Looks to organise travel trade mission in Chennai next year
Archana Sharma – New Delhi
Brand USA launched its online training programme, ‘USA Discovery Programme’ www.usadiscoveryprogram.in for the Indian travel trade at the recently concluded third annual travel trade mission held across Mumbai, Bengaluru and New Delhi. The programme offers the option of getting certification for specific US states, as per the choice of the travel agent. Commenting on the same, Jay Gray, vice president, global partnership development, Brand USA said, “The programme was launched in various markets across the world with different, customised modules for different countries, depending on the specific industry preferences.” Brand USA also unveiled its Culinary Guide, ‘Discover America: Great American Food Stories’.
On the annual travel trade mission, Gray said, “Like earlier years, the India Travel Mission has been a great success and has been enthusiastically received by the Indian travel trade. The Culinary Guide will encourage gourmet enthusiasts to explore the destinations and taste all that US has to offer.” The mission saw participation from 30 US companies, with 41 representatives. This was also the first time that Brand USA mission was conducted in Bengaluru.
USA received 8,59,000 visitors from India in 2013 and saw a 18.5 per cent growth. Gray said, “Our goal is to surpass the one million mark and expect a growth rate of 54 per cent by 2018.”
Promoting Nevada as a honeymooners and family vacation spot apart from being a casino hotspot, Larry Friedman, deputy director tourism, Nevada Commission of Tourism, said, “The state is going to celebrate its 150th anniversary soon and though we are comparatively new born in terms of history, over six lakh Indians visited California in 2013.” Sheema Vohra, account director, Sartha Marketing said, “We received a great response for the trade show this year, and we have entered a new market this time, Bengaluru. We are also looking at Chennai for the next year.”