Think You Know the UK Market?
A dual UK-US citizen helps us better understand the USA’s largest overseas source market.
Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw is attributed with saying, “The British and Americans are two people separated by a common language.” Aside from stimulating the light laughter for which Shaw was famous, the remark contains an element of truth that is reflected in the way American and British tourism industry professionals bridge the linguistic and cultural divide on a daily basis. Is there anyone who knows the answers to questions of conflict and misunderstanding before they manifest themselves? Yes.
Who better to help us with this question than Laurie Jo Miller Farr, editor of The Travel Vertical, INBOUND‘s sister publication, and co-host of The Travel Vertical Podcast. A polished wordsmith and veteran of the tourism industry, she’s uniquely qualified to chime in as a dual US / UK citizen that lived and worked on both sides of the pond for half-a-lifetime.
INBOUND spoke recently with Farr about the matter of the common language owned and practiced by Americans and Britons and the issues that arise between them. Our first question was: Just how does one become a citizen of both the United States and the United Kingdom?
Laurie Jo: There are a few ways, such as lineage, although there are fewer paths to UK citizenship than in the past, particularly since Brexit. I moved from New York City in the 80s when American banks were investing in expat assignments and my husband was sent for 2-4 years. (Turns out it was more like 24+ years.) After five years in the same job and as a homeowner with children born there, I applied to the Home Office as “settled,” requesting an application for citizenship. Dual nationality is allowed in the UK.
INBOUND: Obviously, there are going to be words and expressions that have a different meaning or nuance to the listener — depending on subject matter. Can you name a few?
Laurie Jo: Sure. A trip to the green grocer, fishmonger, chemist, surgery, or ironmonger (translation: a fruit & vegetable stand, a fish & seafood seller, drugstore, doctor’s office, hardware store) can be especially challenging. My hilarious go-to reference book was “Brit-Think, Ameri-Think: A Transatlantic Survival Guide.” Later, I contributed to a guide called “American English | English American,” a two-way glossary for expats.
Returning to the US 25 years later, I wrote a popular online quiz for USA Today, “Can You Pass For a Proper Brit?” that explored Britishisms like biros and biscuits (ballpoint pens and cookies). Then, there are everyday things Americans just don’t do, such as a boot sale (hundreds of cars selling unwanted junk —like a tailgate party without food, drinks or a game) and builder’s tea (a strong, sweet tea brewed in an old mug served at home to your repairman).
INBOUND: Do you recall a situation in which an American has unintentionally provoked laughter or a groan (or embarrassment or anger) because of a word or word combination or expression?
Laurie Jo: Oh, in the early weeks and months, there are plenty of surprises and pitfalls. Mostly, it’s confusion that’s provoked. I recall a trip to London for our initial housing search, a whirlwind of property showings in different neighborhoods. In particular, I recall what the estate agent (realtor) said about one apartment we liked. “Get your skates on. This letting is in a brilliant situation with direct communal garden access in a purpose-built block with car park and porter.” Huh?
The cultural divide is real. One time, watching “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” there was a chap in the hot seat who could not—mind you, for £ 250,000—answer the question: Who was the first president of the United States? But, switch it around and ask Americans to name the first British prime minister, right?
INBOUND: Were you asked to give advice on the subject to a first-time US visitor to the UK, or to someone going on business for the first time, what are your pointers?
Laurie Jo: Before moving to London, I traveled quite a bit during a decade as VP-Tourism at the New York Convention & Visitors Bureau, so the UK was easy-peasy compared to some far-flung places where language skills are a bigger challenge. A note of caution about regional accents when doing business beyond London. You may not understand half of what’s being said in Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow or Edinburgh. I didn’t. In London, I was regional sales and marketing director for Hilton Hotels Corporation, calling on tour operators all over the UK … but it took absolutely ages to train the ear.
Looking back, I’d say you’d be fine in London with a few pointers such as escalator etiquette. It’s terribly important to stand on the right and walk on the left, or risk pissing people off. (By the way, to be pissed is to be drunk, not mad. And to be mad is to be crazy, not angry … and so it goes.)
More practical tips:
⦁ Don’t drive a rental car unless you know “The Highway Code.” There’s a lot more to know than which side of the road to drive on.
