The latest exhibition at the Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa is  ‘Becoming Bob Dylan: Photographs by Ted Russell 1961 – 1964.’

With rare images capturing Bob Dylan’s early years in New York City, Russell’s photographs offer a glimpse into Dylan’s formative period as he emerged as a songwriter and performer in the vibrant folk music scene of New York’s Greenwich Village.

New sales ‘hooks’ from pro-wrestling festivals and innovation trails to riverside dining precincts and important historical anniversaries were highlighted during the East Coast USA mission in Auckland yesterday.

The largest wine festival in the USA’s Southwest, which brings together more than 200,000 people, is happening on 14-17 September 2023.

While the 37th Annual GrapeFest® – A Texas Wine Experience presented by Bank of the West celebrates all things wine, the event will also be the backdrop in which Grapevine and the Barossa Valley Council solidify their Sister City relationship.

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has officially opened the Regional Connector transit project.

This offers two new routes from Azusa to Long Beach, and from East Los Angeles to Santa Monica. The Regional Connector provides a seamless journey across LA County and adds three new underground stations.

Destination DC and United Airlines recently hosted  six winners on a trip to America’s capital.

The group embarked on a VIP tour of Washington DC, visiting landmarks such as the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Washington Monument.

World Journeys has just launched its small group Castro’s Cuba hosted journey for next year.  The niche wholesaler says the 2023 departure was a sold-out success, so agents are urged to secure their clients’ bookings early.

New York City Tourism + Conventions is spotlighting a selection of free and affordable experiences for visitors this summer.

Fred Dixon, president and CEO of New York City Tourism + Conventions says that during the summer months, NYC is buzzing with street festivals, outdoor dining and cultural offerings, in addition to parks, beaches and green space.

Rail Online has officially launched its North American operation, a month after entering the United Kingdom’s domestic rail market.

Rail Online’s platform can now be used to book fares across European, UK and North American rail networks, with all tickets and passes priced in local currencies, no booking fees and instant refunds on e-tickets.

Louisiana stages ‘safe, family-friendly’ Mardi Gras around the state in February and that in turn kick-starts the fair and festival season, says Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser.

‘Then the season lasts all year. If you can eat it, shoot it, dance to it, hunt it, throw it, catch it, play we’ve got a festival for it.’

Giving Washington DC an image refresh and presenting a myriad of new attractions and developments to the trade will be on the agenda when the city visits New Zealand early August.

Philadelphia is promoting its considerable historical importance in the lead up to it being part of a three city roadshow (along with Boston and Washington DC) to New Zealand in August. Robin Bloom, director of content at Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau points out that the destination was where the US Declaration of Independence was signed and where the constitution was written.’

Anyone keen to visit some of the most significant sites in US history as the nation prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its founding in 2026 is likely to have a small Pennsylvania town of 7,000 people on its list.

Major arts and sporting events over the next 12 months and beyond in Chicago region, particularly the county of DuPage can give clients reasons to explore beyond the big city.

Andy Warhol Portfolios: A Life in Pop starts at the Cleve Carney Museum of Art on 3 June and runs through to 10 September.

Host city of last week’s IPW US travel expo, San Antonio, Texas, boasts a rich history and a mix of of cultures that are intrinsically linked and prides itself in the preservation of both.

This is illustrated dramatically at San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, a national park with a difference in that it showcases five Spanish Missions dating back to the early 1700s.

The latest iteration of Road Trip Republic, a campaign encouraging responsible travel and a focus on Native American communities were all highlighted by Visit California at the recent IPW event in San Antonio, Texas.

Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of the organisation says the state is building on progress already made since the pandemic in 2019.

Washington DC, Boston and Philadelphia will combine for a major promotion in New Zealand and Australia early August.

The East Coast USA roadshow will begin in Auckland on 8 August with a morning media marketplace, followed by a VIP lunch session for trade, tour operators, media and airline representatives.

Kiwi agents will be hearing a lot more from New York State with the recent appointment of Linkd Tourism as the state’s representative down under.

Expect to see the state hosting trade events, participating in Visit USA and Brand USA roadshows, and hosting webinars and product development activity.

Clients who are fans of Hamilton, the musical stage show that started its two-week season in Auckland over the weekend, can follow the US founding father’s footsteps during a trip to New York State.

