Complete Issue November 10, 2021

Are LATAM Nations a New, Stronger Market?

The one fact that comes to mind quickly when reviewing the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) recently released monthly report of the Top 15 Overseas Source Markets for inbound tourism is whether LATAM countries will be able to sustain their strong position in the global and U.S. marketplace. Or, has the first three quarters of 2021 an anomaly that will disappear from the data once the marketplace returns to its pre-Pandemic health.

Consider the following:

● NTTO’s numbers for September and for the first three quarters of 2021 tell us that 13 of the Top 15 overseas country source markets are LATAM. The two non-LATAM nations are China and India. For all of 2021 through September, the 15 are almost the same.

As for overall share among the world’s geographic regions, the figures tell much the same story:

● 57.8 percent of overseas arrivals for the month of September were from LATAM countries (plus the Caribbean)

● 63.8 percent of overseas arrivals to the United States year-to-date (through September) were from LATAM countries (plus the Caribbean).     

What explains all this? Mostly, is has to do with policy, geography and lift capacity. The nations of South and Central America have had pandemic-related travel restrictions that were less restrictive than those of the United States. And some LATAM nations—such as Panama, Colombia and Mexico—have developed structures that make them ideal for connecting flights to destinations with carriers that have been able to stay active.

What it could mean? It is possible that the non-stop activity—LATAM carriers stayed active during the Pandemic, albeit at reduced levels. Still it means that these carriers will not have to endure the pain and trials of re-hiring and, in some cases, re-certifying employees.

When will we know? Anecdotal accounts from abroad suggest that a crush of inbound activity should begin in the wake of this week’s opening of U.S. borders to vaccinated travelers. But we will have to wait to see what the level of Q1 activity in 2022 is—against the same period in 2019—before a U.S. inbound tourism industry is certifiable, and whether LATAM has increased its share of overseas arrivals to the USA beyond the Pandemic.

Arrivals to U.S. from Top 15 Overseas

Country Source Markets for

September 2021

Country Market & Overseas Rank	Arrivals	% Change vs September 2020
1. COLOMBIA	71,755	914.5%
2. ECUADOR	41,484	280.6%
3. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC	38,948	141.1%
4. CHINA, PRC	34,011	1594.6%
5. ISRAEL	33,171	521.6%
6. ARGENTINA	28,341	659.6%
7. PERU	28,252	8333.4%
8. CHILE	25,194	282.7%
9. INDIA	23,000	57.7%
10. COSTA RICA	22,246	770.7%
11. GUATEMALA	20,482	508.0%
12. SOUTH KOREA	20,400	259.3%
13. VENEZUELA	17,668	1171.1%
14. EL SALVADOR	17,224	705.2%
15. HONDURAS	15,814	150.5%

Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, ITA, I&A, National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) I-94 Program

Arrivals to U.S. from Top 15 Overseas Country Markets

Year-to-Date (through September) 2021

Country Market & Overseas Rank	Arrivals	% Change vs YTD thru Sept. 2020
1. COLOMBIA	753,975	418.4%
2. PERU	308,092	360.0%
3. ECUADOR	291,769	184.4%
4. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC	273,463	169.6%
5. INDIA	255,486	-8.2%
6. GUATEMALA	193,787	324.0%
7. ARGENTINA	192,865	21.1%
8. COSTA RICA	176,932	159.7%
9. HONDURAS	174,832	314.1%
10. CHINA, PRC	155,179	-58.3%
11. VENEZUELA	150,117	166.7%
12. ISRAEL	137,990	92.6%
13. EL SALVADOR	132,764	308.4%
14. SOUTH KOREA	114,039	-73.0%
15. JAMAICA	113,316	100.7%

Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, ITA, I&A, National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) I-94 Program

