DESTINATIONS — WTM 2014 PREVIEW
l NORTH AMERICA Agents popping along to the Brand USA (NA530J) stand will be encouraged to sign up for its USA Discovery Program, which recently added a Luxury Specialist badge, and meet Travel Weekly’s own American Idol, Lauren Greenway from Carrick Travel, to hear how training has helped her US sales. If that weren’t enough
enticement, those who sign up will be entered into a draw to win one of two pairs of tickets to see the Dallas Cowboys go up against the Jacksonville Jaguars in an NFL game at Wembley Stadium on November 9.
Not only that, but there will be
A Taste of the USA networking event on Tuesday from 5pm- 6.30pm to showcase some of the states’ most iconic foods. Training is also on the agenda for Visit California (NA240), which will be inviting agents who sign up for its California Expert course at the show to enter a draw for prizes inspired by its Dream Big campaign. Introduced at last year’s WTM, the campaign has now spawned a consumer website with more video content and a new interactive platform, Dream 365, set to be rolled out in spring. It’s party time at other US
stands, with cocktail hours at the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism (NA350P) from 5pm-6pm on Monday and Tuesday, promoting multi-centre breaks with North Carolina and Georgia. Meanwhile Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (NA250) will be trying to outdo last year’s appearance of Joey Essex with a VIP Silent Disco starting at 11am on Monday; and Choose Chicago (NA350J) is bringing a supply of the city’s famous Garrett’s Popcorn to keep visitors entertained while they hear about new attractions including the George Lucas Museum and renovation of the Navy Pier.
North of the border, the
Canadian Tourism Commission (NA200) will be marking 50 years since the introduction of its iconic maple leaf flag – which replaced the Union Jack- based Red Ensign flown in Canada until 1965 – with a competition asking
agents to come and ‘flag up’ their favourite
reasons for people to visit
Canada in 2015. They can draw or write their suggestions on bunting at the stand, and the top 10 flags will win one of 10 Amazon vouchers worth £50.
NEWS FROM NORTH AMERICA
NYC & Company (NA200) will be talking to agents about its increase in hotel rooms – set to reach 100,000 with new openings this year – and attractions including the final section of the High Line, which opened in September, and the forthcoming One World Observatory and Whitney Museum art gallery both opening next spring. Big Bus Tours has also entered New York for the first time with a hop-on, hop- off sightseeing tour.
nycgo.com
Universal Orlando Resort (NA440) will be filling agents in on the opening of Diagon Alley and plans for Caribbean-themed hotel Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, set to open in summer 2016. The park operator is currently looking at increasing the range of product agents can sell and improving training with more fam trips for 2015.
universalorlando.co.uk
Travel Weekly’ s American Idol Lauren Greenway
Travel Alberta (NA200) will be going dinosaur-crazy with the opening next September of a museum named after the Canadian palaeontologist who inspired Jurassic Park’s central character. Set in dinosaur fossil hotspot Pipestone Creek, The Philip J Currie Museum has already attracted interest from Ghostbusters actor Dan Akroyd who has helped with fundraising and dinosaur digs.
travelalberta.co.uk
30 October 2014 —
travelweekly.co.uk • 57
Canada is celebrating 50 years since the introduction of the maple leaf flag (NA200)
Win tickets to an NFL
game at Wembley with Brand USA (NA530J)
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (NA440)
TOP TIP
Travel wholesaler Tourico Holidays is
giving away a holiday to Arizona, South Carolina or New York with a
business card draw at its stand, GV240
▲
PICTURE: CHARLOTTE, NC
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