In a special ceremony on Saturday night at ipw, the U.S. Travel Association and Brand USA recognized the top international buyers at the inaugural chairman’s circle honors ceremony. The awards event honored 52 of the world’s highest volume tour operators and buyers of the U.S. travel product from 16 different countries. Honorees were nominated by members of the US Travel’s Chairman’s Circle level, which includes some of the largest U.S. travel companies and top U.S. destinations. Following is the list of honorees
| Company (Country) | Company (Country) |
|---|---|
| Abercrombie & Kent (UK) | H.I.S. Co., Ltd. (Japan) |
| Adventure World (Australia) | Hana Tour Service, Inc. (Korea) |
| Air Canada Vacations (Canada) | House of Travel Ltd. (New Zealand) |
| Alidays (Italy) | Infinity Holidays (Australia) |
| America As You Like It (UK) | Jalpak Co., Ltd. (Japan) |
| America Unlimited (Germany) | Jan Doets America Tours (Netherlands) |
| amerikareisen.at (Austria) | Jetset Voyages (France) |
| Audley Travel (UK) | JTB Corporation (Japan) |
| Best Day Travel (Mexico) | Kintetsu International Express, Inc. (Japan) |
| Bon Voyage Travel and Tours (UK) | Maison des Etats-Unis (France) |
| British Airways Holidays (UK) | Meier's Weltreisen/DER Touristik Frankfurt GmbH & Co KG (Germany) |
| CANUSA Touristik (Germany) | Miki Travel Ltd. (UK) |
| Compagnies du Monde (France) | MMTGapnet Tour (Brazil) |
| Comptoir des Etats-Unis (France) | Nascimento Turismo (Brazil) |
| Creative Holidays (Australia) | Newmarket Air Holidays (UK) |
| Cvc Brasil Operadora E Agencia de Viagens S/A (Brazil) | North America Travel Service (UK) |
| DER Touristik Frankfurt GmbH & Co. KG (Germany) | Nyhavn Rejser A/S (Denmark) |
| Designer Tours (Brazil) | Shanghai Ctrip International Travel Services Co., Ltd. (China) |
| Evergreen Tours (Australia) | Swanson's Travel AB (Sweden) |
| Flight Centre Ltd. (Australia) | Tam Viagens (Brazil) |
| FTI Touristik (Germany) | Thomas Cook Tour Operations UK (UK) |
| Galaxy Tour, Inc. (China) | Trailfinders Ltd. (UK) |
| GOGO Worldwide Vacations (Canada) | TravelBrands, Inc. (Canada) |
| GTA UK (UK) | TUI Deutschland GmbH (Germany) |
| H.I.S. Co., Ltd. (Japan) |