Arrivals to U.S. from Overseas World Regions

September 2021

World Region	Number of Arrivals	2021 Share of Market	% Change vs. 2020
TOTAL OVERSEAS	714,997	100.0%	343.6%
WESTERN EUROPE	78,287	10.9%	306.1%
EASTERN EUROPE	22,674	3.2%	181.6%
ASIA	119,157	16.7%	244.9%
MIDDLE EAST	61,687	8.6%	330.4%
AFRICA	15,313	2.1%	295.7%
OCEANIA	3,643	0.5%	105.9%
SOUTH AMERICA	239,822	33.5%	607.3%
CENTRAL AMERICA	91,156	12.7%	463.3%
CARIBBEAN	83,258	11.6%	184.8%

Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, ITA, I&A, National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) I-94 Program

Arrivals to U.S. from Overseas World Regions

Year-to-Date (through September) 2021

World Region	Number of Arrivals	2021 Share of Market	% Change YTD vs. 2020
TOTAL OVERSEAS	5,447,366	100.0%	-18.0%
WESTERN EUROPE	503,457	9.2%	-76.5%
EASTERN EUROPE	156,289	2.9%	-28.7%
ASIA	822,865	15.1%	-59.7%
MIDDLE EAST	352,519	6.5%	58.6%
AFRICA	109,488	2.0%	24.4%
OCEANIA	28,500	0.5%	-88.6%
SOUTH AMERICA	2,018,668	37.1%	87.0%
CENTRAL AMERICA	801,142	14.7%	221.3%
CARIBBEAN	654,438	12.0%	87.3%

Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, ITA, I&A, National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) I-94 Program

Expect a Crush of Business in the UK

It has been difficult to try to get a handle on a word or phrase that adequately captures the nature of business for those who buy and sell Visit USA product abroad, since most international travelers in the key source country markets in the world were given permission only several days ago, on November 8th, to enter the United States.

But there sure has been a lot of noise. For the United Kingdom, the USA’s most prolific country market, the happy noise one found in the large and busy travel news outlets in the nation’s travel trade was loud, and it was intensified by the occasion of the re-start of the World Travel Market Nov. 1-3, which was preceded by Brand USA’s Travel Week 2021, which targeted European tour operators—especially British operators—and which took place less than a month ahead of WTM. And both events took place in London.

So, it’s been kind of a blur of late, trying to follow the crush of announcements in recent weeks that heralded unprecedented demand among travel trade professionals, with the loudest noise made by airlines who began increasing lift capacity in response to surveys, polls and booking activity that will serve as an overture for the main concert to take place in the form of Q1, Q2 and Q3 in 2022.

Following are key points found in the results from recently conducted surveys.

First is from a YouGov survey of 2,000 Britons for Virgin Atlantic Airlines. It found that:

—40 percent of respondents have missed being able to visit the United States

—27 percent said they wanted to revisit their favorite destinations.

—New York was the most popular destination among respondents. The city accounted for the most Virgin bookings of any U.S. city following the initial reopening news and 39 percent of those surveyed who wish to travel to the U.S. said the city was their top choice with visits to Times Square (16 percent), the Empire State Building (25 percent), Statue of Liberty (29 percent) and Central Park (33 percent) topping respondent’s lists of things to do.

—More than a quarter (26 percent) of respondents want to visit Walt Disney World Resort and/or Universal Studios in Orlando, which comes as Virgin’s Orlando flight bookings were up 120 percent on the night of the announcement.

—52 percent want to travel to places they’ve never seen before.

—Some 40 percent of respondents said they were keen to visit national parks such as Yosemite or Joshua Tree.

—27 percent said they wanted to revisit their favorite destinations.

—The largest inspiration for travel comes from locked-down “binge watching,” with U.S. TV shows and movies topping the list of travel inspirations at 13 percent.

The results of the survey’s top 10 things UK travelers would like to do in the USA, are as follows: 

1. Exploring a national park such as Yosemite or Joshua Tree (40 percent)

2. Take a walk-through Central Park (33 percent)

3. See the Statue of Liberty (29 percent)

4. Visit Walt Disney World Resort and/or Universal Studios in Orlando (26 percent)

5. Visit the top of the Empire State Building (25 percent)

6. Eat a hotdog in Times Square (16 percent)

7. See a game at Madison Square Garden, Yankee Stadium or the Superbowl in Miami (15 percent)

8. See the famous names along the Walk of Fame in Hollywood (15 percent)

9. Try their luck at the casinos of Las Vegas (14 percent)

10. See friends and family (12 percent)

From the findings of a poll of 2,000 people conducted on behalf of American Express: 

—Half of Brits are already planning a holiday abroad in 2022, with more than £40 billion ($54.1 billion) likely to be spent on overseas trips, according to a survey.

