About 70 industry suppliers are set to showcase
Britain to more than 50 top buyers from North
America at VisitBritain’s Destination Britain North America trade event, led by
VisitBritain chairman Nick de Bois.
More than 2,500 one-to-one business appointments
are set to take place during the three-day trade fair, being held in San
Francisco from 7-10 September. North American travel buyers and media will have
the chance to connect with British tourism suppliers to learn about the latest
products and innovations.
The British suppliers include hotels, visitor
attractions, destination management companies, tour and sightseeing operators
and local destinations spanning the length and breadth of the nations and
regions.
VisitBritain chairman, former MP, and former MD of event management agency Rapiergroup Nick de
Bois said:“VisitBritain’s flagship Destination Britain
North America trade event has been a catalyst for new business for more than a
decade and I am delighted to be leading this year’s mission.
“North America is driving tourism’s recovery in
the UK and this is a timely opportunity for British travel suppliers and
destinations to get their tourism products and services in front of top buyers
and do business, boosting bookings. It is also a valuable chance to
promote our messages of warm welcome and to hear first-hand from buyers on the
motivations and trends driving outbound travel from North America.
“As well as showcasing Britain’s exciting tourism
products and innovations, our focus is on broadening travel itineraries,
encouraging visitors from North America to explore further through our regional
gateways, come year round and to stay longer, boosting local economies.”
As well as doing business, delegates and media
will hear about international travel market trends alongside seminars from
London & Partners, VisitEngland,
VisitScotland and Visit Wales to boost knowledge of Britain as a visitor
destination and drive urgency to visit.
Visitors from the USA, the UK’s largest and most
valuable inbound tourism market, spent a record £6 billion in the UK in 2022,
up 42 per cent on 2019. Canadian visitors also set a record for spending in the UK,
£934 million in 2022, up 27 per cent on 2019. This strong growth has continued into
2023. Flights bookings from North America to the UK are currently tracking up
15 per cent compared to 2019.
VisitBritain has been harnessing this growth with its
multi-million pound GREAT Britain marketing campaign in Canada and the USA
launched earlier this year. It is also investing in separate campaigns in
the USA with British Airways and a pilot
cooperative marketing programme.
