Jennifer Bertholdt, a prominent figure in Louisiana Tourism, discusses her plans for promoting the state. They emphasize the importance of destination stewardship, highlighting the enthusiasm of residents and ambassadors in sharing Louisiana's unique culture and attractions. Climate change is integrated into Louisiana's tourism strategy, focusing on sustainability in events like Mardi Gras and raising awareness about coastal wetland loss. The conversation underscores the deep connection between Louisiana's culture and its environment. Jennifer will be speaking at the World Travel Market, where she will showcase new properties, attractions, upcoming festivals, and the significance of music in Louisiana's cultural heritage.  

  Tennessee in the fall is an experience like no other. The landscape transforms into fiery reds and warm oranges, with a hint of the lush greens the state is known for throughout the year. See what’s new for autumn in the Volunteer State.   Fall Colors Viewfinder Now everyone can experience the vibrant fall colors. The Tennessee Viewfinders for the Colourblind is a groundbreaking way everyone to see the landscape in all its glory. Tis is a joy that color blind people have always been deprived of. The first scenic viewers in the world were designed to help those with red-green color deficiency. It helps visitors enjoy the fullness of the state's landscape, making scenic views and fall colors accessible to everyone. They are installed at various viewpoints across the state.   New resort opening at Dollywood Dollywood's HeartSong Lodge and Resort, opens in fall 2023. It is a five-story resort with themed suites and loft rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, and an outdoor cove with family gathering spaces. This is the perfect Smoky Mountains getaway. Dreamcatcher, in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, features 200 AAA-Rated Four Diamond guest rooms, with a rooftop restaurant. Dollywood, the Pigeon Forge theme park owned by Dolly Parton is located near the gateway to the Great Smokey Mountains. From thrilling rollercoaster rides to daring water excursions, this theme park is a must for families, with something for everyone. The Big Bear Coaster will be part of the Wildwood Grove Park expansion at Dollywood. Check out Chasing Rainbows, the Dolly Parton museum, to see costumes from her movie career including 9 to 5 and Straight Talk, and the original Coat of Many Colors. Also see the many lavishly sequined gowns worn during countless concerts, award shows and TV appearances.   Pumpkin Picking An old fall favorite, Pumpkin Picking can be enjoyed at most of Tennessee's farms. Home to many attractions Oakes Farm is a great one to try. Visitors have lots to enjoy from Punchin Pumkin Maze Race to the Mighty Pumpkin Pounder and the Mine Shaft giant slide. Another great place is East Tennessee's largest corn maze -Myers Pumpkin Patch and Farm in Greenville. There are thousands of pumpkins, squash and other gourds for sale plus organic jams, jellies, crafts, honey and other sweets in the general store. The perfect fall family day out, there are tractor rides and lots more.   Learn more: https://www.tnvacation.com/

