"For example: Boeing aircraft builds more passenger planes and cargo planes than bombers. Today more cruise ships and pleasure crafts are built than battleships or submarines. Today more hotels, resorts, golf courses and spas are being built than military installations. Thank God we are now dependent on a peacetime rather than a wartime economy.

"Were you aware that the travel and tourism industry is the greatest peacetime economic engine the world has ever known? And that we in the travel industry are the peacemakers of today? By helping travelers experience and understand other cultures through travel tourism, we help to create `peace through commerce and commerce through travel.'

"The travel and tourism industry is the largest sector of the world economy. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the industry currently employs over 262 million people worldwide! And travel and tourism will help to create over 5.5 million jobs per year over the next decade.

"The world is becoming a smaller place with greater understanding. More and more people are beginning to travel to exotic locations, foreign countries and places far from home. This increased exposure to other cultures gives way to a greater understanding of other peoples and a more profound appreciation for cultures and traditions different than our own.

"In a recent USA Today special segment titled `Technology: A Century of Innovation,' the invention of the airplane was cited as one of the greatest contributions to this century and thanks to innovations in air travel, the world is becoming a smaller place. It was also noted that computers and other forms of technology have also made tremendous contributions to society.

"But even with e-commerce, e-mail, video conferencing, telecommuting and other forms of nonpersonal communication and commerce, the human experience is still vital and necessary. "Even though people can rely on the modern conveniences of technology to conduct everyday business, most major decisions are made face to face, even with presidents and kings.

"I have always said that you can't make the right decision without all of the knowledge. Knowledge is productive.

Knowledge is vital. Knowledge creates a civil society.

"Knowledge is also gained through the journey. While seeing the world, the traveler learns more about their world culture through their travel experiences. These experiences help enrich their lives, help them better understand other cultures and traditions, and help them become more respective of their global surroundings.

Travel professionals are the key to opening up these new doors for people and helping them find new and exciting ways to explore their world.

"As educators of travel and tourism, you realize the value of this great industry. You see the unprecedented opportunities for young people in a field that is limited only by their own imagination. You see how peace has been created through commerce and how travel has become a major contributor in creating this peace through commerce.

"In our modern `age of enlightenment,' more people have begun to realize the importance of cultural enrichment and personal intellectual growth, as well as the value of creating stronger bonds with family and friends. This is certainly evident in current travel trends.

"Not only has increased tourism helped to strengthen cultural relations, but it has also been a strong force in strengthening the world economy. In fact, the World Travel and Tourism Council reports that travel tourism is expected to generate some $3.5 trillion of Gross Domestic Product across the world economy during 1999 alone!

"I believe it is crucial to the future success of our nation and our world economies that travel and tourism professionals begin to become more aware of what a vital role they play in helping to strengthen our economy and broaden our minds and spirit.

"My wife Lynn and I, after operating Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays for 40 years, decided last year we would try to pay back society for the good fortune we had in operating a successful tourist business these many years. We have been in this business a long time and we know what wonderful opportunities for personal and professional growth can come of it. We recently established The Hogan Family Foundation in order to bring a greater sense of importance and purpose to the positive effects this great industry has on the world and its people.

"The mission of The Hogan Family Foundation is to promote a greater understanding of the importance of travel and tourism within our society and the world as a whole by creating and operating educational, humanitarian and civic-minded programs that encourage meaningful communication between persons of all cultures.

"Our goals are very ambitious yet certainly attainable. The devoted effort of travel and tourism professionals and the general public's increased desire to bring peace and understanding to our world cultures easily brings this challenge within reach.

"Through our foundation and The Pleasant Travel Tourism Institute, we will work to create positive programs that will reach many people and help spread the important message of peace through commerce and commerce through travel. Our educational programs, video series, mobile training center, Loyola Marymount University bachelor's degree program in travel tourism, Web site, brochures and many other programs will help us achieve these goals.

"We hope that you too will respond with enthusiasm and commitment and help us create a greater sense of awareness of the important impact the travel and tourism industry has on our world culture and global economy.

We hope that we can all work together to deliver the important message of peace through commerce and commerce through travel.

"Most importantly, we also hope that you will encourage young people to choose careers in the travel industry and show them how they can bring joy to many in a career that is fun, exciting, challenging and rewarding.

"You, as teachers and advocates of travel and tourism, are the key to reaching young people as they search for direction and purpose for their future vocations. You have the power to help these students see the endless opportunities in an industry whose exponential growth will exceed that of any industry the world has ever known.

"This peacetime industry holds many opportunities for students to enter into a career that will offer them tremendous opportunities to learn, help others, see the world and experience life. A career in travel and tourism is truly the career of the future.

"It is important that students begin to realize that the role of the travel professional in the future will become much more than just a service-oriented profession. The role of the modern travel professional will be one of an educator, a communicator and a leader in fostering a greater understanding of world cultures.

"Many people are unaware of the important role travel and tourism plays in our world economy and as a catalyst for creating peace and commerce among the countries of our world, in particular benefiting third world countries that have many natural tourist treasures but less accommodating infrastructure. Travel professionals make this happen. They are key in encouraging, promoting and facilitating travel. They bring people together, send people to the far reaches of the earth, and help to form our global community and economy.

"As educators, mentors and leaders, you can help these students realize that a career in travel and tourism is much more than just a job. It's a chance to make a difference. It's a chance to explore their world. It's a chance to help create peace through commerce and commerce through travel!

"Philip of Macedonia once said, `God has given me no greater gift than my son Alexander, except for his teacher Aristotle.' So you see, with your encouragement, guiding knowledge and devoted effort, these students will be able to learn how they can become part of the greatest peacetime economic engine the world has ever known!"