The tourist board of Pittsburgh has joined the Association of Touring and Adventure Suppliers (Atas) to highlight its attractions and expanded flight links to UK travel agents.
Will Hall, account manager for VisitPittsburgh, said the organisation aims to establish Pittsburgh as “the perfect place to start, or end, a US tour, especially for the east coast”.
He said associate membership of Atas will enable the tourist board to help agents inspire consumers for whom the Pennsylvanian city might not be on their radar, “encouraging them to try somewhere new and different”.
Pittsburgh received about 13,700 visitors from the UK in 2019 and numbers are expected to be 2% higher than pre-Covid levels by 2025.
Joining Atas is part of VisitPittsburgh’s travel trade plans for 2023 and 2024, which aim to spread awareness of the city via a range of campaigns, training events and fam trips to help the trade experience the destination.
The tourist board is also promoting the increase in flights to Pittsburgh from British Airways – which will offer six weekly departures from May – and the ease of passing through the city’s airport.
“It seems that travellers to the US are beginning to plan further into the future, travelling for longer and visiting more places when they go, which is why we feel it’s the perfect time for Pittsburgh to be included in these tours, offering a fun, new city that much of the UK hasn’t discovered,” he said.
Hall said the city has a wide range of attractions for holidaymakers seeking a city break or addition to a wider tour – from sports teams playing baseball, American football and hockey to a variety of cuisine, arts, culture and outdoor activities.
Agents can keep up to date via the online training programme, Pittsburgh Pros, which launched in May 2022. As well as destination news, it features incentives and fam opportunities.
Furthermore, the tourist board hosts and attends training events around the UK and Ireland throughout the year.
“People are still desperate to travel after being unable to for so long, especially on big US breaks. Pittsburgh offers an affordable alternative to other east coast destinations, as well as an economical route into the region for longer trips,” added Hall.
“The worst of the pound to dollar conversion worries appear to be behind us, so with the increase in direct flights combined with UK travellers demand to experience new destinations, we’re excited for what 2023 and beyond have in store for Pittsburgh.”
Claire Brighton, Atas account director, said: “I am delighted to see VisitPittsburgh joining us as it adds yet another dimension to Atas.
“Being the tourist board of a US city means it can offer agents lots of information and opportunities to learn about an exciting destination which has plenty of ideas and inspiration for consumers.”