Having New Zealand at the beginning rather than at the end of Brand USA’s major activity down-under early next year should encourage more US suppliers to take part in the Kiwi side of the roadtrip, says Corey Marshall, chair of the Visit USA New Zealand Committee.

NYC & Company is encouraging New Zealand agents to ensure their clients slow down and explore when they in the city.

New York City welcomed 24,000 New Zealanders in 2022, a pleasing result considering how late in the year this country opened its borders.

After a three-year hiatus, the Brand USA New Zealand Expo returned to Auckland this week.

It was held at the Pullman Auckland Hotel in partnership with Air New Zealand and United Airlines with Kiwi travel agents coming from across the country.

Brand USA is giving agents the chance to win cash prizes from now until late October when they become a USA expert on the USA Discovery Program.

The USA Discovery Program gives agents more than 60 training badges to complete, covering all regions and states and including themed badges like the Big City Buzz, The Great Outdoors, and music, culture and heritage badges.

Brand USA will be highlighting its Giant Trees and Ancient Forests Insider Guide itinerary (amongst other things) at its travel trade webinar tomorrow, 5 August, at 10.30am.

Brand USA held its premium trade show, the Travel Trade Expo, in New Zealand this week, attracting some 350 agents in Auckland and just over 100 in Christchurch.

• Renee Macdonald, Fuzion Travel, Cambridge;... Renee Macdonald, Fuzion Travel, Cambridge;...
• Erica Banks, House of Travel... Erica Banks, House of Travel...
• Jenny Wilson, Target Travel; Chriss... Jenny Wilson, Target Travel; Chriss...
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Excite Holidays and Brand USA have launched a new series of itinerary-style guides, themed around popular destinations for music across the USA.

Kiwi travellers to the United States are more independent, spend more locally, visit more states and like to get off the beaten track away from the main gateways.

• During the gala night in... During the gala night in...
• Debbie McRobbie, House of Travel... Debbie McRobbie, House of Travel...
• Denise Fowler, The Travel Brokers;... Denise Fowler, The Travel Brokers;...
• Check out the beaver hats…... Check out the beaver hats…...
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The sixty agents who took part in the recent Air New Zealand and Brand USA famil are back with some great photos (and memories).

Excite Holidays has launched its latest campaign, The Music That Made America, in conjunction with Brand USA, Travel Portland and Choose Chicago.