By Graham McKenzie Named after the UK’s second largest city, Birmingham, Alabama is itself the state’s third most populous city after Huntsville and Montgomery. It is in fact a relatively new city, formed as part of the post US Civil War reconstruction strategy. Making the most of rail connectivity, a low-cost labour force and the presence of all the minerals required, Birmingham rapidly became a major producer of steel and steel by products. Today, although greatly reduced, that industrial legacy can still be seen with both active manufacturing plants but also heritage sites where visitors can look back into the city’s economic origins. Birmingham, like much of Alabama, is also known for its role during the civil rights period of the fifties and sixties. The history of this period and indeed years since are covered very comprehensively in the Civil Rights Institute which is walking distance from the downtown area. Here in a couple of hours you can learn the detail of Martin Luther King’s arrest and detention whereupon he wrote his famous ‘Letter from a Birmingham Jail’ in which he details the struggle for justice. One can experience the scenarios in public places where ‘whites only’ was the order of the day. Educate yourself and view evidence of the activities of the Klu Klux Klan within the Birmingham area. Sit in the office of the first Black Mayor of Birmingham, Richard Arrington, who served the city for 20 years between 1979 and 1999. You can also learn how other human rights struggles around the world took inspiration from the Civil Rights movement. Perhaps most emotional of all is the details of the atrocities committed on September 15, 1963, as you view the shards of glass remaining from the 16th Street Baptist Church which is just across the street. Four young black girls died attending Sunday service due to a bomb placed by the Klu KLux Klan. In the aftermath, on the same day, two other black children died, one of whom was shot in the back by police as he fled down an alley. Today the city is a much happier and peaceful place with lots going on and after the demise of steel and manufacturing enjoys a revived economy that supports lots of establishments suitable for visitors. One of these is just outside the city boundaries but is pre-eminent certainly in the US and possible the world with its collection of motor bikes. Spread over several floors the exhibition is breath-taking even for a non-petrol head such as myself. Row and row of vintage and not so vintage motorbikes adorn the floors with a huge representation from British manufacturers the majority of which have sadly now disappeared. Barbers Vintage Motorsports Museum is definitely worth the time to travel the few miles out of town. The vast majority of the over 900 motorcycles are still roadworthy. Periodically, special exhibitions are on display, and I am pleased to say that whilst I was there our very own John Surtees was the focus. He’s the only man to have won world championships on both two and four wheels. As with many cities Birmingham has a very vibrant music and food scene. I was lucky enough to combine both at an open-air Saturday morning market at Pepper Place. Here one can enjoy locally produced food and also regional specialities including ‘Nanas Puddin’ an original home style banana pudding made and sold by a father and sons combo. The longest queue was for the artisan bread and pastry stall which was, with no exaggeration, at least 100 yards long. It looked and smelt scrumptious, and, in the US, good bread is at a premium when you have experienced the standard store offering. The market made me hungry for brunch so off to Automatic Seafood. Despite the name the restaurant has an extensive menu and I opted for oatmeal with a Banana Pecan topping sitting outside enjoying the October Alabama climate. Plus a cup of freshly brewed coffee. Delicious! The Birmingham story is however incomplete without mention of the Golf. The Robert Trent Jones golf trail leads through the entire state of Alabama but nearby lies one of the finest examples – Oxmoor Valley. Two full championship 18 hole courses, the Ridge and the Valley, are supplemented by a nine hole par 3 that takes just over an hour to play as a foursome. All the courses have a choice of tees to suit all standards of golfer and as one would expect from an RTJ course, each hole has its own unique challenge. Playing on your own is not a problem and I hired a set of clubs and teamed up with three very friendly gents from New York. As part of an Alabama tour, Birmingham is a must see destination.

  Travel South USA (TSUSA) is pleased to announce a new partnership with AmericanTours International (ATI) to drive increased domestic and international travel to the South.   ATI is North America’s leading accommodation and service provider, offering preferred rates at more than 25,000 properties. Their team of experienced buyers negotiates exclusive rates in North America’s most popular destinations, and in areas where availability is typically scarce, such as National Parks, National Seashores and smaller communities. ATI also offers discounted and commissionable rates at a broad array of specialty lodgings, including short-term stay apartments, vacation rentals, houseboats, ranches and luxury camping accommodations. More than a bed bank, ATI provides clients with the lowest rates while supporting the global agent community as a full-service tour operator.   Travel South’s new campaign will harness ATI’s proprietary DriveAmerica™ platform to drive inbound tourism to the southern states by targeting ATI’s extensive base of commercial travel partners in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and the EU. The campaign centers on new road trip itineraries that will highlight contracted hotels, restaurants, attractions and guided experiences in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. ATI’s flexible booking system allows travel professionals to customize a road trip from scratch, or to utilize and make desired changes to one of the many recommended DriveAmerica™ itineraries.   “We are thrilled to partner with Travel South USA,” said Nick Henchel, Chief Operating Officer of ATI. “DriveAmerica™ is our newest technology platform, a game changer that delivers inspired itineraries, door-to-door driving instructions with local attractions and activities along the route, and guaranteed hotel accommodations for an entire trip.”   “Partnering with ATI and the DriveAmerica™ platform is a wonderful opportunity to showcase and deliver bookings to the destinations, hotels, attractions and guided experiences across the South,” said Liz Bittner, President & CEO of Travel South USA. “We know that consumers are interested in the authenticity of the South, but in the past have struggled with being able to offer a booking platform for small businesses to tap into the global travel agency marketplace. ATI’s DriveAmerica™ is a key connector for the travel trade to access flexible road trip planning with thousands of commissionable bookings available.”   Travel South’s product development team is working with ATI to secure great offers for agents to share with their customers. Over the coming months, there will be more partners, more hotel and attraction deals, and more outreach to the travel trade around the globe.   “The ROI is a win-win for our trade clients, valued customers and destination partners,” added Bittner. “We love sharing stories that inspire visitation to the authentic South and backing them up with an e-commerce platform that empowers our tour operators and travel trade customers.”   The campaign launched on December 1, 2022, and will run throughout 2023, with a four-month media advertising campaign designed to capture bookings from December through March.   The travel trade campaign is targeting TravelMole Media Group’s 67,000 UK travel agent, tour operator, OTA, etc. subscribers and 115,000 in USA to inform them about the Travel South USA DriveAmerica itineraries and how to sell and book them.