—They are expecting their holiday to cost £1,567 ($2,145) on average, with a fifth (21%) planning to spend £2,000 ($2,737) or more.

—In total, £41.2 billion ($56.4 billion) is earmarked for international holidays next year, according to the research.

—More than a quarter (27 percent) are planning to spend more this year than on their holiday last year.

—Two fifths (44 percent) of Brits are planning to go on holiday both in the UK and abroad.

—The main reason for wanting an overseas trip was because respondents miss travelling internationally (32 percent). A fifth (21 percent) want to celebrate occasions they missed amid the pandemic, and 16 percent want to take advantage of airline and accommodation offers.

—For those Brits who are delaying booking, the main reason given was to “wait and see how the pandemic progresses” (55 percent), while a third (33 percent) are waiting for restrictions to ease.

—The survey indicated that nearly a quarter (24 percent) of those surveyed have not left the UK at all during the pandemic.

—June and July are the most popular months for next year’s holidaymakers.

—And under the circumstances, it should be encouraging to those promoting and selling Visit USA product that, of those planning travel to long-haul destinations: Nine percent are planning to visit the U.S., six percent are looking to go to the Caribbean and five percent want to go Australia.

Do You Shop Around? Need Direction?

Carolyn J. Feimster just might be able to help.

Talking with Carolyn J. Feimster, who heads up her own shopping/tourism/attraction consultancy (CJF Marketing International or CJFMI) and has been doing so for some 35 years, is always a good use of one’s time. When I mention her name to other tourism industry acquaintances, I hear reactions that, through the inflections in their voices, tell me right away that she is definitely knowledgeable and worth talking to.

INBOUND’s editor can’t recall exactly when we first met—we agreed, however, that it was at one of Connect Travel’s RTO Summits either in New York, Los Angeles or Orlando—but I have never stopped being impressed by the depth and breadth of her knowledge of, and achievements in, travel and tourism’s international marketplace.

How  CJFMI Took Off: It was not always such smooth sailing promoting shopping as a stand-alone product because, officially, travel and tourism did not have dimensions that were readily recognized by the U.S. government. That is, due to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s census of transportation not beginning until in 1963 as a set of surveys covering travel, transportation of commodities, and trucks. Starting in 1987, census publications also reported on business establishments engaged in several transportation industries, paralleling the data on establishments in other sectors.

It was about the same time—the mid-1980s, when Feimster first got into the tourism business—that the Commerce Department established an account in its data program for travel and tourism. Feimster, a University of Florida graduate who spent time in New Jersey, Baltimore and Curacao before returning to Florida, connected, at one point, with Shop Miami, an early alliance of shopping and dining businesses in the area.

Then in the wake of Hurricane Andrew on August 16, 1992—marked one of the early occasions that local government allocated funding to help the shopping and dining businesses in the area to re-start and recover. And, unlike the aftermath of previous weather disasters, the industry had the data to show how much it had lost and, better still, how targeted funding helped it recover.

The Journey and Where it Led to: Over the years, client after client signed on for both short- and/or long-term help as CJFMI expanded, with offices in New Jersey and Miami. Along the way, she came to be highly regarded by the travel trade in both the United States and Europe.

And then came March 2020, COVID-19 and the global pandemic and crisis that it wrought. CJFMI’s response showed what it had done over the years and how it shaped the company’s response.

What’s her advice to her friends and colleagues?

