Visit US Coalition takes tourism’s message to the White House

Stopping the drop

MIKE DUNBAR (Photo above courtesy of BRIAN WALSKI PHOTOGRAPHY) The US Travel Association has banded together with 14 other major business groups in Washington to launch the Visit US Coalition in order to address a disturbing market share drop that’s costing America jobs and income. Roger Dow, US Travel’s chief exec told a press briefing at this year’s IPW trade show in Denver,...

 

China outlook serves as RVC centrepiece

TED DAVIS (Photo above: Bardish Chagger, the federal minister of small business and tourism, at Rendez-vous Canada 2018 in Halifax this year.) The role of the Chinese visitors in Canada’s tourism industry got extra attention at this year’s Rendez-vous Canada 2018, as cooperative tourism promotions by the two countries continue to take effect through the year. The buzz created by the...

 

Philadelphia – It all started here

IAN STALKER (Photo above: Philadelphia is justifi ably proud of its historic side.) Philadelphia tourism officials are inviting people to explore a city that literally dates back to the United States’ earliest days. Donna Schorr, spokeswoman for Visit Philadelphia, told a recent Toronto gathering that her city is steeped in American history, much of which is on display for...

 

Texas gets it done

GREG COATES (Photo above: San Antonio is celebrating its Tricentennial (300 years) this year.) photo courtesy VISITSANANTONIO.COM While 2017 numbers have yet to be released, Canada remains Texas’ second best international market, pushing the 500,000-mark for visitor volume in 2016, a number that is expected to increase by 11% by 2021. Key to this is access with numerous direct flights...

 

A perfect place to meet

BOB MOWAT (Photo above: Seen here, from l to r, during a recent stop in Toronto are Julie Ellis, public relations & communications manager for the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce; Kimberly Hartley, TravelSolutions by Design (which provides services for the Myrtle Beach CVB); Chef Heidi Vukov; Ursula Grant, convention sales manager for the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce; and...

 

Where there’s no such thing as the summertime blues

IAN STALKER Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has found a cure for the summertime blues when those blues are brought on by the approaching end of that season. The oceanside destination has been promoting what it calls 60 more days of summer, a promotion that extends the summer season through October, still a very pleasant time of year there, says Julie Ellis, spokeswoman for the Myrtle Beach Area...

 

Scenic Colorado remains popular with Canadians

GREG COATES With lots of access – including service from Air Canada (28 flights a week) and WestJet – and a range of attractions sure to please even the most finicky traveller, it’s no one wonder Colorado is so popular with Canadians. Tourism officials from the Centennial State were recently in Toronto to update the trade on what’s new, and Andrea Blankenship, director of...

 

Underground at The Mob Museum

GREG COATES (Mob Museum photos courtesy CHRIS WESSLING) A new Prohibition exhibition featuring a working distillery and speakeasy – known as The Underground – is now open at Las Vegas’ The Mob Museum and taking visitors on a journey back in time. Situated in the basement of the Museum, The Underground encompasses 2,814 sq. ft. and is appointed with luxurious art deco design motifs....

 

Virginia is for lovers… and Canadians definitely love it

BOB MOWAT (Photo above: Representatives from the northern area of Virginia were in Toronto recently and dropped by the offices of Canadian Travel Press. Seen here, from l to r, are Sana Keller-Canadian representative, Virginia Tourism; Jen Sigal – Loudoun County; Leah Spellman – Visit Alexandria; Ali Morris – Visit Fairfax; Cara O’Donnell – Arlington; Nicole Warner – Prince William...

 

Brand USA: Hitting all the right notes

GREG COATES (Photo above: Aloe Blacc, star of Brand USA’s new 3D IMAX film, America’s Musical Journey. Music and travel go hand in hand, and as Anne Madison, Brand USA’s chief communications and strategy officer, says, “what a wonderful way of connecting people.” Music is a key theme of Brand USA’s marketing strategies this year and next and the message behind the...