Americas
Superbowl a springboard for Louisiana’s Kiwi push
Having the Superbowl in New Orleans just as a big week of USA promotions begin in this part of the world provided an ideal springboard to promote the wider appeal of the city and beyond.
Trade ambassadors, increased PR , part of Brand USA’s push to hit pre-Covid NZ numbers by 2026
The New Zealand trade can expect to hear more from Brand USA over the course of 2025, with an increased emphasis on new itineraries and ways to see the country.
Chance to win USA fam incentive
Linkd Tourism and Brand USA are offering the Ul-TRI-mate incentive for travel partners to book trips to some of the USA’s most sought after states and cities with a 12-day adventure up for grabs.
Grapevine train releases schedule
Grapevine Vintage Railroad, where clients can climb aboard our 1920s-era coaches pulled by 1950s FL9 diesel locomotives, has released its 2025 calendar. The historic attraction is a short journey from DFW.
Nevada's Sagebrush Saloons
Clients can soak-up Nevada’s history in its historic watering holes or Sagebrush Saloons, as the state calls them.
New Galapagos online declaration
World Journeys advises agents that visitors are now required to complete an online declaration prior to arriving in Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands.
Registrations open, new format as Brand USA Trade Expos return in February
Brand USA, the destination marketing organisation for the United States, has announced the return of its New Zealand Trade Expos, in partnership with Air New Zealand and United Airlines.
Information aplenty as USA event wraps up
The Visit USA two-city roadshow (Christchurch and Tauranga) wrapped up with around 200 agents receiving a comprehensive update on the destination.
Big turnouts at USA events as capacity ramps up and clients look at new options
New flights, the return of seasonal services and a growing trend for Kiwis to get beyond North America’s gateways have all contributed to bumper Visit USA events in Christchurch and Tauranga this week.
Brand USA’s new director connects with NZ trade
Brand USA’s new Sydney-based Australia and New Zealand director has been meeting with New Zealand travel trade and media this week and emphasising some of the opportunities coming up over the next 24 months.
HAL launches Alaska 2026 Cruisetours
Holland America Line has released 2026 Cruisetours which allow guests to combine an Alaska cruise with a Denali National Park and Canada’s Yukon
Experiencing Tierra Hotels, Chile
Sue Hague of World Journeys has just returned from Chile where she experienced stays at two Tierra Hotels properties.
LAX stopover or West LA base
Hotel June has brought a new lifestyle option for stays near LAX, defying the usual ‘in-and-out’ perception of hotels situated close to international airports.
DC Special Agent Academy expands
Destination DC (DDC) has expanded its training platform designed to equip travel agents, tour operators and local hospitality workers with the essential knowledge and tools to effectively promote and sell Washington, DC as a premier travel destination.
Visit Anaheim- DL famil returns
A group of 10 agents, accompanied by Lisa Linn, Visit Anaheim and DL’s Alison Hopkirk have returned from the Visit Anaheim famil in partnership with Delta Air Lines.
Visit USA Regional Roadshow
Travel agents are being urged to keep an eye out for the official invitation to Visit USA NZ Regional Roadshow events in Tauranga and Christchurch – and to RSVP promptly if they are keen to attend.
Cars, Villians, Monsters to Disney
Construction begins next year on the first full land dedicated to Monsters, Inc. coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida. The land will feature the first suspended coaster in a Disney park, where guests can experience what it’s like to zoom through the door vault in the factory, like characters Mike and Sulley. The development was highlighted at the recent D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim.
Travelmarvel: 2025 Canada, Alaska
Travelmarvel has launched its Canada and Alaska tours for 2025, offering a range of coach, rail and cruise journeys.
Destination DC plans Special Agent Academy revamp and increases investment in NZ
Washington, DC has reiterated its commitment to the New Zealand market as the destination continues to invest in boosting international visitation.
LA farmers market to celebrate 90 years
The Original Farmers Market will celebrate 90 years of operation with a 90 Days of Summer programme running through June, July and August this year.
Milestones in San Diego
Numerous San Diego institutions, attractions, and events are commemorating major milestones in 2024, ranging from five years to 150 years.
‘We’re ready for your clients’: Maui’s message to trade at Hawai’i’s Month of Lei event
The New Zealand trade has been encouraged to sell Maui with confidence, but also to pass on advice to clients in terms of protocols and behaviour – particularly around the town of Lahaina which was devastated by fire last year.
Culture and craft beer
Asheville, best known for its culinary scene and craft beer, has introduced a new cultural heritage trail that tells the stories of the city’s black communities and history.
