Brand USA Talks Travel
This podcast elevates the conversation concerning international travel to the United States by speaking with leaders in the travel industry. Subscribe to hear key answers to timely questions every week. Brand USA is the nation’s destination marketing organization. We work closely with more than 900 partner organizations to invite the world to explore the exceptional, diverse, and virtually limitless travel experiences and destinations available in the United States of America.
Episodes
July 26, 2024 • 12 mins
How should DMOs evaluate artificial intelligence tools? Hear a take from Jason Swick, Vice President of Strategy and Insights at Simpleview. You’ll also get suggestions about using specific prompts for better results, and suggestions about leaders to follow in the AI field so you can continually hear about new developments.
Mark as Played
July 25, 2024 • 23 mins
Keeping employees happy and motivated is complex. Elliott Ferguson and Cambria Jones chat with Mark about attracting and motivating talent, mentorship programs, and setting expectations for advancement. If you’re considering looking for a new job, you’ll also get advice for your next interview interaction. Elliott Ferguson is CEO of Destination DC. Cambria Jones is Vice President of Marketing at SearchWide Global (and we have b...
Mark as Played
July 24, 2024 • 23 mins
If the thought of speaking in front of people fills your stomach with butterflies, you're not alone - take it from Josiah Brown, known as "The New York Sherpa." Josiah shares secrets on becoming a powerful public speaker, and also offers an approach for local advocacy at smaller destinations.
Mark as Played
July 23, 2024 • 21 mins
Embracing accessible and inclusive tourism requires focus, education, and empathy. Marks meets with Sophia Hyder Hock and Rory Archibald to discuss the latest research concerning accessible travel, the necessity of a communication plan, and ideas that will quicken your progression from design to execution. Rory Archibald is Head of Association Sectors and Marketing at Visit Scotland. Sophia Hyder Hock is Chief Inclusion Officer...
Mark as Played
July 22, 2024 • 18 mins
With 25+ years at the same DMO, Deana Ivey demonstrates how to grow as your city expands - plus, we hear about producing large events in-house, working on the set of their movie It All Begins With A Song, and giving a young Taylor Swift her start. Deana Ivey is President and CEO of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation.
Mark as Played
July 19, 2024 • 17 mins
Is there a difference between EDI and DEI? Timothy Bush and Barbara Karasek also discuss education on inclusion, how a destination starts integrating inclusion locally, and details about D.I.’s focus on social inclusion. Barbara Karasek is CEO and Co-Owner of Paradise. Timothy Bush is Chief Marketing Officer at Visit Lake Charles.
Mark as Played
July 18, 2024 • 22 mins
Fact: When constituents value something, it gets funded. In our first D.I. 2024 episode, we explore how to better express value by actively using new metrics and indicators, looking at massive datasets and making better marketing decisions. Ted Sullivan is Chief Marketing Officer at Zartico. Andreas Weissenborn is Vice President of Research and Advocacy at Destinations International.
Mark as Played
July 9, 2024 • 21 mins
Learn about the growth of LGBTQ+ travel market, how destinations can become more welcoming, and the language surrounding identity. Billy Kolber and Ken Porpora are Co-Founders of HospitableMe.
Mark as Played
July 2, 2024 • 15 mins
ESTO is August 11-13 in Columbus, Ohio, and this year's theme is "Ignite Your Spark." Mark is joined by Aimee Misako Gabel and Angie Briggs for a first look at this year's convention, advice for first-time attendees, and tips for maximizing your stay. We also hear from Jody Raida about the upcoming GoUSA TV Storytelling Awards and how destinations can still participate before the deadline to enter.
Aimee Misako Gabel is Senior Vi...
Mark as Played
June 25, 2024 • 16 mins
Having a huge international customer volume enables Nick to observe travel trends from a very unique perspective. Hear about the current state of global travel, with projections for the next few years. We also cover the bankruptcy of Europe’s third largest tour operator and the latest on China - plus, Mark quizzes Nick about other career options he considered outside of the travel industry.
Nick Hentschel is Chief Operating Offi...
Mark as Played
June 18, 2024 • 22 mins
Learn about the secret sauce behind Puerto Rico’s approach to storytelling. Mark also explores the relationship between a CMO and a CEO at a DMO, and you’ll find out about the "United Voices" campaign partnership with Afar. Leah Chandler is Chief Marketing Officer at Discover Puerto Rico.
