Dear Members,
This quarter we welcome new members and will provide an update on our mid-year review, held on Tuesday September 18, 2018 along with plans for the 2019 annual Visit USA Expo Week, which is at the heart of all Visit USA initiatives and the most successful event in our calendar series.
Sincerely,
Lucy Rowe
President, Visit USA Organisation
We are pleased to report that we now have record memberships levels with a total of 157 members of the Visit USA Organisation (Australia), we thank each and every one of these members for their support.Visit USA Expo Committee members who attended IPW, worked hard to network with as many exhibitors as possible during the event to update them on the events and networking opportunities Visit USA provides in Australia.As a result, we’re pleased to welcome new members Vermont, Minnesota, Alabama, Capital Region, Colorado Springs, Cova Hotel, Lafayette Cajun Country, Lake Charles, Motorcycle Tours USA, Paragon Skydive, Knotts Berry Farm (returning), Mall of America (returning).
Visit USA Vice President, Caroline Davidson attended the Australian Society of Travel Writers Annual General Meeting and awards night in Thailand in August. Caroline presented the major award for the evening, ‘ASTW Travel Writer Of The Year’ to freelance journalist Catherine Marshall.
This is the second year running Visit USA has sponsored the inaugural award, reinforcing our brand identity and promoting the USA to notable media attendees. Catherine’s prize is a guaranteed place in Brand USA’s visiting journalist program including return flights to the USA.
Mixing up the presentation format at the Visit USA Mid-Year Review this year, a panel style discussion run by Mumbrella on travel marketing trends was presented to members and other invitees from trade and media, providing a taste of the annual Mumbrella Travel Marketing Summit (mumbrella.com.au/travel).The panel was headed up by Damian Francis, Head of Event Content at Mumbrella, who led the discussion on how travel is changing and evolving. Key guest speakers included Quentin Long, Co-founder of Australian Traveller Media, Lauren Quaintance, Co-Founder of Storyation.com and Carolyn Childs, Co-Founder of MyTravelResearch.comA highlight was just how powerful the retail travel agent remains to be in Australia with global digital disruption at our doorstep. It was evident the reliance comes from Australian travellers having to travel further, spend more and rely on someone to ensure their trip is personalised, combined with the fact more and more travellers are too time poor to research and make their own arrangements.Many Australian-based members attended the event supported by leading travel trade media Travel Daily, KarryOn and Travel Weekly.
Travel Daily interviewed, Visit USA President Lucy Rowe following the event on the latest travel trends to the USA along with focus areas of the Organisation moving into 2019. The Travel Daily article can be viewed on Page 5 of this link – Travel Daily.
PR & Communications Manager, Lizzie Doyle has presented the Executive Committee with a PR and Communications Plan for 2019, the Executive Committee are reviewing the plan, which will be presented to members at the November Visit USA Committee Meeting.
Images
Left: Catherine Marshall ASTW winner (left) & Caroline Davidson-VUSA Vice President (right)
Right: The Midyear Review (left to right) Monique Roos-USA Consulate, Sarah Stevenson-VUSA Secretary, Lucy Rowe-VUSA President, David Clark-VUSA Treasurer
Visit USA will hold its annual Thanksgiving Breakfast and networking event for members at the Botanical Garden’s Restaurant on Thursday 22 November 2018, details on the format and speakers will be distributed to members via event manager, Karen Prideaux closer to the event.
Visit USA’s 2019 Expo event series is our core annual event of the year. Dates have been set for February 18-22 2019. All members should now have Visit USA Expo packs with options for buy-in. Platinum Sponsorship places have now all been snapped up which is excellent however, we are still taking registrations for the Gold and Local Level Exhibitors, so please be sure to get in touch with Karen Prideaux, Visit USA Events Manager if you have any queries.
TravMedia has confirmed its new venue for the 2019 International Media Marketplace (IMM) will be at Australian Technology Park (ATP) in Eveleigh. Eveleigh is 3km south of Sydney CBD and adjacent to Redfern Railway Station.The event is taking place on Friday 22 February, 2019 and Visit USA is not partnering with TravMedia for this event, therefore all members interested in attending IMM should reach out to Angela Thompson at TravMedia direct for participation details.
Melbourne Glasshouse – Monday 18 February, 2019
3-4pm Brand USA Industry Update and Event Overview
5-9pm Melbourne Expo
Brisbane Howard Smith Wharves – Tuesday 19 February, 2019
5-9pm Brisbane Expo
Sydney Hilton Hotel – Wednesday 20 February, 2019
3-4pm AGM
5-9pm Sydney Expo
Brand USA B2B day – Thursday 21 February, 2019
All day – Venue TBC by Brand USA
Visit USA Industry Networking Breakfast – Friday 22 February, 2019
7.15 – 9am – Doltone House, Hyde Park
For any Members wishing to attend the breakfast and IMM transport will be provided to the IMM venue as soon as the event is finished.
All registrations must be completed and payment received by 31 December, 2018. For further details contact events manager, Karen Prideaux.
Nov 22 – Committee meeting 10am
Jan 22 – Committee meeting 10am