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.

After a brief pause with its in-market presence in the New Zealand and Australian markets, Travel Oregon is back to re-engage with the travel trade and media here.

Account director for Australia and New Zealand and principal of Canuckiwi, Corey Marshall, says the pandemic has been incredibly challenging to navigate.

The opportunities presented to the trade by the American Airlines flight into DFW starting on 1 November and the logic of recommending Grapevine as a base for clients have been highlighted this week by Heather Egan, director of leisure and international sales for the Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau.

American Airlines and five USA destination partners have launched the 2022 Sell Your Way to the USA incentive programme.

This offers New Zealand and Australian travel agents an  opportunity to Sell Their Way to the USA and secure a spot on one of five famil opportunities to travel from October 2022 to March 2023.

Destination DC has reappointed Canuckiwi Ltd as its representative agency in the Australian and New Zealand markets.

Pre-pandemic, the markets produced more than 90,000 visitors per year for Washington, DC, keeping them in the top 10 overseas arrival markets for the nation’s capital. During the pandemic, there have been new attractions, renovations and exhibits that have extended growth in DC’s neighbourhoods and will continue to be the draw card for visitation.

Kiwi agents have been punching above their weight when it comes to demonstrating a willingness to keep learning in these tough times, say the organisers of a recent USA focused series of webinars.

Corey Marshall, founder and co-director of Canukiwi says the New Zealand trade made up considerably more than half of strong turnouts for Australia-NZ focused webinars on Utah, Nevada, Anchorage and Washington DC recently.

Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau has appointed Canuckiwi as its international representation firm in Australia and New Zealand.