Chairman Jim Pitts To Receive Silver Spur Award

For Immediate Release

Texas Travel Industry Honors State Representative Jim Pitts With Annual Silver Spur Award

AUSTIN – January 31, 2012 - The Texas Travel Industry Association (TTIA) announced today that it will present its Silver Spur Award to Texas State Representative Jim Pitts, Chairman – House Appropriations Committee – on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at TTIA’s 22^nd Annual Texas Tourism Unity Dinner in Austin.

The Silver Spur is awarded to public officials who have demonstrated leadership and exemplary service to the Texas travel and tourism industry. Recent past winners include: Governor Rick Perry and First Lady Anita Perry, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, Representative Rob Eissler, and Speaker Tom Craddick.

"As Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Jim Pitts has been a strong advocate of travel and tourism issues that are critical to our industry and to Texas,” said David Dunham, Chair of TTIA’s Legislative Affairs Committee. "His leadership in preserving funding for the state’s tourism promotion will allow Texas to remain top of mind with travelers from around the country and around the world, bringing in much needed travel spending and tax revenues to our communities and the state as a whole,” Dunham added.

Tourism is one of Texas’s largest export industries and the second largest contributor to the state’s gross domestic product. Direct spending by travelers in the state surpassed $57 billion in 2010 and directly and indirectly supported jobs for more than one million Texans, making the industry the state’s fourth largest employer.

"As Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Chairman Pitts has been a friend to the Texas travel industry and understands that a vibrant travel industry helps improve the quality of life for all Texans,” said David Teel, TTIA President and CEO. "We are extremely proud to recognize the Chairman with our Silver Spur Award for his leadership in keeping Texas’ economy thriving.”

State Representative Jim Pitts was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1992 to serve District 10. During his tenure in the House, Representative Pitts has served on numerous committees and currently chairs the House Appropriations Committee. As chairman, Representative Pitts is charged with keeping our state’s budget balanced and our economy thriving. As the leader of this critical committee for the past two sessions, he has cut a record 16 billion dollars in government spending and he is also responsible for passing the largest tax cut in the history of Texas.

TTIA’s Unity Dinner will be held at the Austin Convention Center on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 7:30pm. Approximately 900 people from across the state are expected to attend, including dozens of elected officials, state legislators, mayors and city council members.

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TTIA is a non-profit organization made up of businesses, organizations, associations and individuals dedicated to making Life Better in a State of Travel. TTIA’s mission is to unify and develop industry leadership that will support and influence the growth of Texas travel and tourism. For more information about the Texas Travel Industry Association, visit www.ttia.org or contact the office in Austin at (512) 328-8842.