The Pittsburgh tourist board attended World Travel Market for the first time in a decade, as the city looks to promote itself as ‘real America’.
Pittsburgh was a city in decline following the closure of much of its industrial output in the 1980s, but Visit Pittsburgh said it had undergone a ‘renaissance’ in the decades since.
Jason Fulvi, executive vice-president for Visit Pittsburgh, said: “We were fortunate to have some forward-thinking city leaders and also benefited from foundations set up by those who built their businesses in the city.
“We now have a rich cultural and culinary offering, and we are now ready to introduce these assets that are enjoyed by locals to the world.”
Katie Conaway, international group sales director, said: “The demographics of the city have been transformed as tech companies including Google and Uber have a significant presence.”
And Paul O’Rourke, vice-president of marketing at Allegheny County Airport Authority, added: “We say to those people who’ve seen New York, who’ve seen LA and who’ve seen Disneyworld, now come and see America.”
UK visitors can fly to Pittsburgh from Gatwick with Wow Air via Reykjavik, and there are also direct flights from Paris and Frankfurt.