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
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