Visit USA is giving agents the chance to win either return flights to the US or a weeklong RV rental by attending an informative virtual Roadshow – The Wide Open Spaces of the USA.
Partnering with Travel Weekly and sister title Aspire, Visit USA is hosting a virtual event educating agents on the many US destinations suited to post-pandemic travel. Agents who register will be entered into a prize draw to win one of two prizes: two return economy flights from Manchester to the US courtesy of Aer Lingus and a seven-night RV rental from Cruise America RV Rentals.
Visit USA members – representatives from 12 different states and destinations – will highlight the broad appeal of the USA and the amazing travel adventures available.
Watch here
Tracey Spuyman, CEO of Visit USA (UK) , said: “This virtual roadshow on the Wide Open Spaces in the USA is a fantastic opportunity for the travel trade to find out more about 12 different destinations and experiences across the USA and the diverse opportunities available to UK travellers.”
Visit USA members exhibiting are:
Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
Port of Seattle
Explore Georgia
Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
Naples, Marco Island, Everglades – Florida’s Paradise Coast
Travel Oklahoma
State of Vermont Tourism
The Great American West
Utah Office of Tourism
Visit Central Florida
Visit Tucson
The prize draw
Agents who register for the event will be entered into a prize draw to win one of two amazing prizes.
- Courtesy of Aer Lingus: Two return economy flights from Manchester to the US, travel to be completed by May 31, 2022. Terms & Conditions apply.
- Courtesy of Cruise America: Seven nights RV Rental from one of the following Cruise America International locations: LAX, SFO, DEN, SEA, PHX, SLC, or ORL. Terms & Conditions apply.
To register for the event, and to confirm your entry into the prize draw to win one of two amazing prizes, click here.
About our exhibitors
Pictured: Ozark National Forest, Arkansas
Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
Known as the ‘Natural State’, Arkansas is home to an amazing and diverse outdoor playground. These wonders include the wetlands of southeast Arkansas, the rolling hills of the southwest part of the state, the famous Ozark mountains of the north and west and the unique flatlands of the east with caves, roaring rivers and trails to connect them all.
Arkansas’ 52 magnificent state parks sit on 54,400 acres are home to a wide array of flora and fauna – much of it visible from iconic hiking, kayaking, and cycling trails. The parks have no entry fees and beautiful overnight facilities including grand lodges (5), cozy cabins (208), with a wide variety of campsites (1,800 and interpretive/visitor centres.
This amazing mixture of outdoor nature sits amongst amazing cities and communities and combines unique blends of culture coming from Arkansas location as a strongly southern state together with mid-western and western influences.
Pictured: Bok Tower Gardens, Central Florida
Visit Central Florida
We could talk about our wide open spaces all day! Polk County, Florida’s Sweetest Spot, is the 4th largest county in the state of Florida. With 554 freshwater lakes, the area offers fishing, airboat tours and water sports. In just a few miles you can go from a freshwater marsh on the shores of a lake to a desert-like scrub habitat complete with prickly pear cactus!
We have three State Parks and a State Forest offering over 31-miles of hiking, biking and riding. Being Florida, we also have our share of attractions: Florida’s historic, Bok Tower Gardens, set in 50 acres of lush tropical landscapes; the largest dude ranch east of the Mississippi, Westgate River Ranch Resort, where you can live like a cowboy and sleep in a teepee and Circle B Bar Reserve, a former cattle ranch and one of the best places to see wildlife in the state.
Pictured: Chattahoochee River, Georgia
Explore Georgia
With big cities, small towns, a diverse population, thriving arts and culture, and a geographical range from the mountains to the beach…there’s a lot more to Georgia than our peaches.
To experience Georgia’s great outdoor adventures head to Springer Mountain the beginning of the Appalachian Trail, or hike to the 729-foot Amicalola Falls. Trek to an overlook at Tallulah Gorge, Grand Canyon of the East. In Atlanta, walk or cycle the BeltLine, a 22-mile loop connecting intown neighbourhoods.