● Making do with what you’ve got. The lowest point came when, basically, all businesses had to shut down, per government policy and orders. Jobs, salaries and sales revenue were lost. Yet, as there were partial re-openings later in 2020, businesses that operated outdoors (i.e., shopping malls), such as the Outlets at Tejon—it’s about 84 miles from downtown Los Angeles—were able to re-shape the physical operation of their properties. Outdoor operations opened up in many states. So, shopping mall operators were able to make a bleak situation a learning moment and stay alive—even if the challenge was severe. And like other mixed-use malls and attractions, CJFMI’s client base was able to adapt with carry-outs, pick-up stations and delivery service.

Also, in a fortuitous confluence of events and one year after the pandemic blunted any major, new developments in tourism, Fifth + Broadway Nashville (it is a project marketed by CJFMI), a mixed-use attraction with both retail and restaurants, and is home to the new National Museum of African American Music, opened in Nashville and has been operating full-throttle since then.

● Stay alive, alert and communicate regularly. CJFMI CGF had always had a clean list of international tour operators and U.S.-based receptive tour operators (people Feimster knew and knows well from sales missions and trade shows such as the Connect Travel RTO Summits and other trade shows). So, CJFMICGF sent out regular e-mail info blasts to this base—a move that also enabled the company to make corrections and updates to their lists.

● Be Social-Media Minded. Perhaps the Feimster way is best described by recommending that you go to LinkedIn.com and look at the steady—almost daily, it seems—stream of messages, posts, shares that are, in effect, a message board through which she communicates with business friends and acquaintances. Her activity on Facebook tends to be more of a personal nature (which, by the way, is how most of my FB friends use it), but serves as a channel for staying in touch with someone at a different level.

(The sum of the above three strategies comprises a more-or-less pocket-size packaged communications and marketing plan. Use freely.)

But what about the product? Aren’t shopping malls on the way out? It is true that there was a decline in the number of conventional shopping centers  in the 00s. This, was followed by an ascendency in the number or online shopping products and sites beginning around 2010 and continuing since then.

However, according to a survey report issued in August by Raydiant, a San Francisco-based store equipment supplier, almost half (48 percent) of respondents said they prefer to shop in-person at a physical store when given the choice. And 47 percent of the respondents estimated that they’ve spent more than 51 percent of their shopping budget in physical locations so far in 2021.

Feimster feels the same way, telling INBOUND that being able to hold, inspect and study your prospective purchase is an essential part of the dynamic of going to a mall or shopping center: “It’s always been popular to go to a mall. It’s not just shopping – it’s an experience that includes shopping.”

And, finally—for international visitors to the United States—There is the cachet, the popularity and “the bragging rights” of having visited a store in the U.S. that features American clothing, jewelry, accessories, smartphones and sporting goods store that have (very important) popular name brands.

And about the future? Quickly, how does it look, with vaccinated travelers now allowed to visit the United States, for overseas source markets?

Feimster told INBOUND that, among world regions, Europe will emerge strong, and South America could do well because its transportation grid has been in operation throughout the pandemic. Much depends on how well Brazil comes back. She was tentative about projecting how well Asia and China will do in the next year, particularly since China is still working on bringing COVID-19 under control. In fact, the worldwide travel and tourism industry, as a whole, still needs to get the virus under control before it can safely predict a full recovery.

Click here for more information about CJFMI and Carolyn J. Feimster. Also try:
https://cjfmarketinginternational.com/

In China’s Future—Fam Trips to Costco?

Here’s this Issue’s Check List of China Items

● Famous Big Box Store is Background for U.S.-themed Photos: Isolated from the rest of the world for more almost two years, Chinese travel influencers have embraced a new way to entertain themselves and their followers—they’re taking photos in front of American big box store Costco’s Shanghai store, and pretending to be in Los Angeles.

According to online news service Quartz.com, “Several of the posts in front of the Shanghai Costco are captioned ‘pretending to be in Los Angeles,’ or ‘back to the west coast,’ and show the influencers sitting inside shopping carts, holding pizza boxes and cups of Coke, or kneeling in front of the chain’s warehouse building. One of the influencers’ favorite spots is the store’s parking lot, where they can pose in front of the chain’s big logo.” Click here for the complete article.