⦁ There’s no “bathroom,” but it’s perfectly acceptable to say you’re looking for “the gents,” “the ladies,” “the toilet,” or “the loo.”
⦁ “Way out” is just what it sounds like. Don’t look for an exit sign in the Underground (tube) or anywhere else.
⦁ When shopping, the “till” is the checkout.
⦁ When dining, the “bill” is the check. A check is a bank check and they’re almost unheard of these days.
INBOUND: Say you were to, figuratively, put on your UK “mindset” before going to a meeting with a British colleague who is in the tourism industry, what would it consist of?
Laurie Jo: You’re right. Beyond vocabulary, there are different mindsets for sure. Newness takes on a different meaning on either side of the pond. And so does presenting choices as important. For example, Americans value things that are new while Brits are just fine with “it’s always been done that way.” And while Americans expect 31 flavors of ice cream (at a minimum) at Baskin Robbins, the Brits have forever gotten along with just chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla (and are likely to be out of stock on one of them).
Lastly, Brits are too polite for their own good, sometimes to the point where niceties take over in an effort to not offend. Beware the Brit who says, “Leave it with me.” That means you’ll never hear back.
INBOUND: If you had just one question to ask a British tour operator today, what would it be?
Laurie Jo: I’d ask how can we better communicate the vastness of the USA and the time that’s required for a meaningful visit? Let’s explain that the whole of the United Kingdom – that’s all four countries – could fit inside of 11 different US states. England, Scotland, Wales, and North Ireland combined are one-third the size of Texas and half the size of California and comparable in size to Alabama or Pennsylvania. So, visitors should know that it’s not possible to have breakfast in Niagara Falls, lunch in Manhattan and dinner in Washington, DC.
On a lighter note, we might have a laugh over the dry wit of @SoVeryBritish on Twitter. Go there to get a cultural look in.
(Images courtesy of Laurie Jo Miller Farr)
The 25 Top Cities & 57 Top Operators
The U.S. Travel Association and Brand USA honored 57 of the world’s highest-producing tour operators and buyers of U.S. travel at its annual Chairman’s Circle Honors awards reception, which took place during the recent IPW trade show in Las Vegas.
Held at The Mayfair Supper Club in Las Vegas during the 52nd annual edition of IPW, the exclusive awards event honored international travel buyers for outstanding efforts to bring the world to America. Remarks thanking the select companies for efforts to grow international inbound travel to the United States were delivered by U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow and Brand USA President and CEO Christopher L. Thompson.
TV Host and world traveler Samantha Brown was on hand to congratulate Chairman’s Circle honorees for their contributions to the U.S. travel industry and introduce the evening’s entertainment. The U.S. Travel Association’s Chairman’s Circle-level board members, including top U.S. travel businesses and destinations, nominated the honorees.
“After two long years apart, IPW’s mission of bringing the world to America has never been more important,” said Dow. “As the U.S. travel industry recovers from the pandemic and prepares to welcome back visitors from around the world, the tremendous work of our Chairman’s Circle honorees will help showcase the U.S. as a top destination and accelerate the revival of the international inbound travel sector.”
Following is the complete list of the 57.
Six U.S. Cities Make List of World’s 25 Best
In selecting the World’s 25 Best Cities of 2022, the Resonance consultancy ranking considered a city’s diversity, cultural programming, as well as its response to COVID and ability to rebound. “Our goal here was not to just create an index for tourism or just for business or just for livability. It was really to provide and create a ranking that took a holistic view of the city,” Chris Fair, president and CEO of Resonance Consultancy, said when the list made its debut on AFAR.com. “When we say ‘best cities,’ it’s not just best city to live, it’s not just best city to work, or best city to visit. It’s taking a cross section of all those factors.”
Resonance also considered how a city responded to the COVID-19 pandemic over the past 18 months. Welcome to the World’s Best Cities of 2022, which for the second year in a row includes considerations like outdoor experiences, clean air, and an ability to innovate.
The areas they ranked cities on were grouped into six core categories, including Place, People, Programming, Product, Prosperity, and Promotion.
Place: This includes weather (the average number of sunny days), safety (homicide rate), as well as neighborhoods and landmarks (specifically the number of which were recommended by locals and visitors) and outdoors (or the number of parks and outdoor activities recommended by locals and visitors).