Deeper into Illinois
Illinois is ideal for New Zealanders who want to get on the road and explore a US state in depth, says deputy director of the Illinois Office of Tourism, Daniel Thomas.
Grand Old Opry – 100 years in 2025
Nashville’s Grand Old Opry, the world’s longest running live radio show, will celebrate 100 years in 2025 with extra shows. It will also be taken overseas for the first time.
Embracing Yosemite’s southern gateway
The southern gateway to Yosemite National Park has a number of other attractions that can add to a client’s visit to the region, says Kate Holden, director public relations of Visit Yosemite Madera County.
New Orlando drawcards
The opening of Tiana’s Bayou at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park and Dreamworld Land at Universal Studios Florida are among the new developments coming up in Orlando this northern summer.
Berkeley basecamp
Travel agents have a number of good reasons to recommend Berkely as a base for clients visiting San Francisco and beyond, says Dan Merengo, director of marketing and communication at Visit Berkeley.
Art and science collide at event
A multi-venue event from September 2024 to February 2025 will highlight LA and wider Southern California’s position as a major arts destination.
Revolution, football and tall ships all set for Boston, Massachusetts in 2026
Massachusetts and its capital Boston are encouraging international trade to take advantage of a big year for the state in 2026.
Lifetime of holidays angle ideal to get clients on the road and exploring USA
IPW 2024, the major USA travel trade expo and conference, is underway in Los Angeles amidst confidence that the New Zealand and Australian markets will continue their pre-pandemic recovery this year and through 2025.
New GSA for Travel Manitoba
Sydney-based Global Tourism Solutions (GTS) has been appointed by Travel Manitoba in central Canada as its new general sales agent (GSA) for Australia and New Zealand.
New in Chattanooga, TN
Chattanooga has a number new experiences, restaurants and accommodation choices.
travel&co's BC famil
Eight agents have returned from travel&co’s SKI BC, Canada Agent Famil, a nine-day adventure in collaboration with Air New Zealand and Destination BC.
APT’s Canada, Alaska 2025
APT Luxury Travel has a 2025 pre-release collection of Canada and Alaska holidays.
SFO: Bright light on the bay
One of the most recent additions to the San Francisco hotel scene is also set in one of the city’s newest neighbourhoods.
Super local in San Francisco
The Jay, an Autograph by Marriott hotel, opened in San Francisco late last year, placing an emphasis on local influences, art and produce.
Routes launched to shift the way people explore British Colombia
A series of road trip itineraries focusing on ‘iconic routes and places’ can be used by agents to get people off the beaten track in British Columbia.
San Francisco hotel preserves past for future
A slice of historical luxury is also a sign of San Francisco’s new life after Covid.
Familiar story, new touches from Anaheim
Fresh from a visit to New Zealand for the Brand USA expos, Visit Anaheim’s manager tourism development, Michael Young says key take-aways from the destination are nicely entrenched with the Kiwi trade.
Promoting positive changes and city’s revival a key objective for San Francisco
Trade and media famils are high priorities for San Francisco Travel right now as it works on changing perceptions that have built up over the past two or three years.
Viva's $2K LATAM incentive
Viva Expeditions has launched a new incentive for agents, offering the chance to win a $2,000 LATAM flight credit.
Brand USA February expos
The Brand USA New Zealand Trade Expos will showcase 55 exhibitors when it is held in February 2024.
Staged in partnership with Air New Zealand and joint business partner United Airlines, the event will include a free flow marketplace with exhibitors, followed by on-stage presentations.
Winning agents in Utah
Three winners of the Sell Your Way to the USA 2023 incentive programme – Melanie Mitchell from Flight Centre Silverdale, Lara Mann from Infinity Holidays and Becs O’Neale from xtravel – have returned after a week of exploration in Utah.
They were hosted by the Utah Office of Tourism in partnership with American Airlines.
Accessible adventure – add land to Alaska cruising, delegation urges Kiwi trade
Encouraging Kiwi clients to ‘get off the ship’ and add a land package to cruise is a major objective for a visiting delegation from Alaska this week.
Tia Froehle, from Visit Anchorage, says another key message is just how accessible wilderness and adventure activities are for visitors.
Bob Dylan expo in Tulsa, AZ
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.
Three city delegation has ‘more to sell’ message for Kiwi travel trade
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.
Aus slant to Texas wine festival
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.
LA Metro's Regional Connector
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.
Agents check out Washington DC
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.
WJ's Castro’s Cuba 2024 tour
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.
Free and affordable NYC
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 expands to North America
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.
Where the crawdad has a festival
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.’
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DC promises plenty of updates
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.
History, space museums and Rocky Bilbao
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.’
Remembering the battlefields
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.
Events in Chicago region
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.