● From the semi-official Global Times—Putting the Chill on Group Travel: “China’s top authority has pushed to put a pause on group trips in mid- and high-risk areas based on the fact that nearly 80 percent of confirmed COVID-19 cases have been related to the travel groups in the recent flareup. Travel agencies and online travel apps are not allowed to operate any inbound and outbound tours, and travel operators in high- or middle-risk cities are required to ‘suspend and notify the public as soon as the statement is issued,’ China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism (has) announced. Click here for the complete article.

● Mark Tanner, CEO of China Skinny, a marketing consultancy in Shanghai, had this observation related to the upcoming 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing: “The news was looking grim late last month (September) when Beijing announced that snow sports fans would not be allowed to enter the mainland to watch next February’s Olympics. China doesn’t have quite the same imperative to showcase the country’s magnitude as it did for the last Beijing Olympics in 2008, but they still want a spectacle for the world to see. That’s why the decision not to allow foreign spectators symbolized that it may be a long time before China opened its borders again. Insiders have suggested that it could be 2023 at the earliest before travel would resume to and from China … China remains the last major bastion of the Covid elimination strategy.” Click here for the complete article.

● Jing Daily tells us that elderly content is trending in China: 

—Chinese brands are turning their attention to an underserved affluent market—consumers over the age of 60.

—Older consumers typically have greater spending power and more free time to shop than their millennial or Gen-Z counterparts.

—Showing commitment to serving seniors is proving effective both for CSR as well as revenue.

For the complete article, click here.

● China Travel News, in a recent daily briefing, said this: “US tour operators could face long wait for large-scale return of Chinese travelers. While numerous travel companies have enjoyed a surge in bookings in recent weeks, US tour operators face another critical issue. It’s unlikely they will be welcoming the immediate return of large numbers of travelers from China. There are numerous hurdles that must be overcome before many prospective Chinese visitors can arrive in the U.S.”

What’s New?

Drawn from the current edition of TourOperatorLand The Magazine is the following sampler of new developments and products in key USA destinations. More to be found at:  www.touroperatorland.com.

At Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, try Jackson Lake Scenic Cruises (click here) are the perfect excursion for the entire family! A scenic cruise on Jackson Lake will literally place you in the shadow of Mount Moran while you learn a bit about local history, geology, and folklore and take in the sights, including 10,000-year-old glacial water flowing into Jackson Lake.

In Mississippi, explore Elvis’ Tupelo on two-wheels on the Elvis’ Tupelo Self-Guided Bicycle Tour. Visit 14 places, including the Elvis Presley Birthplace, that were influential in Elvis’ life growing up in Tupelo. A highlight is Tupelo Hardware Company where Elvis purchased his first guitar. Visit www.tupelo.net to learn more.

Instagramming is a new and popular activity in the Countryside of Philadelphia. The best images and stories can be captured at Longwood Gardens—grand, soaring fountains; acres of gorgeous blooms and towering trees create magical posts. And the U.S. National Memorial Arch at Valley Forge National Park is a unique backdrop for a must-capture photo.

In Tuolumne County, California, visitors are discovering the best kept secret that there is world-class rock climbing. Get all the gear, advice, and guides you will need to reach new heights in Tuolumne County at Golden Chain Climbing Gear. Founded by avid rock climbers not only will you be able to get everything you need from bouldering to trad, but you can also go out climbing with them. https://www.goldenchainclimbinggear.com/  

Atlanta’s new Illuminarium is “something like walking into a high-definition documentary film, which is being projected on walls 350 feet wide and 22 feet tall and also on the ground,” said one review. The new attraction is located the just south of Ponce City Market, this unique facility will offer an outdoor café and nighttime bar experience, the first of its kind. (www.illuminarium.com)

You’ll find more about TourOperatorLand The Magazine here.

• Betsy Cooper, Director of TourOperatorLand.com and Partner Engagement
• bcooper@connecttravel.com and/or 415,728.1085.