People: The People category takes into account the city’s diversity (percentage of foreign-born residents) as well as the educational attainment (percentage of population with a bachelor’s degree or higher).
Programming: This is what most guidebooks would call “things to do” and includes experiences offered in the areas of culture (specifically performing arts), nightlife, dining, and shopping recommended by both locals and visitors.
Product: The Product category, on the other hand, includes each city’s infrastructure and institutions. This is where attractions and museums are considered, as well as other areas like airport connectivity (or the number of direct destinations served by the city’s airports), university ranking (specifically the ranking of the top local school), and the size of the local convention center.
Prosperity: This category includes the number of Global 500 corporate headquarters located within each city, the GDP per capita, the income equality index, and the unemployment rate. While most travelers wouldn’t necessarily factor these things into choosing a destination, Resonance believes greater “prosperity” draws more people to live in these cities, which eventually drives more economic growth and development. That means better dining options, cultural institutions, and airports in the long run.
Promotion: In addition to relying on user-generated data from locals and visitors to vet dining and shopping recommendations, this list also looked at how popular each city was online. The Promotion category—or how a city’s story is shared through online channels—is based specifically on the number of Facebook check-ins, Google searches, TripAdvisor reviews, and Instagram hashtags shared online about each city, as well as the popularity of each city in Google Trends over the last 12 months.
With all of those things factored in, here’s how the rankings of the world’s best cities landed for the 2022 report, released September 21, 2021:
Latest Take on China Should Reassure You
Check out the New China Traveler Sentiment Report—WWW.DRAGONTRAIL.COM
Slowly, yet with a determined centimeter-by-centimeter pace, the Chinese market seems to be on an upward flight path toward a new normalcy and prosperity. This is the sense that INBOUND gets when distilling current anecdotal and word-of-mouth insights (i.e., Look for the market to open by the 2022 Labor Day Holiday, May 1st); key data points (some 1.1 billion—80 percent—of China’s inhabitants have received the COVID-19 virus shots, with some observers suggesting that the country has achieved herd immunity); and, now, the latest New China Traveler Sentiment Report from Dragon Trail Research.
In a summary perspective on the report, we read that, “With outbound travel still limited, seeing content about outbound destinations is the easiest way to “travel” internationally. The expression ‘want to travel’ was most frequently linked with the novelty of different cultures, fascinating scenery, variety of gastronomy, and laid-back island lifestyles. Many also mentioned comfort in seeing this content as it distracts them from daily anxieties.” And then, there is this: “81 percent of travelers felt positively when they saw content on outbound travel.”
Observations like the above—blended with reports such as the news that China has built a 5,000-room quarantine center in Guangzhou for overseas arrivals, with more centers under consideration for the future—show that the country is serious about providing visitors to and from China with a safe travel experience. Following are abbreviated versions of the key findings of the Dragon Trail report:
● Sentiment around “won’t travel” has reduced, replaced by sentiments around “travel cautiously.” Chinese travelers expressed frustration around safety concerns and restrictions, and were eager to find ways to relax from constant worrying.
● While only 1/3 of domestic travelers said they planned to travel cross-provincially, almost two-thirds intended to do so when asked where they would travel next. Local travelers primarily aggregated in coastal provinces, while cross-provincial travelers favored the Southwest, Northwest, Central areas and Beijing.
● Four fifths (4/5) of travelers preferred FIT, with around 1/5 of “spillover” into small group, private group, and customized travel.
● Nature and beach travel themes were hot, while sports and winter tourism stayed niche. Despite safety concerns, Chinese travelers would continue to visit typically crowded attractions such as landmarks, theme parks, zoos and museums.
● Over 1/2 of Chinese travelers preferred the border to be opened for inbound travelers during the upcoming Winter Olympics, but only around 1/3 agreed that quarantine-on-arrival in China should be relaxed. 1/3 preferred it to remain the same, and another 1/3 preferred even stricter quarantine.
● 4/5 of Chinese travelers responded favorably to outbound destination information. Many felt fascinated, enjoyed the novelty, and appreciated themes of gastronomy, beach and culture. Around 13 percent felt afraid due to the ongoing pandemic and wouldn’t be interested in information on outbound destinations until after the pandemic.