  In America Halloween preparations start at the beginning of 'fall' and begin at least a week before the actual event with trips to the nearest Pumpkin Patch and impressive house decorating commences! Discover the spooky Deep South USA with voodoo, ghost stories and haunted houses all waiting for you, plus the decorations are quite spooktacular too!...   THE WITCH'S GRAVE IN MISSISSIPPI   Yazoo City's Glenwood Cemetery - voted the second spookiest cemetery in the US - holds a grave surrounded by chain links known as “The Witch’s Grave”. According to the legend, an old woman lived on the Yazoo River and was caught torturing fishermen who she lured in off the river. Chased through the swamps where she was half drowned in quicksand, she swore her revenge: “In 20 years, I will return and burn this town to the ground!”...   READ MORE   HOW TO CELEBRATE THE SPOOKIEST DAY OF THE YEAR IN NEW ORLEANS   Second only to Mardi Gras for its dazzling display of fun and finery, Halloween in New Orleans draws thousands to the Quarter for devilish fun while vampires, zombies, ghosts, goblins, and everything else parade up and down Frenchmen Street displaying the city’s legendary wit and creativity in their carefully crafted costumes....   READ MORE   ALABAMA HAUNTED HISTORY TOUR   At Old Cahawba, you don’t have to believe in ghosts to hear the past speaking to you. On this rare, moon lit tour in Orrville, Alabama, you will be shuttled to this ghost town’s most haunted locations. Historical accounts of sightings and personal experiences will be shared by your hosts and if you come in contact with a spirit, then sit around the bonfire afterwards to share your experience....   READ MORE   EXPERIENCE TENNESSEE'S GHOST STORIES AT THESE HAUNTED DESTINATIONS   Shadowy figures in hallways and cell blocks, the legend of the Bell Witch, ghost stories echo from the past in cemeteries, battlefields and historic hotels and communicating with spirits beyond the grave at a séance: these are some of the strange happenings at haunted destinations across Tennessee...   READ MORE

   

     