HODGE PODGE: Appointments, Openings & Changes

After four decades in the travel and tourism industry in the New York City area during which she served a variety of tour and ground transportation products in senior sales and marketing positions, Blanca Rosa Espinosa has launched her own company—White Rose Experiences, which, she tells us, provides airport transfers for the New York area; hourly-as directed services; tours; corporate and school shuttles, point-to-point transfer transfers. Espinosa can be reached at 347.675.1873.

Martha Palacios has been appointed to the position of senior director, international MICE (Canada, LATAM, & Europe) for NYC & Company. She joins the agency from Marriott International, where she was US accounts sales leader, wholesale. Previously, Palacios was international group & leisure sales leader, New York City Metro Market, for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.

The tour operator Canadian Affair has appointed Nick Talbot as marketing manager. Previously, Talbot was sales and marketing director at Funway Holidays for eight years and worked at Kenwood Travel as head of marketing since November 2020. In his new role, Talbot will work closely with the management, product and sales teams across the Canadian Affair brand and its sister operator American Affair.

Louise Heatley has joined Leger Shearings Group as group product delivery manager and will take a lead on the company’s product and operations. A veteran of some 25 years in the tourism industry, she comes to Leger Shearings Group from Great Rails Journey. She has previously worked for Page & Moy, Travelsphere, Bridge Travel, Thomson and British Airways.

Montreal-based carrier Air Transat has appointed Sonia Kurek as its new commercial director of UK, Ireland and general sales agent markets. She will lead revenue responsibility in markets across Europe and the Americas. Kurek joins Air Transat from British Airways, where she started in 2004 as a corporate account manager looking after corporates and TMCs moving up to sales manager where she managed groups, MICE, retail and OTA, cruise, sports, students, tour operators and specialist agents. Prior to British Airways, Kurek spent four years at travel agency Trailfinders and nine years at Australian airline Qantas as key account manager.

The Arlington (Texas) Convention & Visitors Bureau has announced that Brent DeRaad, current president and CEO of Visit Tucson, has been chosen to lead the city’s destination marketing organization. He will start his new position on Dec. 6, 2021. DeRaad is replacing Ron Price, who had been president and CEO since 2013. Price resigned in May to head Visit Phoenix in Arizona. DeRaad comes to Arlington with over 20 years of hospitality leadership, sales and marketing experience. With Visit Tucson, he was responsible for a $10 million annual budget and 16,000 hotel rooms.

Dan Tavrytzky has announced his retirement at the end of this month after more than a decade guiding the DMC Network as managing director in order to spend more time with family and pursue hobbies and other interests. Tavrytzky had been with the organization for 11 years. Previously, his résumé tells us, he served in senior positions for various travel and tourism entities, including a tenure as vice president of sales and services at the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. Based in Phoenix, the DMC Network is a member-owned community of destination management companies (DMCs) operating in 100 destinations across North America, Central America, South America, the Caribbean and Europe.

Scott Dunn USA Luxury Travel has appointed Bridget Lackie as its new general manager of U.S. operations. With two decades of experience in program management, sales enablement, client relations, marketing and sales operations servicing in a mix of B2B, consumer and non-profit organizations, Lackie also has expert travel industry knowledge following her role as senior managing director of global sales and guest services for Geographic Expeditions.

Philip Edel has become co-managing director of Studiosus, the German tour operator that specializes in study and educational tours throughout the world. Edel has been with the Munich-based family company since 1999. The company was founded in 1954. After training at a major German bank and studying economics, Edel joined the finance department as an assistant. In 2004 he was appointed Deputy Head of Department and in 2011 Head of Finance & Controlling

The Globus family of brands announced that it has hired Camille Olivere as the company’s chief sales officer. She replaces chief sales officer Paula Hayes, who is retiring at the end of the year, Olivere will be responsible for managing all facets of the company’s sales operations, including leading the national sales team for Globus, Cosmos, Monograms and Avalon Waterways. Having held executive leadership positions with Norwegian Cruise Line, DeCurtis Corporation, World Travel Holdings and ClubMed North America, Olivere brings with her 20 years of cruise and travel expertise.

