US NEWS YOU CAN USE
Great Lakes states visit UK to fuel sales to ‘real America’ Juliet Dennis
States representing the Great Lakes region in the US are encouraging the trade to book holidays to “the real America”. Great Lakes USA executive
director Toby McCarrick said the region was hoping to tap into demand from UK holidaymakers for alternative holidays in the US. “People have seen Disney, they
have seen the manufactured stuff and been to New York, and now want something different,” he said. “They want to drive past a place on the roadside selling homemade cherry pie – they want real America.” McCarrick was speaking during a visit to the UK by representatives of some of the Great Lakes states. Funway
Holidays, which has added a fly-drive tour through Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois, is among the operators to have been visited for training by the delegation. McCarrick said the region had also started to work with more
The Great Lakes delegation visits Funway Holidays
“The message to the trade is that America is much more than New
York and Las Vegas”
specialist operators, but needed to ensure agents on the front line suggested the destination in the first place. “We can work with operators to make sure the product is out there, but if we don’t train the agent, it could all be for nothing,” he added. The region will add destination videos to its website
later this year. The annual
Great Lakes USA guide for the trade will be published in October. McCarrick said he hoped to
Funway to use videos and webcams to step up training for agents
Funway Holidays is to step up its on-the-road agent training by using webcams, videos and message boards. It is already using webinars to bring agents up to speed on its products. Marketing executive Rebecca
Evans said: “We are keen to further build relationships with our agents by providing training support, so
attract more holidaymakers to explore the region on fly-drive trips. “Our goal is to get them to rent
a car to drive in the region for two weeks,” he said. The region offers adventure
activities, from kayaking, diving, climbing and dune-buggy rides to wildlife, golfing and hiking, and McCarrick said it was more affordable than the US’s better-known regions. David Lorenz, Travel Michigan manager of industry relations and international marketing, said: “The message to the trade is that America is much more than New York and Las Vegas.”
greatlakesusa.co.uk
that they completely get to grips with our product. “Investing in training and
education is essential, and technology continues to play a leading role.” The operator has been visiting
agents nationwide with its USA 2016 brochure. Any agent booking a US
Funway’s Paul Mellon showcases the operator’s USA brochure to John Proctor Travel’s Leanne Hemsley (left) and Monika Szkudlarek
package on July 4 will be entered into a prize draw with a chance to win a month’s supply of US hot dogs.
funway4agents.co.uk
22 •
travelweekly.co.uk — 2 July 2015 US NEWS IN BRIEF
Virgin Atlantic and Delta open themed bar at O2 Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines will open an aviation-themed bar at London’s O2 arena this summer. The NY-LON Lounge Bar has been inspired by the airlines’ New York-London route. The menu will feature aviation-themed dishes and cocktails inspired by the cities. ny-lon.london
New Orleans marks 10th anniversary of hurricane New Orleans has launched a website to mark the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The
Katrina10.org site includes information on the city’s recovery and commemoration events.
katrina10.org
New York City showcases new attractions to trade New York tourism office NYC & Company has hosted 240 agents at networking/training events in the UK and Ireland to promote the ‘new’ New York. The attractions presented included the One World Observatory and Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.
nycgo.com
Riviera Travel adds Deep South itinerary to portfolio Riviera Travel has added a Deep South USA itinerary to its portfolio. The 11-day trip, which takes in Memphis, Nashville and New Orleans, starts at £1,899, including flights, transfers and excursions.
rivieratravel.co.uk
Virgin Hotels to open property in Dallas in 2018 Virgin Hotels is to open a property in Dallas’s design district in 2018. It will offer more than 200 rooms, a rooftop terrace with pool, gym, spa and meeting areas.
virginhotels.com
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