Brand USA’s recently concluded 3 –city India Mission received great response from the travel trade fraternity in Chennai, Mumbai and New Delhi. Held during September 6-11, the Mission provided provided an opportunity for U.S. suppliers to engage with key decision makers through one-to-one appointments with the goal of increasing destination and product knowledge, business cooperation and travel bookings.
“As always, India Mission has been a great platform for our partners who want to generate more business from this key market. The growth in all major segments – FIT’s, special interest, group, travel trade & luxury travel provides a huge opportunity for the USA, said David Whitaker, Chief Marketing Officer, Brand USA,. “We will continue to plan focused initiatives to widen our audience reach in India and leverage existing opportunities”.
Moreover, Brand USA also launched a new Luxury module on the USA Discovery Program, the online training program, for agents in India. Housed at www.USADiscoveryProgram.in, the Luxury module focuses on the luxurious accommodation, dining, spa and ranch experiences that United States has to offer to its travelers.
The USA has witnessed a steady increase in Indian travelers. In 2014, India is ranked 11th amongst the top 20 tourist generating countries for the U.S. with 961,790 arrivals, an increase of 11.9 per cent over the previous year according to the U.S Department of Commerce. In 2014, Indian visitors also ranked 7th globally in terms of money spent in the U.S., with a total spend of $9.6 billion – an increase of 7 per cent over the previous year.
Sheema Vohra, Managing Director, Brand USA in India added, “We are thrilled to witness such a great response from the Indian travel trade in all three cities. Every year, during the India Mission, we witness new developments, new partnerships and new opportunities for U.S participants as well as our Indian travel trade partners. We are confident that this trend will continue over the next decade and the India Travel Mission provides an excellent opportunity for Indian travel partners to cultivate lucrative business opportunities to the USA.”
This year, India Mission included participation from Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau, Gray Line New York Sightseeing, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Hornblower Cruises & Events, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, Marriott International Inc., Maxim Tours, Nevada Commission on Tourism, NYC & Company, NYC & Co. Partner (Empire State Building Observatory), & NYC & Co. Partner (The Metropolitan Museum of Art), Papillon Helicopters & Scenic Airlines, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, San Francisco Travel Association, Sans Incredible Vacations, Santa Monica Travel and Tourism, Sawgrass Mills, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Simon Shopping Destinations, Starwood Sales Organisation, The New Tropicana as Vegas, Tours Limited LLC, Travel Oregon, Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood, Visit California, Visit Florida, Visit Orlando, 7M Tours and Brand USA.
