U.S. destinations can learn something from Tampa, Florida about leveraging unique strengths and partnering with neighboring cities. From their acclaimed airport, to becoming a Michelin Guide city, to the DMO's very own beer & branded scent, Mark has a fun time with Santiago C. Corrada, President & CEO of Visit Tampa Bay – and you will too!
Mark is joined by Lucio Rossi, a 30-year veteran of Italian travel journalism. Lucio offers his take on Italian perceptions about the United States, the current state of travel journalism in Italy, and promoting visitation to the USA's lesser-known State and National Parks.
Mark sits down with Audrey and Casey to hear stories about Brand USA's recent MegaFam from Canada. We also get an update about Air Canada and details about Brand USA’s Canada Connect. Audrey Tanguay Beaudette is Air Canada's Manager for Global Sales and Tourism Partnerships. Casey Canevari is Brand USA's Senior Manager for Global Trade Development for Canada.
Following IPW's much-anticipated tradition of a private Broadway show at lunchtime, Mark sits down with Bob Hofmann to learn about Broadway Inbound’s backstory, and how the organization works with tour operators and travel agents to showcase that "No trip to New York City is complete without Broadway." Bob Hofmann is Vice President of Broadway Inbound at the Shubert Organization.
Mark and Macharia cover the latest on the Visa Waiver Program, Global Entry, and Mobile Passport Control, as well as rules concerning travelers from Cuba and Hungary. We also get a rare taste of Macharia's legendary karaoke prowess. Macharia Davis is Branch Chief for the Electronic System for Travel Authorizations (ESTA) and the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS). Download the Official ESTA Mobile App Marketing Toolkit and sign up to receive travel updates here: https://linktr.ee/VisaWaiverProgram
Did you know that San Antonio is home to the only ultra-accessible theme park in the entire world? Marc Anderson, President and CEO of Visit San Antonio, shares insights on the effects of hosting IPW in 2023, as well as the city's DEI efforts and rapid growth. He also offers advice to next year's host city for IPW, Chicago.
To learn how visitors from various countries are returning to the USA, Mark chats with Brand USA’s Chief Marketing Officer, Staci Mellman, and Jackie Ennis, Vice President, Global Trade Development. Hear the latest visitation stats and some very interesting specifics about new traveler behavior patterns. For those interested in the return of international travel to the United States, this is a must-listen.
Hear about Visa wait times, innovation in the approval process, and the latest Visa statistics from the Federal government. Brooke Wehrenberg is The Department of State's Visa Office Outreach and Inquiries Chief.
Mark meets with Adam Burke, CEO at Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, to go behind the curtain for IPW 2024. They also discuss the approach to marketing L.A.’s many cool neighborhoods, obtaining one more night of visitation, and showcasing the destination's remarkable diversity.
Broadcaster André Coutinho has advice for destinations regarding group trips for journalists. André also offers an insightful look at how Brazilians perceive and navigate America's diverse destinations, from discovering hidden gems to breaking down stereotypes. André is a host on Bandnews FM and Partiu, BandNews! and on YouTube.
Liz shares milestones from her 20-year Travel South journey, discusses the organization’s pioneering adoption of Tourism Exchange USA, and provides insight into her innovative approach to strategic storytelling efforts. Liz Bittner is CEO of Travel South USA.
In our inaugural IPW 2024 episode, Geoff Freeman, CEO of U.S. Travel expounds on the organization's mission to address challenges and seize opportunities in accelerating the growth of intentional tourism. Mark and Geoff also discuss Chris Thompson’s retirement and Fred Dixon’s appointment as CEO of Brand USA.
It's only fitting that Mark turned to AI to come up with the perfect questions to ask Chris Donahoe, Executive Vice President and Head of AI Strategy at Edelman Smithfield. The two dive deep into the current state of AI, including "invisible" technologies that already exist, case studies involving PR and ROI, and the ethics of using artificial intelligence to get ahead.
Are you ready to give back to the travel industry and local communities? Mark meets with Greg Takehara, CEO of Tourism Cares and founding member of The Future of Tourism Coalition, to discuss how you can participate in good work. They also cover sustainability, the Meaningful Travel Map, and tackling tourism's most pressing issues.
From our friends at Skift, host Miguel Neves explores four diverse destinations, speaking with Tommy Woods, Travel Texas; Jim McMichael, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority; Tara Miller, Destination DC; and Martha Sheridan, Meet Boston. Each destination provides insight into what attendees can expect when meeting with them at IMEX Frankfurt 2024.
We’re excited to introduce you to Aimee Misako Gabel, U.S. Travel’s newly hired SVP, Events and Education. After a quick chat with Aimee, Mark grills Michael Martin about this year’s IPW activities, networking, and maximizing your time at the convention. IPW 2024 is May 3-7 in Los Angeles. Michael Martin is International Relations Manager at U.S. Travel.
Get your first look at DI's annual convention, slated for July 16-18 in Tampa, Florida, including key sessions, new themes, and a glimpse into the CEO lounge. Mark and Don also discuss DI's recent study, "Destination Promotion: A Catalyst For Community Vitality," and social responsibility within travel and tourism. Don Welsh is CEO of Destinations International.
For the final installment in our special series celebrating Women's History Month, Brand USA's CMO Staci Mellman meets with Claire Irvin, Head of Travel at The Times and The Sunday Times in the UK. They cover the role of AI in journalism, how to build diverse and high-performing teams as a leader, and how young women can set themselves up for professional success.
For our fourth special episode celebrating Women's History Month, guest host Staci Mellman meets with Stephanie Young, President, Disney Vacation Club, Adventures & Expeditions, and Disney Institute for Disney Experiences. They discuss how Disney built a strong team culture emphasizing collaboration, the necessity of listening to one's instincts, and the single most important piece of career advice that Stephanie ever received. Staci Mellman is CMO at Brand USA.
In our third episode celebrating International Women's History Month, guest host Staci Mellman meets with Sarah Lehman, CEO of Zartico, to discuss their mission of empowering destinations through informed, data-driven decisions. They also examine the tech world's bro culture, connecting the dots of one's career path, and how sharing vulnerability makes for powerful leadership. Staci Mellman is CMO at Brand USA.