Preparations for the 100th year anniversary of Route 66 in 2026 are already adding new attractions to the route in Illinois and beyond, says Cory Jobe of Great Rivers & Routes, southwest Illinois.

Jobe points to the Historic Cannonball Jail Tour in Carlinville, which begins in July this year. The building was constructed using surplus cannonballs after the Civil War.

Invited delegates at IPW last week had the opportunity to experience some Disney magic in Texas when they attended an immersive experience at the Lighthouse Artspace in San Antonio.

The collaboration between Lighthouse Immersive and Disney Animation is running in 16 USA locations, plus Toronto and Tokyo.

Clients wanting to escape the heat while in Palm Springs can cool down as much as 20 degrees Celsius by riding the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up to Mount San Jacinto State Park. 

A San Antonio location that gave the city a global profile in 1968 but then fell into disrepair for more than 40 years is being given a new lease of life.

Hemisfair Park, the site of a World Fair in the late 60s, has had many of its derelict buildings renovated and turned into restaurants and retail spaces, with much more to come.

Having New Zealand at the beginning rather than at the end of Brand USA’s major activity down-under early next year should encourage more US suppliers to take part in the Kiwi side of the roadtrip, says Corey Marshall, chair of the Visit USA New Zealand Committee.

A new interpretive centre at The Alamo, San Antonio gives visitors deeper insight into the iconic location than has been available in the past and gives clients more reason to dwell at the site.

The Ralston Family Collection Centre, which opened in March, has some 2,000 items on display, a considerable number of them from the collection of former Genesis singer and drummer Phil Collins.

San Antonio’s San Pedro Creek has been reclaimed as a public culture and art park.

Considered the birthplace of San Antonio, San Pedro Creek was for many years a flood prone waterway, dividing the central city economically into two disparate halves.

Linkd Tourism has been chosen by New York State’s Division of Tourism to be its New Zealand and Australian in-market representative, responsible for travel trade sales, marketing and public relations efforts. Linkd Tourism will focus on driving visitation throughout the state, encouraging Kiwi and Aussie travellers to spend more time exploring the extensive range of visitor experiences available across New York’s 11 travel regions.

The state of Oregon is continuing to gain traction with its Why Guides? campaign and is encouraging travel agents to book local, export ready guiding companies when building an itinerary for their clients.

‘If people use a guide they tend to behave and respect the environment, but at the same time they are supporting a small local business,’ says Greg Eckhart, director global sales at Oregon Tourism Commission.

Journey Beyond, part of the Hornblower Group, has expanded its product to include the North American cruise line, American Queen Voyages.

The move is a natural evolution given the recently expanded role of Chris Tallent, CEO of Journey Beyond, who is now head of a newly created global Overnight Division at Hornblower Group.

NYC & Company is encouraging New Zealand agents to ensure their clients slow down and explore when they in the city.

New York City welcomed 24,000 New Zealanders in 2022, a pleasing result considering how late in the year this country opened its borders.

After a three-year hiatus, the Brand USA New Zealand Expo returned to Auckland this week.

It was held at the Pullman Auckland Hotel in partnership with Air New Zealand and United Airlines with Kiwi travel agents coming from across the country.

Travel Texas, the destination marketing organisation for the State of Texas, has appointed GTI Tourism as its PR and marketing agency in New Zealand and Australia.

GTI will undertake media relations, social media, consumer promotions, creative services and travel trade relations.

Visit Anaheim is giving agents a chance to win a pair of wireless Beats over-ear headphones as an encouragement to complete Anaheim training modules and learn what is new in the destination.

Michael Young, manager tourism development with Visit Anaheim, says the offer runs through to
30 April.

Generating provincial dispersal and encouraging clients to explore the popular cities and then head out further into the regions is a key objective of Destination British Columbia, says Lizzie Doyle, who handles PR and media for the organisation in Australia and New Zealand.

‘Vancouver, Whistler and Victoria are all top of mind for New Zealand travellers. Advisors have some great opportunities to develop bespoke itineraries and get their clients to places in BC that they haven’t considered.

Wai Kai, located in Ewa Beach’s Hoakalei Resort on West Oahu (35 minutes from Honolulu), will officially open on 10 February 2023.

This first of its kind development in Hawaiʻi aims to be a year-round destination that inspires locals and visitors to connect to the water, land and Hawaiian culture. With views of the Pacific Ocean, it features the world’s largest deep-water standing surf wave, a 52-acre lagoon for water sports, three restaurants, a large event lawn with fire pits, a waterman’s club and a retail store.

