The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) represented the Maldives at the ‘USTOA Annual Conference & Marketplace 2022.’ The event took place from 28 November to 2 December at the JW Marriott Austin in Texas, United States.
The United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) is a professional trade organisation created to promote integrity within the the tour operator industry. Since its inception in 1972, the ‘USTOA Annual Conference & Marketplace’ has distinguished itself as the only travel industry event in the US that brings together leading North American travel companies, tourism suppliers and representatives from global destinations.
The Maldives was represented at the event by representatives of its PR agency for the North American region.
“Our objective in participating in this event was to market the Maldives as the preferred holiday destination, provide the latest destination information, and promote the various segments, products, and experiences of the Maldives tourism industry,” the MMPRC said.
According to the MMPRC, the event provided a unique business-casual atmosphere for a small select group of 700 travel professionals as well as networking opportunities to make new contacts and conduct business.
“It enables us to connect and network with stakeholders of the industry from the market and through that, inform travellers of the latest information about the destination. These stakeholders range from other tourism destinations, service providers, PR companies, buyers and sellers, and a diverse range of trade professionals.”
“During this event, we gained invaluable insight into the North American travel market. We also identified the latest factors and trends affecting the industry and travellers across the globe through exciting seminars, symposiums, and expert panel discussions.”
The US remains one of the top source markets to the Maldives. As of 1 December, the Maldives has welcomed 71,757 visitors from America, making it the 6th largest source market for tourism.
The MMPRC held several activities targeting the US market this year, including hosting Maldives Roadshows in different cities in the US and Canada, taking part in ATTA’s AdventureELEVATE 2022, conducting a travel trade webinar, and organising familiarisation trips for media and influencers. The MMPRC also conducted marketing campaigns with leading tourism companies such as Worth Magazine, Goway, and SQ.