Mark as Played
June 11, 2024 • 17 mins
DMOs frequently express interest in expanding Sports Tourism. Learn from an expert in both fields who could teach a masterclass in developing the right infrastructure for success. We get a take on building large new sports facilities, and find out when it’s worth taking a chance on sports events that may not produce a profit. David Gilbert is CEO at Destination Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission.
Mark as Played
June 4, 2024 • 18 mins
Will the next big trend in luxury travel be travelers seeking silence, or maybe blink travel?
Tom Marchant, Co-Founder of the Black Tomato Group, shares how luxury travel is being redefined by modern travelers, the value of word-of-mouth publicity, and being named one of the "48 people changing the way we travel" by Condé Nast Traveler.
Mark as Played
May 28, 2024 • 21 mins
Jessica informs us that 97% of travelers want their travel dollars to have a positive impact in the communities they visit. To understand where sustainable tourism is headed, we cover global trends at the intersection of travel, philanthropy, and sustainability. Find out how Kind Traveler works with destinations and hotels. Plus, learn about key factors that travelers utilize in evaluating destinations for sustainability. Jessic...
Mark as Played
May 23, 2024 • 33 mins
Join Chris for a ride in the Brand USA Talks Travel Time Machine as he reflects on challenges and accomplishments during his tenure as CEO. Mark also surprises Chris with comments from friends, who recount inside stories about times together.
If you’re one of Chris’ friends and we didn’t include you on this podcast, we sincerely apologize. Truth is that if we’d contacted all his close pals, the show would have been hours long!
...
Mark as Played
May 22, 2024 • 14 mins
Hear from Kate Fox, Executive Director at the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, on participating in the Media Marketplace at IPW, working with other destinations, and optimism in travel and tourism.
Mark as Played
May 21, 2024 • 21 mins
U.S. destinations can learn something from Tampa, Florida about leveraging unique strengths and partnering with neighboring cities. From their acclaimed airport, to becoming a Michelin Guide city, to the DMO's very own beer & branded scent, Mark has a fun time with Santiago C. Corrada, President & CEO of Visit Tampa Bay – and you will too!
Mark as Played
May 20, 2024 • 15 mins
Mark is joined by Lucio Rossi, a 30-year veteran of Italian travel journalism. Lucio offers his take on Italian perceptions about the United States, the current state of travel journalism in Italy, and promoting visitation to the USA's lesser-known State and National Parks.
Mark as Played
Mark sits down with Audrey and Casey to hear stories about Brand USA's recent MegaFam from Canada. We also get an update about Air Canada and details about Brand USA’s Canada Connect. Audrey Tanguay Beaudette is Air Canada's Manager for Global Sales and Tourism Partnerships. Casey Canevari is Brand USA's Senior Manager for Global Trade Development for Canada.
Mark as Played
May 16, 2024 • 15 mins
Following IPW's much-anticipated tradition of a private Broadway show at lunchtime, Mark sits down with Bob Hofmann to learn about Broadway Inbound’s backstory, and how the organization works with tour operators and travel agents to showcase that "No trip to New York City is complete without Broadway." Bob Hofmann is Vice President of Broadway Inbound at the Shubert Organization.
Mark as Played
Popular Podcasts
The Podium: An NBC Olympic and Paralympic podcast. Join us for insider coverage during the intense competition at the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. In the run-up to the Opening Ceremony, we’ll bring you deep into the stories and events that have you know and those you'll be hard-pressed to forget.
In The Village will take you into the most exclusive areas of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games to explore the daily life of athletes, complete with all the funny, mundane and unexpected things you learn off the field of play. Join Elizabeth Beisel as she sits down with Olympians each day in Paris.
Listen to the latest news from the 2024 Olympics.
The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are here and have everyone talking. iHeartPodcasts is buzzing with content in honor of the 33rd Olympic Games and you can follow Paris Summer Games to stay up to date on all things Olympics. We’re bringing you episodes from a variety of iHeartPodcast shows to help you keep up with the action. Follow Paris Summer Games so you don’t miss any coverage of the 2024 Olympic Games, and if you like what you hear, be sure to follow each Podcast in the feed for more great content from iHeartPodcasts.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.