The Alaska Railroad, celebrating 100 years in 2023,  has connected many of Alaska’s most popular destinations - Anchorage, Denali National Park, Girdwood, Talkeetna, Fairbanks and more.

The railroad now offers an array of day trips – such as to Seward for a wildlife and glacier cruise – as well as multi-destination packages that include rail, accommodations and activities.

Disney Destinations has launched a mega-famil to immerse travel agents and partners in the Disney100 celebrations that mark The Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary.

The mega-famil from the New Zealand and Australia market will run from 14 to 18 March.

Chicken N Pickle, a pickleball restaurant and entertainment destination, is opening its second North Texas location in Grapevine in January, 2023. This is the third Texas location for the festive concept that was born in Kansas City and has been growing throughout the country. Chicken N Pickle is rapidly becoming a familiar part of the Texas landscape.

For clients who like to be right amongst things, Hotel Vin is an ideal accommodation choice in Grapevine, Texas.

Part of the Autograph Collection Hotels by Marriott, the hotel opened in September 2020 but has an historic feel to it that fits into the district. The hotel, which connects directly with the Harvest Hall bar and restaurant complex, has quickly become a social hub for locals and visitors alike.

Grapevine Texas is ready to ramp up its work with the New Zealand trade at the same time as the destination is preparing to welcome Kiwi travellers on the new daily American Airlines service between AKL and DFW starting next week.

Disney 100 Years of Wonder (Disney100) is set to be the largest cross-company global celebration in the history of The Walt Disney Company.

At Disneyland Resort in California it officially kicks off on 27 January 2023, with special limited-time offerings taking place throughout the resort all year.

After a brief pause with its in-market presence in the New Zealand and Australian markets, Travel Oregon is back to re-engage with the travel trade and media here.

Account director for Australia and New Zealand and principal of Canuckiwi, Corey Marshall, says the pandemic has been incredibly challenging to navigate.

The City of Salem is improving and relaunching its historic trail. The project will include developing interpretation of heritage sites along the historic trail. The project is anticipated to conclude in late 2023.

Rail Online now gives travel agents the ability to search, book and ticket Amtrak journeys with all prices in NZ dollars.

Chief executive, James Dunne says that by offering live booking capability in New Zealand dollars, Rail Online has made it more cost-effective, efficient and convenient for the trade to book Amtrak journeys.

Aurora Expeditions will commence new treks in Patagonia from 19 November 2022. The two 10-day itineraries, Patagonia Discovery Trek and Torres Del Paine Explorer, dovetail with Aurora Expeditions’ Antarctic sailings.

Michael Heath, CEO for Aurora Expeditions, says many of the company’s Antarctic passengers wish to extend their time in the South American region.

Brand USA is giving agents the chance to win cash prizes from now until late October when they become a USA expert on the USA Discovery Program.

The USA Discovery Program gives agents more than 60 training badges to complete, covering all regions and states and including themed badges like the Big City Buzz, The Great Outdoors, and music, culture and heritage badges.

Tauck will offer small ship ocean cruises from New York City to Quebec City aboard the Silversea ship Silver Shadow in the fall of 2023.

This marks the company’s latest expansion into domestic cruising and furthering its partnership with Silversea.

World Journeys reports that remote Easter Island (Rapa Nui) has opened its doors to tourism again after more than two years. 

Located 4,000 kilometres from continental Chile, Rapa Nui is famous for its immense and mysterious moais (stone statues), white sand beaches and fascinating local traditions.

American Airlines and five USA destination partners have launched the 2022 Sell Your Way to the USA incentive programme.

This offers New Zealand and Australian travel agents an  opportunity to Sell Their Way to the USA and secure a spot on one of five famil opportunities to travel from October 2022 to March 2023.

The opportunities presented to the trade by the American Airlines flight into DFW starting on 1 November and the logic of recommending Grapevine as a base for clients have been highlighted this week by Heather Egan, director of leisure and international sales for the Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Presidio Tunnel Tops has opened in the Presidio of San Francisco.

Built over the tops of the Presidio Parkway highway tunnels, the site comprises 14 acres of new national parkland, connecting the Presidio’s historic Main Post and Crissy Field for the first time in 86 years.