James D. Santini has been the  CrossSphere Washington, D.C., representative since 1983. Prior to his work with CrossSphere, Santini served four terms (1975-1983) in the U.S. Congress as the only House of Representatives member from Nevada.

Santini has worked extensively in the travel industry. He was the 1997-98 co-chair of American Recreation Coalition monthly Exchange Issue Luncheons and the 1995-96 chair for the Public Lands Working Group for the Travel and Tourism Government Affairs Council. In 1991, Santini co-chaired TTGAC’s Tax Working Group, and he continued his work with the council from 1993-1994 as the co-chair for its Campaign to Keep Travel Competition, a campaign that urged the travel industry to challenge unfair taxes and fees being charged to American travelers.

Santini was active from 1988-1997 as a member of the executive committee of TTGAC, which represented 36 national associations in the tourism industry. From 1983-1996, he was also a member of the House Travel and Tourism Caucus Advisory Board.

From 1979 to 1982, Santini served as chair of the U.S. Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus, which became the largest Democratic/Republican caucus organization in the House of Representatives and the first of its kind in Congress. Under Santini’s chairmanship, the caucus led the legislative charge that produced the National Tourism Policy Act of 1981.

James D. Santini
CrossSphere
546 East Main Street
Lexington, KY 40508
800-682-8886 

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Hank Phillips, CTP, is president of the CrossSphere and president of the NTA Group, a division of Host Communications Inc. HOST has served as NTA’s management firm since 1974.

A leading trade organization in the travel and tourism industry, CrossSphere focuses on packaged travel. CrossSphere’s nearly 4,000 members include tour companies and a full range of packaged travel suppliers, such as hotels, restaurants, attractions and transportation providers. CrossSphere’s membership also includes destination marketing organizations such as convention and visitors bureaus, state, provincial and international tourism offices.  CrossSphere is active in creating business opportunities for its members and is involved in government advocacy, marketing, education, publishing, research and various forms of member services.

Phillips began his work with CrossSphere in 1985 as the association’s director of education, and in 1986 he became CrossSphere’s director of Government and Industry Relations. Since 1989, Phillips has served as the senior staff member at CrossSphere’s Lexington headquarters. In 1998 he was appointed as the association’s president.

During his tenure as the association’s leader, CrossSphere has initiated a new strategic plan to diversify the membership base, including expansion into the international inbound and outbound markets. Under Phillips’ leadership, the association has formed numerous industry alliances, extensively enhanced its annual convention, revamped its Web site and initiated numerous internal structural changes. Phillips is a member of the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) Board of Directors.  Most recently, Phillips was honored by Travel Agent Magazine as the “2002 Association Person of the Year.” 

Hank Phillips, CTP
CrossSphere
546 East Main Street
Lexington, KY 40508
800-682-8886

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