  Cooler temperatures, colorful leaves and pumpkins galore – fall is here and communities across the state are ready to celebrate. Seasonal festivals and events featuring mouthwatering treats, entertaining performances, fascinating history and beautiful art are held across the Show-Me State.   Augusta Harvest Festival, Sept. 16-17, Augusta. Savor a gourmet picnic at Honey Bee Vineyard to kick off the Augusta Harvest Festival. On Saturday you can participate in a 5K run, watch the parade and sample the wine. Catch the live music and children’s activities, too.   Great Forest Park Balloon Race, Sept. 16-17, St. Louis. Bask in the glow of brightly colored hot air balloons during the evening balloon glow as the festival celebrates its 50th anniversary in Forest Park. During the day, pack a picnic and enjoy live music, parachute team performances and the balloon race launch.   Junk Junktion, Sept. 17-18, Moberly. Peruse the massive vintage market with more than 100 booths to find one-of-a-kind items. If you get hungry while shopping, stop by a food truck for a pick-me-up. This year, the 3 on 3 Gus Macker basketball tournament will also take place during the event.   Shepherd’s PumpkinFest, Sept. 23-Oct. 30, Branson. The squash of the season takes center stage at Shepherd’s PumpkinFest. Pick a pumpkin straight from the patch, hop on a hayride, and try your hand at pumpkin bowling and fall-themed yard games.   Applefest, Oct. 1-2, Weston. Celebrate the season in historic downtown Weston. Applefest starts with a parade filled with antique tractors, classic cars and bands. Art and craft booths showcase homemade items, and several vendors serve up apple pies and dumplings.   Cedar Fest at Big Cedar Lodge, select days Oct. 1-29, Ridgedale. Festive fun awaits at Big Cedar Lodge every Saturday in October. Decorate pumpkins or pottery, ride a mechanical bull, and watch the singin’ jack-o-lanterns come to life after dark.   54^th Annual Heritage Festival, Oct. 8-9, Arrow Rock. Take a trip back in time at one of Missouri’s oldest heritage festivals. Historic reenactments and living history presenters give you a glimpse into what life was like during the town’s early days.   Voices of the Past, Oct. 13-14, St. Joseph. Learn about the fascinating history of St. Joseph through storytelling. Living history characters share the lives of some of the city’s most interesting residents from the past and lead the way to historic Mount Mora Cemetery to see their final resting places.   Sikeston Skelebration, Oct. 15, Sikeston. Ghouls and goblins are welcome at Sikeston’s very first Skelebration. This trunk-or-treat event is taken to the next level with a bounce house, s’more station, pumpkin painting and a hay ride.   Riverfront Fall Festival, Oct. 22, Cape Girardeau. Families flock to Cape Girardeau’s Riverfront Fall Festival each year for the perfect mix of kid-friendly activities, live entertainment, food and shopping. Don’t miss the theatrical storytelling performance that will wrap up the festival.   Legends & Lanterns, Every Saturday and Sunday in October, St. Charles. Get inspired by Halloweens of years gone by. Part macabre, part fairytale, this popular event has something for everyone. Don’t miss the ghostly guests meandering down Main Street.   Check out the following list to find more fall festivals and events in the Show-Me State:  

Northeast

  Fright Fest at Six Flags, St. Louis – Sept. – Oct. Annual Sip and Savor St. Charles County, St. Charles – Sept. 1 Annual Big River Steampunk Festival, Hannibal – Sept. 2-5 Music at the Market, Washington – Sept. 8, Oct. 13 Sunset on the Rails, Pacific – Sept. 9 Saint Louis Art Fair, Clayton – Sept. 9-11 Music at the Intersection, St. Louis – Sept. 10-11 12^th Annual Doe Camp, Hermann – Sept. 16 Harvest Hootenanny, Hannibal – Sept. 16-17 Wentzville’s Fall Festival, Wentzville – Sept. 16-17 MOSAICS Fine Art Festival, St. Charles – Sept. 16-18 Polocrosse Horse Event, Harris – Sept. 16-18 SmokeFest, Hermann – Sept. 17 Renaissance Festival, Wentzville – Sept. 17-Oct. 23 Sunset on the Riverfront, Washington – Sept. 22 Fall Festival of the Arts & Crafts, Washington – Sept. 23-25 Greater St. Louis Hispanic Festival, Florissant – Sept. 23-25 Saint Charles Oktoberfest, St. Charles – Sept. 23-25 Taste of St. Louis, St. Louis – Sept. 23-25 5^th Annual Pumpkin Fest, Maryland Heights – Oct. 1 Augusta Bottoms Beer Festival, Augusta – Oct. 1 Boo at the Zoo, St. Louis – Oct. 14-30 Seltzerland, St. Louis – Oct. 15 Annual Autumn Historic Folklife Festival, Hannibal – Oct. 15-16 St. Louis Beer Fest, St. Louis – Oct. 22 Boo Bash!, Union – Oct. 28 Pumpkin Glow, St. Charles – Oct. 28-30 Pumpkin Palooza, Washington – Oct. 29 Monster-Fest, Pacific – Oct. 29 Apple Butter Festival, Kimmswick – Oct. 29-30 Booterfly House, Chesterfield – Daily through Oct. 30 Schlafly Full Moon Festival, Maplewood – Nov. 5  

