2008-06-21 04:30:08 -

- CEO Noel Irwin Hentschel of AmericanTours International (ATI) and Hawaii's U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka greeted China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) Chairman Shao Qiwei and the VIP delegation from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou at the US Capitol Building Thursday (19). The travelers were the very first of a 240 leisure tourists group from China since the groundbreaking U.S.-China international bilateral ADS (Approved Destination Status) agreement was recently implemented.

Accenting the major significance of the first Chinese tourism visit since the ADS signing, the Honorable Daniel Akaka of the US Senate is of Chinese-American ancestry, which, he said, makes the Aloha-American reception even more meaningful.

"We are so happy to welcome this historic delegation to our nation's capital," said

the senator from Hawaii. "We thank CNTA and the U.S. Department of Commerce and AmericanTours International (ATI) for making this special event possible."

Chairman Shao also responded with appreciation for "...the warm hospitality and open arms of the American people."

Prior to the U.S. Senate reception, the entire inaugural group including the first-time-since-ADS tourists had the rare opportunity to stand in front of the capitol building waiving American and Chinese flags and wearing red, white and blue ATI baseball caps for a keepsake photo of their once in a lifetime experience.

Hentschel declared: "ATI is pleased to be part of this landmark event and to showcase our nation's capital by rolling out the red carpet all the way to the U.S. Senate for our distinguished guests from China."

The delegation went on to board a yacht for an elegant dinner and cruise along the Potomac River. Commerce Secretary Gutierrez welcomed Chairman Shao and the inaugural group together with leaders from the U.S. Tourism industry. The visitors arrived in Washington June 17 on a United Airlines non-stop flight from Beijing. They were met by Hentschel, U.S. Department of Commerce William G. "Woody" Sutton, Commerce Director Helen Marano, Deputy Director Julie Heizer and accompanied by The Mountaineers marching band.

Hentschel worked behind the scenes with Secretary Gutierrez and the Department of Commerce in securing the Approved Destination Status (ADS) for the United States. The approval officially opens the floodgates of Chinese group leisure travel demand and since studies show Chinese visitors spend on average $6,000 per person per visit, the new agreement is expected to bring a much needed boost to the U.S. economy.

Prior to attending the tourism inaugural activities, Hentschel joined Wang Qishan, Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China and Madam Ma Xiuhong, Vice Minister of MOFCOM to discuss their experience in St. Louis in promoting economic development. The vice premier and vice minister led a business delegation from China to St. Louis before attending the fourth Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) in Annapolis at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Hentschel's ATI is America's largest American-owned, privately held, inbound/outbound tourism and marketing organization serving one-million visitors annually from more than 70 countries around the globe and is responsible for bringing $3 billion into the U.S. economy, annually. The company is based in Los Angeles with regional offices in New York, San Francisco, Washington DC, Orlando, Honolulu, Maui and Beijing, China.

Hanson & Schwam PR, Beverly Hills, CA
Mike Casey, 310-248-4476
mcasey@hspr.net