Cool off with a whitewater rafting trip on the Chattahoochee River in Columbus or go tubing on the Toccoa River. Paddle along the Flint River and run the rapids in the Piedmont. Kayak waterways like the Altamaha River for awe-inspiring scenery.
Further south, 110 miles of coastline ensure great beaches, boating and wildlife watching. See alligators and other wildlife on a boat ride at Okefenokee Swamp Park.
Keep Georgia on your mind!
Pictured: Mount Rushmore National Memorial
The Great American West
Welcome to the Great American West. The US states of Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming are home to epic vistas, stunning natural beauty, abundant wildlife, legendary history, culture and heritage. Follow in the footsteps of world-famous explorers to experience the breathtaking beauty of 15 national parks, monuments and memorials including Yellowstone, Glacier and Theodore Roosevelt National Parks, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
Visit museums and interpretive centres for a journey back to the time of early pioneers, notorious western characters and Native American cultures. See monuments from battles gone by, stay on an authentic ranch and enjoy the sights and sounds of a Pow Wow.
The wilderness and wide-open spaces make the region a natural playground for outdoor adventure and wildlife including bison, bears, wolves, elk, moose and much more.
Pictured: Malibu Beach
Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
Los Angeles Tourism is the ultimate resource for where to stay, play, shop and meet throughout the LA area, from Hollywood and Downtown to the Valley, Westside and Beach Cities.
LA is home to 300 days of warm sunshine, 75 miles of idyllic shoreline, and exploring the outdoors is one of the best ways to experience the city. Hiking is a quintessential LA pastime, and Griffith Park – home to the landmark Griffith Observatory, offers a variety of popular trails. Your clients can also enjoy an “endless summer” at the best beaches in LA, from Malibu to the South Bay, where they won’t want to miss the majestic sunset. To seek a truly unique experience, an outdoor or even waterside yoga class is a must! For breakfast, lunch or dinner, your clients can enjoy dining al fresco and taking in sweeping views from rooftop bars and restaurants.
Pictured: Mount Miami Beach
Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
Beyond our city’s world-famous beaches, hotels and nightlife lays MIAMILAND, a wonderland of great outdoor adventures ready to be explored. Here, visitors can explore wild and untamed mangrove forests, dive deep into an ocean adventure and immerse themselves in the splendor of nature. They can escape the crowds by visiting beautiful local beaches, charming neighbourhood parks and lush, tropical gardens or learn about local agriculture and Miami’s farm-to-table food culture. From paddling in Miami Beach’s Sunset Harbour, to historic nature walks at the Deering Estate, spying on alligators in South Miami-Dade and talking a swamp tour, Greater Miami has an adventure for everyone. Best of all, adventures can be found all over Miami and a short drive away, so you can enjoy a day trip and be back in Miami in time for dinner.
Pictured: Everglades, Florida
Naples, Marco Island, Everglades – Florida’s Paradise Coast
A cultural gem located in Southwest Florida, the Paradise Coast sits on the Gulf of Mexico’s sparkling water where 30 miles of pristine, soft white, sandy beaches, meets outdoor adventure and natural wilderness. Post-pandemic, travellers in search of a destination that offers plenty of wide-open spaces, fresh sea air, miles of tranquil beaches, access to nature and a myriad of outdoor activities, should consider a holiday to Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades – Florida’s Paradise Coast.
