Brand USA Organizes India Travel Mission for the Seventh Year in a Row
The largest ever delegation of 64 delegates from 42 U.S. tourism organizations travel to Bengaluru, Mumbai, and New Delhi.
Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, concluded its seventh annual India Travel Mission that took place Sept. 23-28. This year’s mission was the largest to date with 64 delegates from 42 U.S. tourism organizations participating. The delegation included representatives from tourism boards, hotels, receptive operators, tourist attractions, and other services. Delegates visited Bengaluru, Mumbai, and New Delhi, and received an overwhelming response from the Indian travel trade with more than 830 people in attendance.
Starting in Bengaluru on Sept. 23, the subsequent six days included B2B sessions, panel discussions, and networking dinners that provided the opportunity for visiting U.S. delegates to closely interact with Indian business partners. One-on-one meetings with key stakeholders allowed both sides to renew or forge new business relationships through interactive dialogue. Indian attendees also enhanced their knowledge of U.S. products and destinations, as delegates comprehensively updated travel professionals on the unique tourism infrastructure and possibilities available in the USA.
Brand USA’s President and CEO Christopher L. Thompson, said, “We are delighted to announce that visitation by Indian travelers to the United States has been growing consistently year–on–year. With 1.29 million visitors in 2017, India was the 11th highest ranked country by arrival numbers and ranked sixth in terms of visitor spends to the U.S. This sustained rise in tourist arrivals from India has been made possible through a range of focused in-market trade and consumer initiatives by Brand USA and certainly the annual India Mission that always has a positive response from our Indian partners each year. Looking ahead, we are confident in continuing the momentum of welcoming more Indian visitors to the USA.”
Sheema Vohra, managing director of Brand USA in India added, “The 2018 Brand USA India Mission has been a success, with the engagement in each city generating noteworthy opportunities and opening up avenues for future business with our Indian partners. I’m pleased to share that this year’s tremendous turnout further enhances the USA as one of the most preferred destination offering a diverse range of immersive experiences. India holds vast potential for increased tourism to the United States of America and we anticipate significant growth in future, in line with our endeavor to effectively promote the destination across the country.”
The Indian invitees to the Mission included major stakeholders from the travel trade, airline representatives, hospitality and service professionals, and operators. The mission concluded with a dedicated media day, organised in New Delhi, where leading travel trade and consumer media were invited to interact with the visiting U.S. delegation.
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Note to Editors:
List of participating U.S. organizations:
- 7M Tours
- American Tours International
- Avis
- Caesars Entertainment
- California Academy of Sciences
- 6Choose Chicago
- Citadel Outlets
- Countryside of Philadelphia
- Destination DC
- Experience Kissimmee
- Explore Georgia
- Grand Canyon Tour & Travel and Rodeo Restaurant
- Hornblower Cruises & Events
- Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority
- Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
- Leisure Pass Group
- Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
- Mammoth Lakes Tourism
- Maxim Tours
- MGM Resorts International
- Oregon’s Tualatin Valley
- Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters
- Pegasus Transportation
- Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Red and White Fleet
- Red Carpet Travels
- Roaring Camp Railroads
- San Diego Zoo/San Diego Zoo Safari Park
- San Francisco Travel Association
- Santa Monica Travel & Tourism
- SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
- Shop America Alliance
- TaxFree Shopping Texas
- Tours Limited
- Travel Nevada
- Travel Oregon
- Universal Studios Hollywood
- Utah Office of Tourism
- Visit California
- Visit Fairfax
- VISIT FLORIDA
- Brand USA
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About Brand USA
Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, was established by the Travel Promotion Act as the nation’s first public-private partnership to promote the United States as a premier travel destination and to communicate U.S. travel policies and procedures to worldwide travelers. The organization’s mission is to increase international visitation to the United States in order to fuel the U.S. economy and enhance the image of the United States worldwide. Formed as the Corporation for Travel Promotion in 2010, the public-private entity began operations in May 2011 and does business as Brand USA. According to studies by Oxford Economics, over the past ten years Brand USA's marketing initiatives have helped welcome 8 million incremental visitors to the United States, benefiting the U.S. economy with more than $58 billion in total economic impact and supporting, on average, more than 37,000 incremental jobs a year.
For industry or partner information about Brand USA, visit TheBrandUSA.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter. To discover more about the USA and the boundless diversity of American travel experiences and authentic, rich culture, please visit Brand USA's consumer website VisitTheUSA.com; follow Visit The USA on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram; and watch travel shows on GoUSATV.