Northwest

  GloWild Lantern Festival, Kansas City – Sept. 1-Dec. 9 Kansas City Irish Fest, Kansas City – Sept. 2-4 Hatch Chile Fest, Kansas City – Sept. 3 Santa-Cali-Gon Days, Independence – Sept. 3-5 Liberty Fall Festival, Liberty – Sept. 23-25 Mug Shots, Excelsior Springs – Sept. 24 Smithville’s Backyard BBQ Bash and Junkville Market, Smithville – Sept. 24 91^st Annual Plaza Art Fair, Kansas City – Sept. 24-25 Lee’s Summit Chamber Oktoberfest, Lee’s Summit – Sept. 24-25 Missouri Town 1855 Fall Festival of Arts, Crafts and Music, Lee’s Summit – Oct. 1 Oktoberfest Live!, Kansas City – Oct. 8 Annual Gumbo Festival, Kansas City – Oct. 9 Ghost Tales of Weston, Weston – Oct. 14-15, 21-22, 28-29 Cornucopia, Kansas City – Oct. 14-16 Brew at the Zoo, Kansas City – Oct. 15 AKMA After Hours: Witches Brew Edition, St. Joseph – Oct. 25 Tricks and Treats, Kansas City – Oct. 29 Witch Way to the Wine, Excelsior Springs – Oct. 29 Weston Whiskey Festival, Weston – Nov. 5 Weston Hospitality Showcase, Weston – Nov. 19  

Central

  Railroad Day Celebration, Crocker – Sept. 3 2^nd Annual Wiener Nationals, Moberly – Sept. 4 Randolph County Old Settlers Reunion, Huntsville – Sept. 8-10 Hillbilly Daze, Richland – Sept. 10 Lake of the Ozarks Air Show, Camdenton – Sept. 10 Patriot Day Festival, Waynesville – Sept. 10 16^th Annual Lake of the Ozarks BikeFest, Lake of the Ozarks – Sept. 14-18 Dixon Cow Days, Dixon – Sept. 16-17 Warsaw Junk Market, Warsaw – Sept. 17 Annual Heritage Festival & Craft Show, Columbia – Sept. 17-18 Extremicon, St. Robert – Sept. 17-18 Historic Homes Tour, Jefferson City – Sept. 17-18 Lincoln Balloon Glow, Lincoln – Sept. 17-18 Hogs & Frogs Festival, Waynesville – Sept. 23-25 Tebbetts Picnic & Muttonfest, Tebbetts – Sept. 23-25 Cole Camp Oktoberfest, Cole Camp – Sept. 24 Harvest Hootenanny, Columbia – Sept. 24 Oktoberfest in Old Munichberg , Jefferson City – Sept. 24 Sip & Stroll, Arrow Rock – Sept. 24 Porchfest JCMO, Jefferson City – Oct. 2 Roots N Blues Festival, Columbia – Oct. 7-9 Annual Fall Craft Fair, St. Robert – Oct. 8 Battle of the Bands, Waynesville – Oct. 8 Fall Harbor Hop, Lake of the Ozarks area – Oct. 8 Osage Beach Fall Festival, Osage Beach – Oct. 8 Big BAM (Bicycle Across Missouri), Clinton – Oct. 9-14 Route 66 Challenge, Pulaski County – Oct. 15 Fall Food Truck Festival, Laurie – Oct. 15-16 Warsaw/Kaysinger Heritage Days, Warsaw – Oct. 15-16 Wine Stroll, Clinton – Oct. 22 Central Missouri Renaissance Festival, Kingdom City – Oct. 22-23 Halloween Spooktacular Event, Arrow Rock – Oct. 28 Peace, Love and Halloween, Sedalia – Oct. 29 Warsaw Halloween Hoopla, Warsaw – Oct. 29 Cole Camp Pumpkin Fest, Cole Camp – Oct. 29-30 Frightfully Fun Family Night, Lincoln – Oct. 31 Military History Appreciation Weekend, Jefferson City – Nov. 5-6  

