Displaying items by tag:USA

The association representing New Zealand’s inbound travel trade is predicting that the country is still a couple of years away from reaching pre-covid arrival numbers.

The latest iteration of the fam trip opportunity Sell Your Way to the USA is now up and running.

Clients can soak-up Nevada’s history in its historic watering holes or Sagebrush Saloons, as the state calls them.

Travelmarvel has launched its Canada and Alaska tours for 2025, offering a range of coach, rail and cruise journeys.

Ambassador of the USA in New Zealand, Tom Udall urged the audience to get out and cheer for America’s champion team daring the FIFA Women’s World Cup events here when he hosted a 4 July function last week. Travel and tourism representatives were among guests at the Hilton to celebrate the 247th Anniversary of the USA. 

Udall said he was looking forward to having tens of thousands of US soccer supporters in New Zealand over the next few weeks and promised if Kiwis gave the US their backing he would do the same for the NZ team. On a more serious note he also highlighted collaborations in the Pacific and other aspects of the close relationship between the US and New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines distributed some 4th of July sweetness to the trade in the form of cupcakes. It served as a bit of comfort food before the airline starts services in New Zealand later this year with its Delta Comfort+.

• Janet Coulthart, American Embassy; Kate Bushby, Mint Innovation; Darragh Walshe, Hawai’I Tourism
• Delta’s Stephen Tanner flanked by John Willson and Malcolm McLeod, First Travel Group
• Franz Mascarenhas, Cordis Auckland; Leanne Cheesman, United Airlines; Grant Bevin, ATPI NZ

Clients who like to include (or ‘tick off’)  a National Park when they head to the USA now have a new option – The New River Gorge, which earned the status just over two years ago.

Ironically, despite it’s name, New River is one of the oldest waterways in the world and it has carved out a dramatic chasm through the state of West Virginia.

High-net-worth travellers from New Zealand and Australia are booking international hotels and resorts further ahead than before, according to figures from Virtuoso.

This year’s bookings are averaging 11 months in advance – up 25% from nine months in 2022. The desire to book in advance is driven by increasing rates, the scarcity of inventory and the ongoing demand for travel to make up for lost trips and experiences.

Kiwi agents have been punching above their weight when it comes to demonstrating a willingness to keep learning in these tough times, say the organisers of a recent USA focused series of webinars.

Corey Marshall, founder and co-director of Canukiwi says the New Zealand trade made up considerably more than half of strong turnouts for Australia-NZ focused webinars on Utah, Nevada, Anchorage and Washington DC recently.