● To gauge when “after the pandemic” would be, we measured perception of prerequisites for outbound travel. Official travel advice and quarantine had the strongest impact. Destinations that report few confirmed cases or reached herd immunity would encourage travelers to return as well.
● Although many destinations have sped up vaccination roll-outs, many are still battling new cases. This survey found that number of new cases has a high correlation with safety perceptions.
The following table traces the improvement in their attitude/feeling for traveling from March to September 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic notwithstanding.
Finally, a graphic that explains it all:
A NOTE ON METHODOLOGY
Dragon Trail Research conducted a 19-question online survey on China’s travel sentiment for both domestic and outbound travel. The survey was fielded from August 16 to August 20, 2021 towards 4 tier-1 cities, 15 new tier-1 cities and 30 tier-2 cities. Respondents’ age was controlled to reflect the age range of Chinese travelers. A data cleaning process removed invalid and biased responses, resulting in a total of 1,062 completed responses.
All Signs Point to UK Restart
And maybe sooner than we expected as long-haul tour operators show confidence in the UK—the world’s largest country source market for Visit USA traffic
While dominoes falling one after the other is not an exact metaphor, it doesn’t seem to matter to the UK tourism industry, which was closed for business for more than a year-and-a-half because of the global pandemic wrought by the COVID-19 virus as the country rode out a particularly heavy levy of damage to the country’s people and the tourism industry. The virus wreaked havoc on the lives of millions of people and businesses.
No more. On September 27, the United States, which had been holding out on easing travel restrictions to and from the country, announced that, beginning in early November, it would allow vaccinated travelers to enter from the UK and most EU and a number of other nations.
On any given day during the past two weeks, it has been impossible not to notice unbridled enthusiasm in the UK travel trade news media and in mainstream news channels of the country. About the only factor dampening the enthusiasm is the reality of the challenge of getting into working order the logistical infrastructure that it is going to be necessary in order to have employees and programs in place and in order by early next month.
With the above as a preface, here are some of the developments that have fed the enthusiasm of the past couple of weeks.
—The UK has ended its traffic light system that rated other countries on of three colors indicating which degree of readiness to travel to the UK they had reach. (Only a handful of countries remain “red.”)
—There has been a reservations boom by British travelers, some of whom are still hoping to book a long-haul package (to the U.S., we hope) this year!
—When TUI talks, the rest of Europe listens. The company, which is the largest operator in Europe (and in the UK) is raise €1.1 billion ($1.49 billion) in order to strengthen its balance sheet as travel starts to emerge from the damage inflicted by the pandemic. The company said that UK winter bookings were “trending strongly” after the September 17 government update on travel rules, and that overall summer 2022 bookings are up 54 percent over pre-pandemic summer 2019.
—WTM, Brand USA shows are soon. In less than a month, two major trade shows, the World Travel Market (WTM) and the Brand USA Travel Week, are both scheduled to take place in London: WTM is slated to go on November 1-3, while the Brand USA event is slated for Oct. 25-28. The former is being staged at London’s ExCel, while the Brand USA Travel Week is being held at London County Hall.
—TTG reported that Jim Eastwood, global sales director at Travel Counsellors, hailed the “resurgence of long haul” with the Maldives and United Arab Emirates among its top sellers. “The announcement about US entry restrictions easing resulted in an immediate surge in bookings for leisure customers and corporate clients for November onwards,” added Eastwood. “The top three selling U.S. destinations are Orlando, New York and Las Vegas.”
—Worldwide, people want to travel: A survey commissioned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) questioned 4,700 respondents in 11 markets last month and found that two thirds (67 percent) felt that most country borders should be opened now, up 12 percentage points from IATA’s June 2021 survey. Almost two thirds (64 percent) of respondents felt that border closures are unnecessary and have not been effective in containing the virus–up 11 percentage points from June.
—Latest ATOL numbers show strength and resilience: Last week, the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) issued its half-yearly list and ranking of Air Travel Organizer License (ATOL) holders. What they showed as a group was staying power. The current top ten—they are the same companies as a year ago—are licensed to carry 14,023,706 package holidays passengers between them. At the time last year, they were covered to carry a combined 12,055,667. Last year’s total was a drop of more than five million collectively on 2019. That is, with this year’s prospective improvement on last year, the worst is over.