Southeast

  Fall Muster: Living Demonstration, Cape Girardeau – Sept. 3-5 2022 SEMO District Fair, Cape Girardeau – Sept. 10-17 Sainte Genevieve Oktoberfest, Ste. Genevieve – Sept. 17-18 East Perry Fair, Altenburg – Sept. 23-24 Cape Comic Con, Cape Girardeau – Sept. 30-Oct. 2 23^rd Annual Tour de Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau – Oct. 1 Cotton Ramble Bike Ride, Sikeston – Oct. 8 Oktoberfest, Sikeston – Oct. 8 Old Iron Works Festival, St. James – Oct. 8 Saxon Fall Festival, Frohna – Oct. 8 Hafftoberfest, Poplar Bluff – Oct. 9 Van Buren Fall Festival, Van Buren – Oct. 9-10 Three Rivers Championship College Rodeo, Sikeston – Oct. 13-15 Butler County Fair, Poplar Bluff – Oct. 28-30 Pecanapalooza, Ste. Genevieve – Nov. 5 Veteran’s Day: Living Demonstration, Cape Girardeau – Nov. 11-12  

Southwest

  Seymour Apple Festival, Seymour – Sept. 8-10 Harvest Festival at Still Waters Resort, Branson – Sept. 8-Oct. 31 14^th Annual Greek Festival, Springfield – Sept. 10 MIDxMidwst, Springfield – Sept. 10-11 Japanese Fall Festival, Springfield – Sept. 9-11 Shepherd of the Hills Fall Craft Festival, Branson – Sept. 9-11 Autumn Daze Arts, Crafts & Music Festival, Branson – Sept. 15-17 8^th Annual MO Food Truck Festival, Springfield – Sept. 17 31^st Annual 1860s Lifestyles Event, Springfield – Sept. 17 Sixth Annual Sunset Soiree, Ozark – Sept. 17 State of the Ozarks Festival, Hollister – Sept. 17 Cider Days, Springfield – Sept. 17-18 13^th Annual Mead Fest, Walnut Grove – Sept. 18 Fiesta Hispana, Springfield – Sept. 18 Silver Dollar City Harvest Festival, Branson – Sept. 21-Oct. 27 2022 Springfield Culturefest, Springfield – Sept. 24 48^th Annual Ozark Arts & Crafts, Ozark – Sept. 30-Oct. 2 The Fall Roundup, Branson – Sept. 30-Oct. 30 Carthage Maple Leaf Festival, Carthage – Weekends in October Rockin’ Roll Bike & Music Fest, Springfield – Oct. 8 Downtown West Plains Fall Block Party, West Plains – Oct. 15 Pets and Pumpkins Family Festival, Springfield – Oct. 22

