Brand USA Talks Travel

It's only fitting that Mark turned to AI to come up with the perfect questions to ask Chris Donahoe, Executive Vice President and Head of AI Strategy at Edelman Smithfield. The two dive deep into the current state of AI, including "invisible" technologies that already exist, case studies involving PR and ROI, and the ethics of using artificial intelligence to get ahead.

Are you ready to give back to the travel industry and local communities? Mark meets with Greg Takehara, CEO of Tourism Cares and founding member of The Future of Tourism Coalition, to discuss how you can participate in good work. They also cover sustainability, the Meaningful Travel Map, and tackling tourism's most pressing issues.

From our friends at Skift, host Miguel Neves explores four diverse destinations, speaking with Tommy Woods, Travel Texas; Jim McMichael, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority; Tara Miller, Destination DC; and Martha Sheridan, Meet Boston. Each destination provides insight into what attendees can expect when meeting with them at IMEX Frankfurt 2024.

We’re excited to introduce you to Aimee Misako Gabel, U.S. Travel’s newly hired SVP, Events and Education. After a quick chat with Aimee, Mark grills Michael Martin about this year’s IPW activities, networking, and maximizing your time at the convention. IPW 2024 is May 3-7 in Los Angeles. Michael Martin is International Relations Manager at U.S. Travel.

Get your first look at DI's annual convention, slated for July 16-18 in Tampa, Florida, including key sessions, new themes, and a glimpse into the CEO lounge. Mark and Don also discuss DI's recent study, "Destination Promotion: A Catalyst For Community Vitality," and social responsibility within travel and tourism. Don Welsh is CEO of Destinations International.

For the final installment in our special series celebrating Women's History Month, Brand USA's CMO Staci Mellman meets with Claire Irvin, Head of Travel at The Times and The Sunday Times in the UK. They cover the role of AI in journalism, how to build diverse and high-performing teams as a leader, and how young women can set themselves up for professional success.

For our fourth special episode celebrating Women's History Month, guest host Staci Mellman meets with Stephanie Young, President, Disney Vacation Club, Adventures & Expeditions, and Disney Institute for Disney Experiences. They discuss how Disney built a strong team culture emphasizing collaboration, the necessity of listening to one's instincts, and the single most important piece of career advice that Stephanie ever received. Staci Mellman is CMO at Brand USA.

In our third episode celebrating International Women's History Month, guest host Staci Mellman meets with Sarah Lehman, CEO of Zartico, to discuss their mission of empowering destinations through informed, data-driven decisions. They also examine the tech world's bro culture, connecting the dots of one's career path, and how sharing vulnerability makes for powerful leadership. Staci Mellman is CMO at Brand USA.

In our second special episode celebrating International Women’s History Month, guest host Staci Mellman and Ellen Davis from U.S. Travel delve into the fascinating intersection of retail and travel, discussing how these industries influence and complement each other. They also share insights on empowering women to advocate for themselves and support one another in the workplace, highlighting the importance of educating the next generation to become allies in fostering gender equality. Ellen Davis is EVP, Business Strategy and Industry Engagement at U.S. Travel. Staci Mellman is CMO at Brand USA.

Brand USA CMO Staci Mellman guest hosts four special March episodes in which we connect with leaders in the Travel Industry. In this series debut, Staci gets personal with Katie Briscoe, CEO of MMGY Global. Katie is the first woman to serve as CEO in an organization that is over 40 years old. Topics include keeping a marketing organization at the top of its game in a constantly evolving marketing environment, the importance of having a trustworthy mentor, and the standards and expectations that women encounter in leadership roles.

Patrick Higgins, SVP at Connect Meetings and BizBash Sports, converses with Mark about how the LinkedIn Group he manages benefits the travel industry, and how you can participate and even create your own discussion group. They also examine Patrick’s specialty work in international sports tourism and how MICE is moving forward in 2024.

Mark covers a lot of ground with San Diego Tourism Authority’s CEO Julie Coker. They discuss how to leverage assets to increase international tourism, the importance of mentors, and how to become an active listener when one serves on many Boards.

Mark chats with the four key players from the new GoUSA TV show, “American Beats.” Rupert Maconick, founder of Saville Productions, Director Tamara Rosenfeld and hosts Chunz & Makh talk about the joy associated with musical discovery and the elements that go into creating a great travel TV show. “American Beats,” is now live on GoUSA TV.

Brand USA’s Travel Trade team has been busy planning out the year and our Vice President for Global Trade Development, Jackie Ennis is here with details. We also hear about recent missions to Mexico and India. Plus, catch the latest international travel trade trends.

When it comes to predicting travel patterns, few are better equipped than Adam Sacks, Founder and President of Tourism Economics and a member of the U.S. Department of Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. We discuss Tourism Economics' latest research, including China recovery, trends in remote-work/bleisure travel, and why research insights are so important to success. Plus, did you know that Adam plays guitar and sings? Hear him for yourself on this episode!

Allen Orr, Founder of Orr Immigration Law and Brand USA Board Member, suggests a positive path to dealing with the U.S. Visa backlog. We also discuss Allen’s advocacy work with underrepresented communities, how homelessness affects tourism, and the visas required for foreign nationals to work in the U.S. travel industry.

The American Hotel and Lodging Association has a lot planned this year; you'll want to know about it so you can schedule your calendar. We also hear about the state of hotel labor, as well as new trends in this vertical that effect all of us who work in tourism. Chip Rogers is CEO of AHLA.

Martinique expresses why creating authentic, diverse content is vital to all destinations. We also discuss allocating specific budget to DEI work, and her experience appearing in "Black Travel Across America" on Disney+. Martinique Lewis is President of the Black Travel Alliance, Creator of the ABC Travel Greenbook, and a Travel Consultant.

Meet Jessica Wahl Turner, President of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. Learn about their mission, effect on legislation, and how they work with destinations.

Nick Hall, Founder of the Digital Tourism Think Tank, works with hundreds of destinations globally. Mark meets with Nick at their offices in Canterbury, England to get his perspective on content creation, hear about the new State of Destination Marketing 2024 study, and upcoming DTTT events in Europe.