“The majority of UK tour operators are required to hold an ATOL license, without which they may not legally sell air travel. ATOL-licensed firms will have had their business practices inspected by the CAA. An ATOL licensed tour operator must also obtain insurance bonds from the CAA. The aim of this is to provide refunds to travelers affected by any event which causes the airline to be unable to provide travel for its customers, and to arrange for flights (in addition to accommodation and other items which may be included in a package holiday) to return home those already abroad at the time. “
The CAA reported that it had granted 871 ATOL licenses by the September 30 renewal date, more than 300 fewer than in October 2019. (The process was extended in 2019, because of the September 23, 2019 collapse of tour operator Thomas Cook.) Of the 1,133 ATOLs due for renewal, 118 applications remained outstanding and 144 ATOL holders chose not to renew. As such, the licensing process leaves 1,517 ATOL holders, with 661 due to renew in March 2022
—Data are a guide to the future: As Travel Weekly UK explained, “Companies can vary their ATOL numbers in the course of the license period but not substantially without the scrutiny of the CAA, so these figures offer a guide to expectations for the next 12 months.”
The CAA reported that it had granted 871 ATOL licenses by the September 30 renewal date, more than 300 fewer than in October 2019.
Of the 1,133 ATOL licenses due for renewal, 118 applications remain outstanding and 144 ATOL holders chose not to renew. The licensing process leaves 1,517 ATOL holders, with 661 due to renew in March 2022.
Only Last Quarter is Left to Salvage 2021
The buoyant discussion of what might be possible in Q4—a financial quarter that might actually be in the black for the USA’s inbound tourism industry—obscures an otherwise bleak portrait if one were to take even a cursory look at the actual numbers that measure what has happened in 2021. It has been, to borrow the famous quote from the English philosopher Thomas Hobbes, an experience that has been “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.”
Following are tables recently released by NTTO, with quick data on the performance of the inbound tourism industry in and through August.
A note: it may be that the return of China and India’s return to the Top 15 Overseas Markets has something to do with the large number of students from China and India who likely returned to the USA to register for, and begin, a new semester in a U.S. college or university. Both China and India have sent large numbers of students to the United States in the past decade.
A NOTE on National Travel and Tourism Office COVID-19 Travel Industry Monitor:
The COVID-19 Travel Industry Monitor tracks a number of indicators that measure the performance of the travel and tourism sector in the United States in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic. This monitor has six sections: 1. COVID-19; 2. International Visitation; 3. General Travel; 4. Travel in Trade; 5. Business; and 6. Consumer Sentiment and an Overview of the U.S. economy. It is updated weekly. Click on this link to get a sample of the types of pages maintained at the site.
HODGE PODGE: Appointments, Openings and Changes
Stefanie Zinke was recently appointed director of global sales for Visit Tampa Bay. She joins the organization from The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, where she was senior international tourism sales manager, and where she worked for nearly eight years. Previously, Zinke held senior-level positions at the New Zealand Wine Center, Christie + Co. and TravelClick.
Christian Böll takes over the management of the Berlin luxury travel company Windrose Finest Travel. He succeeds Stephan Braun, who is moving to Munich to take on new tasks within the FTI Group. Böll has some 30 years of experience in tourism. Most recently, as senior vice president. business innovation at DER Touristik, he was responsible for potential further development opportunities. During his career, the business manager has specialized in particular in the cruise and hotel sector. He worked for Aida Cruises for ten years, designing the Aida and Arosa brands and overseeing their market launch. He has also worked for Nicko Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Robinson and Steigenberger.
Fabio Monteiro has been hired as groups and events sales manager for the new SUMMIT One Vanderbilt observatory in Manhattan. Previously, he was part of the sales/business development team at City Experiences. Prior to that, Monteiro was group sales manager for Blue Man Group, where he served for more than nine years.
Tom Norwalk is retiring as president and CEO at Visit Seattle, effective on March 31, 2022, after 16 years of service for the organization. Previously, Norwalk, who joined the Seattle organization as senior vice president of sales and marketing, tenure in the hospitality and tourism sector included a lengthy tenure in senior management positions for Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts.