Targeting Hotelbeds' network of commercial travel buyers in the US, UK, Canada & Germany, and will highlight the South's attractions as a leisure destination.   Hotelbeds, the world’s leading bedbank, today announced a new campaign with Travel South USA to introduce travel advisors to the southern states of the USA and promote both domestic and international tourism. Starting this month, Hotelbeds will launch the campaign with Travel South USA focused on its extensive network of travel advisors in the US, United Kingdom, Canada and Germany, to promote the many authentic destinations included in the promotion. In doing so, Hotelbeds aims to showcase the wide range of tourist attractions that the southern places have to offer, from beaches to mountains; from activity to leisure; from big cities to small towns, that can be enjoyed at any time of the year. Following the success of the 2020 campaign in cooperation with Travel South USA, this year's campaign will feature nine (9) states and fourteen (14) cities in the southern United States. Each destination will provide a unique and diverse experience for leisure tourists. The marketing campaign will be promoted through the company's two main distribution channels Hotelbeds (for wholesale distribution) and Bedsonline (for retail travel advisors). Joseph Sheller, Head of Global Destination Marketing at Hotelbeds, said: “After a very successful co-operated domestic campaign with Travel South USA, that included 9 participants, we are expanding the footprint for this campaign. Now we have 23 destinations that will be participating, and the timing could not be better with the recent announcement of EU travel into the United States. I want to thank all the participating destinations from Travel South USA who was instrumental in facilitating and coordinating this effort.” Liz Bittner, president & CEO, Travel South USA, added: “Partnerships are key-value and imperative for the Travel South USA group of states and city partners, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the extraordinary results from our Hotelbeds strategic partnership. “The campaign in 2020 helped many destinations stay afloat, and based on our early successes, we have launched a new and expanded campaign. Over the coming months, we have more partners, more hotel and attraction deals, and more outreach to the travel trade around the globe. The ROI is a win-win for our trade clients, valued customers, and destination partners. We love telling stories that inspire a visit to the Authentic South and backing it up with an e-commerce platform protecting our tour operators and travel trade customers.”   About Travel South USA Travel South USA is America's oldest and largest regional travel promotion organization, formed in 1965. The long-standing regional collaboration of the state tourism offices of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia provides a foundation to positively position tourism as a vital and dynamic element in the region's economic development. In 2019, tourism ranked throughout the region as one of the top three industries, behind manufacturing and agriculture, and was responsible for $133 billion in spending by visitors, generating 1.4 million direct jobs, $30 billion in worker paychecks, and almost $16 billion in state and local taxes. Visit www.TravelSouthUSA.com for consumer information and www.TravelSouthUSA.org for travel industry information. About Hotelbeds Hotelbeds is the world’s leading bedbank. In a fragmented and complex travel landscape, Hotelbeds provides over 180,000 hotel properties across the globe with access to high-value, complementary distribution channels that significantly increase occupancy rates and optimise RevPAR – whilst not competing with the hotelier’s direct distribution strategy. Hotelbeds does this by offering hoteliers access to a network of over 60,000 hard-to-access B2B travel buyers such as tour operators, retail travel agents, airline websites, and loyalty schemes in over 140 source markets worldwide. These channels provide hotel partners with returning guests that book further in advance, cancel less, spend more in-destination and stay longer.   In addition to accommodation, Hotelbeds is also the world’s largest B2B seller of travel ancillaries, offering 25,000 transfer routes and 18,000 activities, as well as attractions, tickets and car hire. Operating under the ‘Beyond the Bed’ product line, it provides both hoteliers and travel distribution partners with an efficient platform and powerful tools to easily integrate and commercialise its leading portfolio of high-margin products. The company is headquartered in Palma, Spain. Hotelbeds Media Contact PR & Media Relations Clara Truyols – [email protected]

Angelica De Stefano Travel South USA [email protected]

Travel South USA is inspiring post-pandemic travel through the launch of its International Showcase later this year, bringing industry professionals together back in New Orleans, Louisiana, for the first time since 2014.   The event, taking place from November 30-December 3, 2021, will connect European, Middle East, Africa and India (EMEAI) tour operators with southern destinations and suppliers. The program will feature the gateway of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the home airport of presenting sponsor Delta Air Lines, and key airports in the South.   Travel South USA teams across the EMEAI region are working together to select international tour operators to participate. Elite international buyers will fly exclusively with Delta Air Lines and visit the southern region to experience its famous hospitality. A specialized program has been created exclusively for the buyers featuring presentations by state tourism offices, selected appointment scheduling, and access to all marketplace functions and social networking opportunities. New buyers provide growth opportunities for southern destinations and connect people to generate tourism revenue.   “It has been a tough 18 months of the pandemic but we believe there is no time like the present to host select international tour operators and journalists at the upcoming International Showcase and prove we are open and ready with safety protocols for global business and leisure travelers,” said Liz Bittner, president & CEO, Travel South USA.   As global travel slowed, airports across the South continued their expansion and modernization projects. The new investments at Atlanta airport (ATL) continue to make international travel safe and efficient, while specialty restaurants, high-tech plug-ins for electronics, new signage, kiosks, and baggage systems are ready as international travelers return. More than a billion dollars of infrastructure and investments have been made at airports in New Orleans (MSY), Memphis (MEM), Nashville (BNA), Lafayette (LFT), and Birmingham (BHM) combined. Travel via these airports will be included in pre and post familiarization tours for delegates attending the International Showcase.   About Travel South USA Travel South USA is America’s oldest and largest regional travel promotion organization, formed in 1965. The long-standing regional collaboration of the state tourism offices of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia provides a foundation to positively position tourism as a vital and dynamic element in the region’s economic development.   In 2019, tourism ranked throughout the region as one of the top three industries, behind manufacturing and agriculture, and was responsible for $133 billion in spending by visitors, generating 1.4 million direct jobs, $30 billion in worker paychecks, and almost $16 billion in state and local taxes. Visit TravelSouthUSA.com for consumer information and TravelSouthUSA.org for travel industry information.   Angelica De Stefano Travel South USA +1 404-231-1790 email us here

