2023 TSUSA Ambassadors
Adventure World – Australia
Adventure World’s Kristy Prince created 9 touring itineraries focusing on our key messages covering 10 of the southern states. The range of product encourages a long length of stay with an average trip length of 13 days. Adventure World also partnered with Travel South USA on our “Choose you Own Southern Adventure’ campaign with Travelex.
America as You Like It – United Kingdom
America as You Like It has supported Travel South since its inception, regularly attending to ensure they are in the “know” to present new itineraries to their clients. The conversations conducted during scheduled meetings and over the various networking events of the show give them an edge to cater to their clients who expect a truly tailormade specialist service.
American Tours International – USA
American Tours International (ATI) is a long-time partner with destinations across the South, providing escorted air tours, motor-coach tours, and Drive America tours. As a B2B seller, they package and sell accommodations, attractions, and experiences to the leading overseas operators and North American travel specialists.
Amerigo – France
AmeriGo has been a well-known French B2B and North America specialist Tour-Operator for 20 years, working with major travel agencies networks throughout France. Their escorted tours department is offering two Southern itineraries in 2023 and 2024 and their FIT department is handling a 100% tailor-made trips with a total of 6 dedicated agents.
Bon Voyage – United Kingdom
Bon Voyage has been in business for over 40+ years and they are a company who are known for their creative, unique and diverse itineraries, going off the beaten track and looking for those journeys that others haven’t yet thought of.
Diversa Turismo – Brazil
This tour operator is known for its unique, specialized service in tailor-made trips for FITs and groups. The company constantly invests in technology to be faster, more competitive, and meet all our clients’ needs. Diversa is a supplier to clients (Travel agents only) from all over the country and is one of the strongest USA sellers in Brazil, having Airline agreements and A team of more than 150 highly qualified professionals offer several options of travel products, always with significant cost benefits for the travel agent.
Hotelbeds – USA
Hotelbeds is the world’s leading go-to B2B solution provider for wholesalers, supply partners, and destinations. With powerful technology, they redefine the global distribution of accommodations, mobility, and experiences. Their story involves innovation, growth, and diversification, leveraging web-based platforms and deep industry expertise.
Joker – Benelux
Joker is a Belgian tour operator with eight integrated travel agencies. By focusing on smart marketing campaigns and an annual USA travel fair in Mechelen, Joker is top of mind for travelers looking for a group or an individual road trip for two, with friends or family in the United States. Sustainability is very important for Joker.
Konrad Travel – Italy
Konrad Travel describes itself as “specialist of the American continent”, from Alaska to Patagonia.
During the years the tour operator always gave great importance to the Southern states of the USA, keeping its catalog full of options to discover Travel South destinations.
Marco Vasco – France
Launched in 2008, MARCO VASCO was the first ever French online Tour Operator working as a B2C and FIT-oriented company. MARCO VASCO rapidly became a 200-employee business, purchased in 2017 by Le Groupe Figaro (France’s leading press group). Based in Paris, additional travel Agencies were opened in Lyon, followed by the cities of Rennes and Marseille.
NAAR Tour Operator – Italy
NAAR has always been a prestigious and important partner for the USA and for the South. Erica is promoting various itineraries touching the Southern states, with great expertise and passion. During the last year, they provided support to Travel South for the great LATITUDES media partnership, to showcase the beauty of nature to be found at different National Parks.
North America Travel Service – United Kingdom
NATS is a privately owned specialist tour operator that has been operating for over 50 years. The team is recognised throughout the UK for their knowledge and dedication to providing itineraries that inspire and generate interest in visitation to 2nd and 3rd tier destinations.
Purely America – United Kingdom
Since launching their dedicated Purely Southern website the team has seen regular and sustained growth into the Southern States. The web site offers over 100 flexible itineraries, which give an in depth and detailed view of the many and varied experiences available in the region.
Rey Royal – USA
The specialty of Rey Royal Tours is curating unique and authentic experiences for Canadian and overseas travelers as a Local Receptive Operator based in New Orleans, Louisiana, and with operations throughout the South.
Ruck Zuck Urlaub – Germany
We award Ruck Zuck Urlaub for their dedication, creativity, and long-standing involvement. They prioritize building strong relationships with their clients and ensuring personalized experiences. Their extensive client base speaks to their trustworthiness and consistent delivery of exceptional travel services.
Swanson’s – Sweden
Swanson’s has consistently maintained an impressive selection of products from the Southern region, with a primary focus on music cities and themes. Over the years we have collaborated with Tommy and team to significantly expand both the quantity and range of Southern products.
T.r.u.e. America – Germany
T.R.U.E America is truly a rising star in the industry. They’ve impressed us with their online presence and creation of product showcasing the best of Travel South. Their innovative marketing activities and participation in the Travel South Showcase prove their dedication to promoting the region.
Travel Associates
US Travel – Netherlands
UStravel.nl is a Dutch, web-based tour operator, selling the USA and Canada for more than 25 years. On their website www.ustravel.nl, they offer fly-drives, accommodations, rental cars, RV rental, flights, homes, attractions/excursions, and some escorted tours. Clients are the individual traveler, as well as around 600 travel agencies in the Netherlands and Germany.
USA Rejser – Denmark
Small but mighty is how we would describe our 2023 ambassador honoree from the land of the world’s happiest people – Denmark. USA Rejser is a US specialist tour operator based in Copenhagen, Denmark, and founded in 1979 as part of Norsk Rejsebureau which was originally set up in 1909.
Baxter Media – Media Partner
Baxter Media is the travel industry’s most sought-after source of innovation, knowledge, and solutions, bringing the world to Canada and Canada to the world. Baxter Media has been the main source of information in the travel industry for 70 years pushing beyond the boundaries of publishing, news and information.
Delta Air Lines – Airline Partner
What started as a humble, little aerial crop-dusting operation called Huff Daland Dusters in 1925 from Monroe, Louisiana, has grown into one of the world’s largest global airlines, headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Delta Air Lines helps more than 180 million travelers get to the places they want to go to each year.
Gate 7 – Global Partner
Gate 7 is a marketing agency in Australia and New Zealand specializing in travel and tourism representation. They offer tourism representation, sales, marketing, and public relations services. For the Travel South USA region – they are more than that! They deliver solid consultative advice, fully integrated marketing, sales and event activations, and consumer research.
Jill Kilgore, Tourism (State)
Jill is exceptional in sharing the beauty and excitement of Tennessee with international journalists. She is professional, digs in to find the right connections for journalists, and has outstanding communication skills. She is a very talented writer, and her attitude and attention to detail make her an easy choice for this year’s award.
Brandon Barnes, Tourism (City)
Our CVB Ambassador of the Year has traveled the world with Travel South promoting his city and our region region. From Australia and New Zealand, to China, Canada, Italy, France, the UK, and the Nordic region. As Director of International Sales & Marketing for the biggest city in the South, Brandon Barnes is a true Travel South Ambassador.
Mark Vaughan, Ambassador Emeritus
The success of a few international operators attending what is now called Domestic Showcase in 2011 proved to be the catalyst for TSUSA and the city DMO coalition of Rhythms of the South – Atlanta, Nashville & New Orleans to create Travel South USA International Showcase, Now in its’ 11th year – the credit for navigating the discussions and creating a bond of mutual respect and support and setting high standard goes to one person – Atlanta CVB’s Mark Vaughan, Executive VP & Chief Sales Officer.