The first-of-its-kind event brought together Virginia destination marketing organizations, tourism suppliers, international in-market representatives, receptive tour operators, international tour operators, and trade media from Virginia’s six key inbound markets for education, business development and networking on a grand scale.
Highlighting multiple locations throughout the state over the week-long event, the Global Travel Forum kicked off in Tysons in northern Virginia with a series of customized activities for the various attendees. Tour operators and trade media visited attractions in Fairfax County, Virginia. Local suppliers attended an intensive IITA Inbound Insider Steps to Success™ education program and heard international market updates from in-country representatives from the UK, Germany, France, Canada, Australia and India along with industry presentations from research firm iolite and Brand USA. Attendees came together that evening for a Dirty Dancing networking event sponsored by Mountain Lake Resort, the iconic property located in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains that served as “Kellerman’s” in the film Dirty Dancing.
Day two brought all attendees together for one-on-one business appointments along with industry updates from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) and United Airlines, providing perspectives on international travel trends, market opportunities, and air connectivity.
The more than 500 total direct one-on-one meetings provided an opportunity to build on the educational sessions, introduce tourism products, discuss itinerary ideas, and explore opportunities to include more Virginia experiences in international travel programs. Dedicated media appointments and a press briefing also connected Virginia partners with international journalists to share destination news and story ideas.
Following two days of education, business appointments and networking opportunities the nearly 40 buyers and media departed to discover more of Virginia, hosted by Virginia partners and Global Travel Forum sponsors Visit Williamsburg, Visit Virginia Beach, City of Lynchburg and Visit Loudoun.
“The inaugural Global Travel Forum demonstrated the value of bringing multiple segments of the international tourism industry together to conduct business,” said President and CEO of Virginia Tourism Corporation, Rita McClenny. “Having them all here, in Virginia, experiencing the product firsthand while they talked shop, allowed us to really showcase why Virginia is for lovers.”
Virginia is known for its iconic ‘Virginia is for Lovers’ brand, which speaks to a visitor’s love of travel with those they love. The state on the U.S. East Coast is an attractive travel destination for tourists from around the world. From the famous Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west, to the long sandy beaches along the Atlantic coast and the Chesapeake Bay in the east, there is a wide range of attractions, culinary hotspots and sites of significant American history across the entire state. The location of Washington Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia means the state’s considerable tourism assets are easily accessible.
“Events of this caliber boost the profile of Virginia and enhance its position in the global tourism market,” said Heidi Johannesen, Managing Director, Global Markets, Virginia Tourism Corporation. “By bringing together all facets of the international tourism world we can build strong, lasting relationships that provide better business opportunities for Virginia and all its partners. We sincerely thank all of the many sponsors, especially Ink Global and United Airlines, for making the Global Travel Forum possible”
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