Inside Travel’s Political Spending: Where the Industry’s Money Is Going Now
Photo Credit: Travel companies have been used their federal political action committees to send millions of dollars to members of Congress. Wikimedia Commons
Skift Take
Federal law prohibits corporations from contributing directly to federal political candidates, but these funds from executives can still go a long way to furthering their policy interests.
During 2025, travel companies and trade associations have been using their federal political action committees to send millions of dollars to candidates and national parties, according to a Skift analysis of Federal Election Commission records.
Federal law prohibits corporations from contributing directly to federal political candidates and committees. But they can sponsor PACs, generally funding them through contributions from executives.
Those PACs can then make political contributions to the campaigns of members of Congress, so-called “leadership PACs” controlled by members of Congress and national political party committees. Most make contributions on a bipartisan basis. The money helps bolster travel interests’ other public policy influence efforts, such as directly lobbying lawmakers.
Here’s a rundown of notable travel and tourism industry PACs and their financial activity through the first five months of 2025:
American Hotel