Rod Hanna has been appointed director of branding, independent program, and related projects for Red Label Vacations. Hanna brings a wealth of knowledge with a firm understanding of the Canadian travel industry, including over 15 years of leadership experience and proficiency in growing and maintaining excellent industry relationships. His most recent work includes the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, where he was the director of sales for Canada & Latin America, before being the SLTA’s national trade sales manager for Canada. He has held various roles within the Sunwing Travel Group in his seven years there, and previously worked with Selloffvacations.com.
Stuart Maas has been promoted to director of marketing and conference sales at the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. He was hired in 2016 as sales and marketing Manager. Previously, Stuart was the director of sales, marketing, & I.T. for Tahoe Sports and Powder House Ski & Board. Maas will lead the promotion of the destination to small and medium groups, and conference groups of all sizes.
Clare Verwoerd has been named as a new marketing executive for Jac Travel, DMC Division, Webbeds Europe. She is based in the UK. Previously, she was a visual merchandiser for Primark Stores Limited for more than five years.
Louise Tansey, former Bourne Leisure national trade sales manager, is joining Vertical Travel Group as trade sales manager. She will be responsible for representing the group’s Cyprus and Greece specialist tour operator Amathus Holidays, its Disneyland Paris specialist Instant Breaks and in-house accommodation-only supplier Bedbank. Tansey will also work with Vertical’s homeworking teams and be the point of contact for its consortium travel agency members for the tour operators. She is due to join the business on October 4. Tansey spent 13 years at Haven, Butlin’s and Warner Leisure parent Bourne Leisure, which ended its trade sales channel last December.
The two managing partners of America Unlimited, Julia Kurz and Timo Kohlenberg, have added Andreas Neumann as a new CEO for America Unlimited and for Feinreisen. Neumann will be responsible for business development and growth. Neumann is expected to start his job by March 1, 2022 at the latest. He had announced at the end of August that he wanted to give up his position as managing director of the Derpart travel agency franchise system. Before moving to Dertour, Neumann worked, among other things, as head of Explorer Fernreisen and as division manager for long-distance travel for Dertour as well as for TUI and Airtours.
The widely known and highly regarded Greg Evans Consultancy has been appointed by the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism to be its first-ever UK based agency. “We are excited to be working with such a diverse and fascinating destination such as New Jersey,” Evans remarked. “We are very much looking forward to reconnecting with our trade and media colleagues and help to encourage travel to the United States from November.” Said Jeff Vasser, executive director of “The UK and Ireland are extremely important markets for New Jersey and we’ve found visitors and the travel trade alike appreciate the depth and breadth of diverse offerings we provide here. We look forward to leveraging the strong experience and relationships offered by Greg Evans Consultancy to benefit our state.” Evans is largely credited with increasing the profile of Philadelphia as a destination in the UK.
The Washington County Visitors Association (WCVA) in Oregon has announced that Wendy Popkin will join the organization as vice-president of destination sales on November 1, 2021, to lead the organization’s direct group sales efforts. Popkin brings more than 30 years of tourism expertise to the organization. She currently is executive director of the Oregon Hospitality Foundation, a role she has held since 2012. From 2003-2012, Popkin was principle of Popkin Solutions, which delivered strategic counsel and project management expertise to create measurable sales marketing, and event programs for hospitality and tourism organizations such as Travel Oregon and Clackamas County Tourism and Cultural Affairs.
James Phillips has been named to the position of WebBeds’ president–Americas. A company statement said that Phllips brings an extensive, 25-year travel and hospitality career to the company. His experience started with a leading tour operator. He then spent a decade working with the Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Kempinski group of hotels. Subsequently, he held leadership roles with GTA for sourcing in the EMEA and Americas regions and with Hotelbeds for Sales and Marketing. Most recently, James has been advising several companies, working with the state of Connecticut’s venture capital arm on its travel portfolio.
Blue Bay Travel has promoted Tasha Smith to the position of business development manager, to further strengthen the long-haul specialist’s relationships with its trade partners. She will continue to manage Blue Bay’s in-house trade support team and will take on the task of finding new ways to maximize sales through travel agents, which is a priority growth area for the business. Smith re-joined Blue Bay Travel in March 2021, having held a sales advisor role at the company between 2014 and 2016.
