Brand USA’s Fifth Annual India Mission Draws Largest U.S. Delegation to Date

U.S. Partners visit Mumbai, Bangalore, and New Delhi

 image-8

New Delhi, September 23, 2016 – Brand USA has had an immensely successful innings with its fifth annual India Mission organized for the travel trade from September 18th – 23rd 2016. The mission, traveling across three Indian metro cities of Mumbai, Bangalore, and New Delhi witnessed an excellent response from the Indian travel industry professionals. The U.S. delegation included representatives from 37 U.S. companies including destinations, attractions, hotels, and receptive operators – the largest group to date.

The mission kicked off with the launch and showcase of Brand USA’s prestigious film, America Wild: National Parks Adventure produced with MacGillivray Freeman Films, in an IMAX® 3D format in association with Brand USA and narrated by Academy Award® winner Robert Redford, at the PVR Cinemas in Mumbai on 18th September to a select august audience including senior travel trade personnel, members of the Indian film fraternity, media, and staff of the U.S. Consulate. The film, celebrates the completion of 100 years of the National Park Service in the U.S. in 2016, showcasing a sweeping overview of the national parks’ history packed with equal parts adrenaline-pumping odyssey discovering the wilderness.

The mission provided an opportunity for U.S. suppliers to engage with key decision makers through free flow one-on-one appointments with the goal of increasing destination and product knowledge, business cooperation and travel bookings. The invitees included major stakeholders from the Indian travel trade, airline representatives, hospitality representatives and tour operators. Additionally, a dedicated media day was organised in New Delhi with leading travel trade and consumer media to interact with the U.S. partners participating in the mission.

image-1-1

Mr. Christopher L. Thompson, President and CEO, Brand USA said, “As the number of Indian visitors to the United States continues to grow, the opportunities within India as a source market are numerous. In 2015, more than 1.1 million Indians visited the United States, a 17% increase over 2014. India will surely be a key contributor toward our goal of welcoming 100 million international visitors to the United States by 2021. Year after year, the India Mission provides a great platform for our partners to generate more business from this increasingly productive market.”

 

Ms. Sheema Vohra, Managing Director, Brand USA in India added, “Brand USA’s robust travel trade outreach coupled with effective consumer marketing, cooperative engagements and PR in India ensures new developments and partnerships in this market, offering a bouquet of travel offering to the discerning Indian visitor. We are thrilled by a great response from the Indian travel trade in all three cities are confident that this trend will continue over the next decade providing an excellent opportunity for our Indian travel partners to cultivate lucrative business opportunities with the USA.”

 image-6

List of participating U.S. companies:

  1. 7M Tours
  2. Broadway Inbound
  • Caesars Entertainment
  1. California Academy of Sciences
  2. Choose Chicago
  3. Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
  • Experience Kissimmee, Florida
  • Georgia Tourism
  1. Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
  2. Hornblower Cruises & Events
  3. Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
  • Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority
  • Macys
  • Marriott Hotels India Pvt. Ltd.
  1. Maxim Tours NLC
  • Nevada Division of Tourism
  • Niagara Tourism & Convention Corporation
  • NYC & Company
  • One World Observatory
  1. Papillon Helicopters/Scenic Airlines
  • Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
  • Red & White Fleet
  • San Francisco Travel Association & San Francisco International Airport
  • Sans Incredible Vacations LLC
  • SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
  • Shop America Alliance
  • Starwood Hotels & Resorts
  • TravDek
  • TaxFree Shopping
  • Tours Limited
  • Travel Oregon
  • Universal Studios Hollywood
  • Universal Orlando Resort
  • Visit California
  • Visit Florida
  • Visit Orlando
  • Brand USA

About Brand USA

Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, was established by the Travel Promotion Act to spearhead the nation’s first global marketing effort to promote the United States as a premier travel destination and to communicate U.S. entry/exit policies and procedures to worldwide travelers. Formed as the Corporation for Travel Promotion in 2010, the public-private entity began operations in May 2011 and does business as Brand USA. With a mission of increasing international visitation to the United States, Brand USA works in close partnership with the travel industry to maximize the economic and social benefits of travel. These benefits include creating jobs essential to the economy and fostering understanding between people and cultures. Brand USA’s activities are funded at no cost to U.S. taxpayers through a combination of private-sector investment and matching funds collected by the U.S. Government from international visitors who come to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program. Through its call-to-action—Discover America—Brand USA inspires travelers to explore the United States of America’s boundless possibilities.

 

For industry or partner information about Brand USA, visit www.TheBrandUSA.com. For information about exceptional and unexpected travel experiences in the United States, please visit Brand USA’s consumer website at www.DiscoverAmerica.com.

1