Jonathan Tisch, CEO of Loews Hotels and chairman emeritus of the US Travel Association, has been dealing with a nearly $2 billion drop in corporate travel since President Obama chastised executives at a broke AIG for spending $400,000 on posh travel after pocketing an $85 billion taxpayer bailout.

Tisch, 56, has been working hard to revive travel and met with President Obama last year to talk about initiatives to boost travel.

Q: What did you tell the president when you met with him?

A: I was concerned about whether there was support for our industry in Washington [after some members of Congress demonized the travel industry].

Q: Should there be a cabinet level head of tourism in this country?

A: Absolutely. I don’t think we’ll see it in the immediate future, but our industry is so important that it is a goal.

Q: Are you still contemplating a mayoral run?

A: Mayor Bloomberg has four more years to go. I’m fortunate to have all of these activities ahead of me and I don’t see that changing.

Q: You’re coming out with your third book, “Citizen You.” What is that about?

A: My book is about how people can do their part to change the world. I’m very excited about the message it contains.