by Jim Byers
Last updated: 9:52 PM ET, Wed June 23, 2021
Travel agents on Wednesday had a chance to learn about one of the world's most popular destinations.
Brand USA, which promotes US tourism around the world, held a virtual event for Canadian agents on Wednesday that featured live training, great networking opportunities and the awarding of trips to Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
"As we're speaking today, 'm more optimistic than I've ever been about a future that's a little brighter," Brand USA president and CEO Chris Thompson told Canadian advisors. "You all are going to play a vital role as we re-enter the Canadian market and as we welcome our friends and visitors back from Canada."
Thompson said Canadians make up one-quarter of the nearly 80 million foreign visitors who head to the U.S. every year.
Thompson said it's important that the Canadian and U.S. governments get the border open. In the meantime, domestic tourism in the U.S. has returned faster than expected, he said.
"Now's the time to plan for" a reopening, Thompson said.
Canadians know the U.S. well, but there are tons of surprises awaiting visitors from the north.
"My favourite thing to tell Canadians is that, though you're our largest source market, though we share our largest border with you, and even though many of your clients and you personally have been to the United States in the past, I will still promise you that there is more in the United States that you haven't seen and don't know about than there is that you haven been to and otherwise know of."
Brand USA has a series of toolkits that agents can use, including fabulous photography and videos. Canadian travel advisors can visit their special travel trade site for great information and tools they can use to sell remarkable trips to the U.S. Brand USA also offers great training and webinars for agents who live north of the border.
On top of that, there's a Brand USA TV channel.
"We know the pent-up demand is going to be something that's going to be like nothing we've ever seen," Thompon said. "We look forward to welcoming everybody back with open arms."
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