Tom Loftus has been named vice president of marketing Visit Richmond (Richmond Region Tourism) in Virginia as vice president of marketing. He had most recently been chief marketing officer at Visit Pittsburgh after first serving as its vice president of communications after he joined the organization in 2015.

The Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau has named Patricia “Patti” Ornellas as the organization’s destination manager. In this newly created position funded by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA), Ornellas will lead efforts to implement and execute the goals and vision of Kaua‘i’s Destination Management Action Plan, with an emphasis on perpetuating Kaua‘i as a destination focused on regenerative tourism and mindful travel. Ornellas spent 15 years in the hospitality industry taking on a variety of roles, including front of house operations and homeowner assistance. While serving in those roles, her responsibilities also consisted of room and revenue management, working with travel wholesalers and handling owner and guest concerns.

The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau has appointed Carol Motley as the next senior vice president of convention sales & services. In her new position, Carol will be responsible for driving occupancy and attendance for conventions, trade shows, and meetings in Greater Miami and Miami Beach. Motley brings several years of experience in the tourism industry in sales and leadership roles. She is relocating to Miami from Washington, DC, where she previously acted as Director of Convention Sales at Destination DC. Before Destination DC, Carol was Senior National Account Director at Visit Orlando.

Úna O’Leary has been named general manager for Canada for the luxury travel company Virtuoso. In her new role, O’Leary will be responsible for driving Virtuoso’s business development to increase its footprint within the country through strategic partnerships focused on expanding its global network. O’Leary brings extensive industry experience and deep market knowledge to her new role, including more than five years at CWT (formerly Carlson Wagonlit Travel), a Virtuoso member agency, as senior director of marketing and strategic partnerships, North America.

Tim Paul has joined the Discover the World Canada team as senior manager focused on Expedia’s Travel Agent Affiliate Program (TAAP). Paul has twenty years of aviation and travel industry experience, having worked at WestJet with the Canadian travel agency industry, where he was responsible for customer service, B2B Marketing, inside sales and digital travel agent platforms for the travel trade. He was a member of the travel agent advisory board at WestJet.

The Wausau/Central Wisconsin Convention and Visitors Bureau has named Tim White its new director. A public relations veteran, White has helped lead numerous projects with national media groups such as ESPN/ABC, Turner, CBS, Fox, and NBC. A native of the area, White was born in Wisconsin Rapids and graduated from high school in Amherst.  after growing up in the Stevens Point area. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point and holds a master’s from Bethel University in Minnesota.

Jennifer Breed-Wilson has joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor’s Authority as director of sales & marketing-transportation. She joins the organization from TUI Musement, the attractions and travel experiences arm of TUI. Previously, she was director of sales and marketing at The Las Vegas Monorail Company.

Tom Loftus has been named vice president of marketing Visit Richmond (Richmond Region Tourism) in Virginia as vice president of marketing. He had most recently been chief marketing officer at Visit Pittsburgh after first serving as its vice president of communications after he joined the organization in 2015.

Job Postings

From SearchWide Global:

—A world-wide hospitality group is looking for an executive director of hotel sales & marketing—a position that would be based in San Francsico, Toronto or remotely. More details here:

—Visit Greater Palm Springs has an opening for a vice president of sales. More details here.

—Experience Grand Rapids is searching for a vice president of engagement and inclusion. More details here.

—Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County is looking for a director of marketing & communications. More details here.

—Visit Denver is seeking to hire a new vice president of tourism. More details here.

—Visit Santa Cruz is searching for a new CEO/Executive Vice President. More details here.

—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 details here.

—Visit Dana Point is looking for an executive director. More details here.

—Visit Milwaukee is searching for a vice president of marketing and communications. More details here.

—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 details here.

—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.

—Freeman is searching for a vice president, national graphics. 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.

—Visit Stockton is looking for a director of sports & tourism development. More details here.

—Amazon Web Services is searching for a head of travel & hospitality industry marketing. Located in Seattle. More details here.

—City Experiences has an opening for a national associate director of tourism. 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 Park City Chamber of Commerce has an opening for a director of sustainable tourism. 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