FEATURE USA: MID-ATLANTIC STATES
town of Annapolis – dubbed America’s sailing capital. Virginia has some of the most famous historical attractions in the US. They include Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the country. As the site of more Civil War battles than any other American state, Virginia also features strongly in special events marking this year's 150th anniversary of the war. Major exhibitions, heritage days and battle re-enactments are being held in Virginia as well as in other states including West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Scenic roads such as the Blue Ridge Parkway, as well as other highlights including the Shenandoah Valley and more than 200 vineyards, make Virginia a prime area for holidays. Its biggest city,
touring
Virginia Beach on the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, offers miles of beaches and hosts the annual Easy Coast Surfing Championships. West Virginia is known as the Mountain State because of its stunning Appalachian scenery. Visitors can follow its country roads to discover small- town America and outdoor adventure. The Mid-Atlantic states already enjoy
easy access from the UK, with flights to the major gateways of New York, Baltimore, Washington and Philadelphia from a choice of seven UK airports. This is set to improve further in May with the launch of United Airlines’ Manchester-Washington service.
What’s New
The Broadway Collection allows you to pre-book tickets to New York's top show. It has announced three new member shows to its portfolio: established mega-hit, The Book of
Mormon, plus new productions: Godspell and The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess. It has launched a new website with full details and show updates www.
broadwaycollection.com.
New York is also due to launch its own version of the ‘Boris bikes’ share scheme this summer. Also due for a summer opening is the 105-room Out NYC, the first hotel in New York to be geared specifically to gay and lesbian
travellers.
Boutique hotel chain Kimpton has completed a $2.2 million
54 January 2012 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
Top left: Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia with the Malvern Hill Civil War site (right) in Virginia
MID-ATLANTIC STATES Top Selling Tips...
• Recommend tours beyond the major cities… “Some of the most fascinating historical sites and attractions can be found just a short drive from stunning coastlines and expansive golf resorts”
CASEY HURFORD, US product manager, Funway Holidays
• Join the party… “Atlantic City is a great twin- centre option with Pennsylvania. It offers a young party crowd with amazing hotels, spas, casinos, restaurants, shopping and a wide, sandy beach”
ANDREW BIRD, director, Purely America
• Offer an alternative for fall foliage… “The Mid-Atlantic states showcase beautiful fall foliage later in the year than the popular areas of New England. They are perfect for leaf- peeping from mid-October to mid-November.
ANDREW BIRD, director, Purely America
refurbishment of the Topaz Hotel in Washington. It is also due to open the 268-room Hotel Monaco in Philadelphia in May. Revel, a 1,090-room luxury resort
property, is set to debut on the beachfront in Atlantic City this spring. West Virginia Division of Tourism
has unveiled a series of nine videos about the Civil War's 150th anniversary at
www.wvtourism.com/civilwar.
Tourism Talk LISA CHAMBERLAIN
UK director, Capital Region USA “UK visitors to the region
increased by five per cent in 2010 to 246,000. They spent an average of just over a week and half in the area, nearly four nights longer than in 2009. Notably, use of travel agents as an information source and for booking flights also increased. This year we will be working closely with United Airlines to promote its new Manchester-Washington DC service. We will be announcing details of training and road shows soon.”
GREG EVANS UK director, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau
“We are finding great support and interest from the UK and Ireland, with
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68