With cross-border travel edging ever closer, Brand USA is preparing for the resumption of regular travel by planning a special virtual training day for Canadian travel agents on June 23. The DMO for the United States has long stated that Canada would be one of its first priorities when circumstances allowed.
The event will be hosted on the Brand USA Global Marketplace, an always-on platform that provides access to a diverse range of US destinations, attractions, and points of interest for the international travel industry, on Wednesday the 23rd from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. EDT.
Brand USA says it will share valuable travel trade resources, an update from the US National Park Service, and host live training sessions for Canadian agents.
“There is a renewed sense of optimism for inbound tourism from Canada as both countries’ vaccination rates head towards herd immunity and COVID-19 restrictions are eased, with more and more US destinations reopening,” says Chris Thompson, CEO and president of Brand USA.
“We know that travel agents will be an integral part of our industry’s recovery. Preparing Canadian travel agents with the most up to date information about the USA will be instrumental in helping them promote the USA with confidence, building trusted connections with consumers as they book travel to the United States.”
In anticipation of the US-Canada border reopening, Brand USA will provide the Canadian travel trade with the latest products, protocols, and information on what’s new in the US travel and hospitality industry, ensuring that agents are equipped with the tools necessary to promote the US to, through, and beyond the gateway. All pre-recorded content will also be translated into French Canadian.
Program highlights include:
• Brand USA Travel Trade Resources: Brand USA offers a wide variety of tools for the global travel trade industry. Suzy Shepard, senior manager of global markets at Brand USA, will detail the resources it has created for travel agents to promote the USA to their customers. The presentation will also feature Brand USA’s Global Marketplace, travel trade website, USA Discovery Program, Insider Guides, and GoUSA TV.
• Keynote on US National Parks: The surge in demand for travel and outdoor recreation is generating significant increases in visitation to many US national park units and affiliated sites like national trails, wild and scenic rivers, and heritage areas. Donald Leadbetter, tourism program manager at the US National Park Service (NPS), will update the market on how NPS is welcoming visitors to national parks and encouraging visitors to Plan Like a Park Ranger. In addition to new protocols and tools like the new NPS App that will engage visitors in their trip planning, Leadbetter will spotlight lesser-visited sites and destinations, hidden gems, and travel alternatives, including other public lands and waters, tribal tourism experiences, and state and local parks.
• Live Training Component: Focusing on different regions of the USA, travel agents are invited to join a series of 15-minute sessions to learn how to promote featured destinations and experiences, US destination partners, receptive tour operators, and Brand USA representatives will be available to answer any further questions.
In addition, travel agents will be encouraged to join a networking session during which featured US partners, attractions, and products will be available to answer questions and to connect directly with the travel agents. The full session will end with a Kahoot! trivia quiz, testing travel agents on their knowledge of the US and providing the opportunity to win prizes, including Air Canada tickets to Las Vegas or Chicago.
Additional info on the USA Training Day for Canadian travel agents, including a link to register is available HERE. Deadline to register is June 21.