By Michael Baginski/ VisitBritain’s flagship ‘Destination Britain Americas’ trade mission kicks off today as nearly 50 top trade buyers and media (including Travel Industry Today) arrive in Mexico’s Riviera Maya to connect with an equal number of British suppliers to facilitate and help grow tourism programs to Great Britain.
The biannual event (which is paired with an event in the UK early in the year) was last held in San Francisco, and has included such destinations as Los Angeles, Washington DC, and Austin, Texas, in recent years.
The trade mission comes as VisitBritain continues to roll out its international ‘Starring GREAT Britain’ campaign. Launched earlier this year, the campaign is using the powerful draw of film and TV locations and places seen-on-screen to inspire visitors to discover more of Britain.
Over three days at the Paradisus La Perla, Riviera Maya resort near Cancun, attendees will have the opportunity to take part in one-to-one meetings, networking events and seminars designed to build knowledge to broaden travel itineraries in destinations such as Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, the Cotswolds, County Durham, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Manchester, Liverpool, Oxfordshire, the Peak District and the West Midlands, alongside Scotland and Wales.
VisitBritain CEO Patricia Yates, who is leading the trade mission, said, “This major trade mission brings our incredibly important Brazil, Canada and USA markets together with British suppliers to do business and drive economic growth. We are shining the spotlight on the fantastic products and experiences on offer across Britain, making sure those are sold internationally, boosting Britain’s economy.”
British suppliers joining the trade mission include hotels, visitor attractions, transport providers, retailers, tour and sightseeing operators spanning the length-and-breadth of the nations and regions.
“The size of our delegation shows the enthusiasm from British tourism suppliers to do business in these markets and to hear first-hand from buyers on the motivations and trends driving travel to Britain,” said Yates.
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