At the recent Travel South Ultimate Ad Challenge, southern state tourism offices gathered to hear pitches from print and digital marketing companies, including Bandwango, the Utah-based technology company. Bandwango presented a unique offering for the state tourism offices gathered - a discounted license that would enable the states to craft check-in challenge style passports built around a theme or set of attractions.   "The day of the Travel South Ad Challenge was one of the most exciting days in Bandwango history," Monir Parikh, CEO of Bandwango, said. "We have been absolutely thrilled by the ideas these clients have brought to the table, and we're looking forward to long partnerships with each of them. These passports are just the beginning!"   Alabama Tourism, Kentucky Tourism, Louisiana Office of Tourism, Missouri Division of Tourism, Tennessee Tourism, West Virginia Tourism, Visit North Carolina, South Carolina Tourism Department, and Visit Mississippi, are planning the most creative collection of passes I have ever seen, shared Liz Bittner, President & CEO. These unlimited passes offer the consumer an easy digital way to connect and receive info about the fascinating, quirky, beautiful, remote, one-of-a-kind places and activities that make the South like nowhere else in the world. This type of collaboration on programming offers state tourism offices to co-op regional marketing promotions and leverage their buying power with particular attention to small towns, undiscovered areas, and off-the-beaten-path places.   Three states have already launched their first passports with Bandwango: Kentucky Tourism, Louisiana Office of Tourism, and Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.   Kentucky Tourism's Parks Pass launched in August 2021 and features 44 state parks and 8 National Park properties. The pass is gamified and encourages all pass holders to check in to win various prizes! Passholders who check in to 5 parks will receive a koozie or pair of sunglasses, while those who check-in at all locations will receive a branded t-shirt and be entered in to win the Ultimate Park Prize package. This package includes a Kentucky State Park Overnight, a $100 State Parks Gift Card, plus an adventure prize package including a kayak, paddle, and life jacket.   Louisiana's Office of Tourism crafted their "The Unusual is Our Usual Pass" to support their existing brand campaign by the same name. The passport features check-in points that celebrate the weird, kooky and out-there places Louisiana is best known for - including the Castle Tree and the Haunted Gothic Hanging Jail. Passholders who check in to 8 locations win a mystery prize!   Tennessee's Department of Tourist Development is using the Bandwango platform to take their Ken Burns' Country Music Passport | TN Vacation digital. In previous years, the initiative leveraged paper passports to guide visitors along the pathway.   West Virginia's Department of Tourism will be utilizing Bandwango to spotlight the state's 20+ waterfalls. Alabama is curating their state-wide attraction pass. Both states along with passes for the Missouri Division of Tourism, Visit Mississippi, Visit North Carolina, and South Carolina Tourism are expected to launch in Winter and early Spring 2022.   About Bandwango Bandwango (www.bandwango.com) is a technology company based out of Murray, Utah, with more than 250 Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), Convention & Visitor Bureau (CVB) and other clients across the United States and Canada. Bandwango's signature product, the Destination Experience Engine (DXE), enables clients to curate free and paid experiences into passports, trails, and marketplaces designed to deliver the best tickets, tours, and savings to locals and visitors alike. DXE is an end-to-end solution that combines anywhere, merchant and inventory management, redemption technology, white-labeled mobile web application delivery, customer service, managed accounting, and true economic impact data to provide a seamless solution to destination marketing organizations, associations, and other industry partners.   About Travel South USA Travel South USA is America's oldest and largest regional travel promotion organization, formed in 1965. The long-standing regional collaboration of the state tourism offices of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia provides a foundation to positively position tourism as a vital and dynamic element in the region's economic development. In 2019, tourism ranked throughout the region as one of the top three industries, behind manufacturing and agriculture, and was responsible for $133 billion in spending by visitors, generating 1.4 million direct jobs, $30 billion in worker paychecks, and almost $16 billion in state and local taxes. Visit www.TravelSouthUSA.com for consumer information and www.TravelSouthUSA.org for travel industry information.