on matters related to the travel and tourism industry in the United States. The board members represent a broad spectrum of the travel industry, including transportation services, financial services, hotels and restaurants, as well as a mix of small and large firms from across the country.
"The travel and tourism industry supports millions of American jobs and is a major driver of our nation's economy," said Secretary Pritzker. The Travel and Tourism Advisory Board offers important guidance and strategies that facilitate collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors to ensure that America remains an attractive destination for international visitors for years to come."
Balestreri was deeply involved in the revitalization and development of one of the country's most famous streets, Cannery Row in Monterey, California. Balestreri is also general managing partner of the Foursome Development Company, the parent company whose majority ownership of commercial properties on and around Cannery Row—including luxury hotels, restaurants, and retail stores—has significantly contributed to the transformation of the area into the bustling attraction it is today. Travel and tourism is the second largest industry in Monterey County and Cannery Row attracts over 4 million visitors per year from all over the world.
"The TTAB plays an important role in developing long term strategies and policies to stimulate growth in the industry. I am excited for this opportunity and look forward to engaging in efforts to increase travel and tourism to the United States," said Balestreri.
Balestreri served as the longest ever seated Commissioner of the California Travel and Tourism Commission, from 1985-2007; and in 1995 was also appointed California delegate to the White House Conference on Travel and Tourism.
Balestreri's leadership and commitment to tourism has been acknowledged by the Travel Industry Association of America, The California Travel Association and the California Tourism Hall of Fame. His awards and achievements in the hospitality, business, tourism, and education industries are extensive, and include the prestigious Hall of Leaders Award given by the Travel Industry Association of America, as well as various humanitarian awards.
Balestreri is currently on the Board of Trustees for Robert Louis Stevenson School, Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, Panetta Institute of Public Policy, and the California State University Monterey Bay President's Council.
For more information about the TTAB and a complete list of the 23 newly appointed members visit: http://trade.gov/ttab/
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About Cannery Row
Cannery Row was made famous in John Steinbeck's classic novel depicting life in the "the sardine capital of the world." Today, Cannery Row is a beautiful waterfront playground where visitors from all over the world seek a California getaway as authentic as the coast itself. Cannery Row was named “One of the Seven Wonders of Monterey County” by the Monterey County Herald readers. Cannery Row remains a treasure of California's Central Coast, where a discovery awaits every type of visitor. For more information, visit the official Cannery Row website at www.canneryrow.com.