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Travel South USA
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Travel South USA Positions the
Region as a Powerhouse on the Global Stage
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Atlanta, GA – November 2015 / Newsmaker Alert / Travel South USA made a definitive statement at WTM London this week with more than 50+ tourism staff from state tourism offices, CVBs, and attractions in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee meeting with hundreds of tour operators and journalists. WTM London is staged annually in London and is the leading global B2B event for the travel industry, attracting over 50,000 senior travel industry professionals. The event, now in its 36th year, generates more than £2.5 billion of travel industry contracts and is November 2-5, 2015 at ExCel London.

“We came to London ready to make tourism to the southern USA a significant part of the European stage and our massive presence shows we are serious,” shared Mike Mangeot, Commissioner, Kentucky Travel & Tourism and current chairman of Travel South USA. “We are focused on capturing more of the lucrative international travel dollars spent and hosting people who want to experience the authentic America, however, you have to be present to win in the global arena. We are competing against not only the rest of the world, but with the other U.S. destinations who have significantly larger tourism budgets. So the collaboration we have as 12 states through Travel South USA affords us the opportunity to make a bigger statement and positions us a powerhouse destination.”

In addition to hundreds of business meetings, the Travel South USA region is also hosting key client events including Rhythms of the South brunch on Sunday, Taste & Tunes reception for WTM attendees on Monday, and a private reception featuring Memphis & Mississippi for the Elvis exhibit at the O2.

“We may serve Kentucky Bourbon and share our pralines and barbeque chips, but this is serious business and serious money for the South is involved,” commented Liz Bittner, President & CEO of Travel South USA. “The UK market is the largest origin market for the South, and after some tough years, we have rebounded in a big way. 2014 visitor volume to the Travel South USA 12 state region was up 24% over 2013, delivering $232 million in revenue to hotels, restaurants and attractions in the South. Overall international business to the region topped $2.7 billion in 2014 and we are expecting to report another solid increase in 2015.”

Travel South USA will turn around and welcome approximately 90 international tours operators to Charlotte, North Carolina in late November/early December during the 4th annual Travel South International Showcase. These strategic programs continue to “showcase” the gateways and smaller authentic destinations in the region that benefit from international travel promotion.

About Travel South USA
Travel South USA is America’s oldest and largest regional travel promotion organization, formed in 1965 by resolution presented at the Southern Governor’s Conference. The long-standing regional collaboration of the state tourism offices of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia provides a foundation to positively position tourism as a vital and dynamic element in the region’s economic development. Tourism ranks throughout the region as one of the top three industries, behind manufacturing and agriculture, and is responsible for $133 billion in spending by visitors, generating 1.4 million direct jobs, $30 billion in worker paychecks, and almost $16 billion in state and local taxes.

For more information about International Showcase 2015: www.TravelSouthUSA.org

For consumer information about travel to the South: www.TravelSouthUSA.com
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Contact:
Sam Lacy
Digital Marketing Manager
Travel South USA
404-231-1790
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Travel South USA: Facebook / Twitter / YouTube
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Travel South USA is the official regional marketing organization for the Southern United States and its mission is to promote, foster, and encourage travel to and within the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
Travel South USA
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Publishing Dates: 11/05/15 – 01/05/16
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