With a reputation for high standards across accommodation, cuisine and experiences, Florida’s Paradise Coast launched the Paradise Pledge in 2020 including the key messaging ‘Only Paradise Will Do’. By taking the pledge, local businesses assure both residents and visitors that they and their guests will enjoy a safe environment by adhering to the latest in CDC and Florida Department of Health best practices, and then exceeding them.
paradisecoast.com
Facebook: @TheParadiseCoastUK
Twitter: @paradisecoastuk
Pictured: Glass Mountains State Park
Travel Oklahoma
Oklahoma was established with a Land Run and gained statehood in 1907. Birthplace of the ‘Mother Road’ – home to more than 400 driveable miles of the original Route 66, it’s a rich tapestry of Western and American Indian life, history and culture. In the wide open spaces of Oklahoma – from tallgrass prairie to fertile farmland, eco-diversity is rich, and more than 30 State Parks offer a wide range of land and lake-centred activities. Myriad small communities stage rodeos, pow wows and classic car festivals, and ‘down-home’ cooking is a big deal – from mouth-watering barbeque to fine dining. Tulsa and Oklahoma City offer vibrant ‘live’ music, art and culture and their own unique urban wide-open spaces!
Contact Matt Bates – Destination Awareness Manager to learn more about OK’s great outdoors; for road trip planning advice and an introduction to our tour operator partners in the UK.
Pictured: Saguaro National Park, Tucson
Visit Tucson
Tucson’s wide-open spaces are just begging to be explored. Located in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, surrounded by five mountain ranges and two districts of Saguaro National Park, Tucson is the perfect destination for outdoor adventure – everything from hiking, biking, and golfing to al fresco dining and relaxing by the pool. When the time is right, we will look forward to welcoming you to Tucson, offering you the space you need to relax and recharge, and once again providing the perfect place to Free Yourself.
Pictured: Salt Lake City
Utah Office of Tourism
Sculpted by wind, water and time, Utah is home to some of the most astonishing landscapes in the USA. From The Mighty 5® National Parks of Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion, to the Wasatch Mountains’ Greatest Snow on Earth®, and all points in-between, Utah is the place to forge incredible experiences and make enduring memories.
In Salt Lake City discover world-class arts, culture and entertainment alongside the history of early pioneers and settlers. Flanked by dramatic alpine scenery, head into the mountains to explore shimmering lakes, spectacular state parks and numerous national forests. Hit the open road to the red rock landscapes, national parks and national monuments of the south. Follow in the footsteps of movie stars at iconic Monument Valley and join an unforgettable night sky programme to stargaze in some of the darkest locations in the world.
Pictured: Lake in Vermont
State of Vermont Tourism
With a population of only 626,000 and more than 4.5 million acres of forest, Vermont is the perfect place to find yourself in nature. Our outdoor recreation opportunities include activities for all skill levels in all seasons, from a stroll on a Vermont farm or an odyssey on the Long Trail. Experience the solitude of a snowshoe through a quiet forest blanketed in white or enjoy a contemplative paddle on one of our 800 lakes and ponds. Learn more about Vermont’s lakes, forests and wildlife at a nature preserve or conservation centre, or learn first-hand what it takes to collect maple syrup, tend livestock or steward our unique, exciting trail system for a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. Vermont’s beautiful working landscape is free of billboards and low on traffic, which makes our rural state a great road trip destination for anyone looking to get away from it all.
Pictured: Olympic National Park
Port of Seattle
Seattle is the perfect gateway from which to cruise to Alaska and to explore the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Bucket list experiences await in the wide-open spaces of Washington state’s national parks – Mt. Rainier, Olympic and North Cascades. Olympic is a million-acre UNESCO World Heritage site of majestic mountains, lakes, wild Pacific Ocean beaches, rainforests, hot springs and wildlife – think bald eagles, Roosevelt elk and whales. North Cascades abounds with pristine alpine mountain lakes whilst Mt. Rainier is famed for its ancient volcanic glacial mountains and fields of summer wildflowers.
With 1,000+ vineyards, Washington is the second largest wine producing state in the USA and visitors are treated to welcoming tasting rooms.
Fly non-stop to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) in under 9.5 hours from the UK and Ireland. A new International Arrivals Facility welcomes passengers this year with views of Mt. Rainier and the Olympic Mountains. Visit www.SeattleCruiseAlaska.co.uk.