Brand USA Talks Travel

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.