Former Wisconsin tourism secretary-designee Sara Meaney has joined Milwaukee-based lobbying firm Michael Best Strategies as a senior adviser. Wisconsin’s Democratic Gov. Tony Evers appointed Meaney as Wisconsin Department of Tourism secretary in December 2018. The Republican-controlled Wisconsin State Senate never confirmed her appointment. She left the position in December 2020. Most recently, Meaney was chief marketing and communications officer for the Dohmen Company Foundation in Milwaukee. Prior to serving as tourism secretary, Meaney held executive leadership roles with Milwaukee Film, the BVK advertising and marketing agency in Glendale, and Hanson Dodge Creative in Milwaukee.
Chris Ellis was recently name regional partnership manager, Central East Florida Region, for Visit Florida. Previously, Ellis was director of 7M Tours. Prior to that, he was senior director, global trade development, for Brand USA. He also served as senior manager of travel industry sales for Visit Orlando.
After serving more than 15 years in senior positions in public relations and communications in the hospitality industry, Lori Lincoln has joined the San Francisco Travel Association as vice president, global public relations and media relations.
Nancy Richardson has been promoted to the position of senior tourism marketing specialist at Idaho Department of Commerce—Tourism Development. Richardson has served at the department for 13 years, joining the department in 2008.
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Job Postings
—Visit Lauderdale is hiring. The DMO points to an opening for a customer relations specialist (in global trade development) posted by Broward County for Fort Lauderdale/Visit Lauderdale. More details here.
From SearchWide Global:
—The Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau has an opening for a director of marketing. More details here.
—There is an opening for the position of president & CEO at Visit Fort Wayne. More details here.
—The North Lake Tahoe Resort Association is looking for a CEO. More details here.
—Visit Savanah has an opening for a vice president of communications & marketing. More details here.
—Destinations International is searching for a vice president of equity, diversity & inclusion. More details here.
—Valdosta-Lowndes Co. Conference & Tourism Authority has an opening for a catering and sales director. More details here.
—The City of Tacoma has an opening for a director of venue & events. More detailshere.
—Visit Dana Point is looking for an executive director. More detailshere.
—Visit Milwaukee is searching for a vice president of marketing and communications. More detailshere.
—Discover The Palm Beaches is looking for an associate vice president of group sales. More details here.
—Discover The Palm Beaches is searching for a director of events, tradeshow & strategic sales partnerships. More details here.
—The Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau, which represents an area of coastal communities in northwestern Michigan, has an opening for a new executive director. More detailshere.
—The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau is seeking a senior vice president of convention sales. More details here.
—The Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade is searching for a director of marketing and communications. More details here.
—In Arlington, Texas, there is an opening for president and CEO of the Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau. More details here.
—Freeman is searching for a vice president, national graphics. More details here.
—Visit Dallas has an opening for a senior vice president/chief marketing officer. More details here.
—In the Charlotte/Concord area of North Carolina, Great Wolf Resorts has an opening for a director of sales and catering. For details, click here
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From LinkedIn Jobs: Known to many across the board in the travel and tourism industry, the LinkedIn list (click here) has numerous job opportunities posted. Following is a brief sample of some of those jobs currently listed.
—City Experiences has an opening for a national associate director of tourism. More details here.
—Traders Village, a Houston area amusement park, is looking to hire someone for its tourism sector. More details here.
Las Vegas-based Legends, which focuses on premium experiences for its customers, has an opening for a groups and tourism manager. More details here.
—Delta Air Lines is searching for a specialist, reservations strategic initiatives. More details here.
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From Indeed.com: We’ve taken a look at this site (click here) which says that it has hundreds of new jobs listed, including a fair number in the travel, tourism and related industries. A sampler of what to expect is below.
—The Miles Partnership has an opening for a Travel Media Sales and Marketing Executive. Location: Remote. More details here.
—The city of Eustis, Florida is looking for an events & tourism manager. Salary range is $50,361 to $75,670 a year. More details here.
—The Philadelphia office of Tiquets, the global ticket booking company for attractions, is looking for a U.S.-based supply coordinator (the company is headquartered in the Netherlands). More details here.
—The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is looking for a vice president of guest experience. The salary range is $130,000 – $157,000 a year: More details here.
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Have a job to offer in the travel and tourism industry? Let us know and we’ll post your notice—no cost to you. Email tom@tomberrigan.com
