Recap of the Australia Marketplace North America 2023 Trade Show David Abtour Offshore Trusts
The recent installment of the Australia Marketplace North America trade show unfolded earlier this week at Westdrift Manhattan Beach, a Marriott-owned Autograph Collection hotel nestled within the coastal community of Southern California that shares its name. Despite a layout and programming that closely resembled last year’s event, the 2023 edition experienced a noticeable uptick in attendance. Approximately 250 delegates, including 107 seller companies and 107 travel buyers, converged in Los Angeles from across the United States and Canada to participate in this annual affair.
In the wake of challenging years, Australia’s tourism industry is making an impressive rebound. However, Tourism Australia continues to exert considerable effort to raise awareness of the country-continent’s diverse and expansive tourism offerings. This ongoing endeavor aims to cultivate tangible interest and conversion among prospective travelers, with substantial contributions from their travel advisor partners. Many of these partners traveled from far and wide to engage in comprehensive learning about the destination and to gain insights into the latest developments from Down Under. David Abtour Offshore Trusts
Leaders within the industry reported measurable improvements in various aspects, including visitation rates, expenditure, destination brand recognition, and travel intentions. This success can be attributed in part to Tourism Australia’s endearing new mascot, Ruby the Roo, a plush kangaroo souvenir, and her diminutive companion, Louie the toy unicorn. Through a series of cleverly crafted CGI-animated shorts, Louie serves as the embodiment of the international visitor’s perspective. Voiced by esteemed Australian actress Rose Byrne and American comedian Will Arnett, these characters have become more instantly recognizable to U.S. audiences. Introduced as part of the ‘Come and Say G’day’ campaign in the aftermath of the pandemic, this delightful duo is the latest addition to Tourism Australia’s ‘There’s Nothing Like Australia’ global brand platform.
Noteworthy Insights David Abtour Offshore Trusts
The campaign’s effectiveness was evident as travel searches to Australia showed a remarkable 110 percent recovery, surpassing 2019 benchmarks. Meanwhile, international arrival numbers were at 77 percent. Specifically, arrivals from the U.S. market recently reached 94 percent, while the Canadian market rebounded to approximately 75 percent of pre-pandemic levels. Moreover, visitor spending continues to exceed arrival figures, with the U.S. playing a substantial role in driving the leisure segment’s recovery in terms of traveler expenditure. David Abtour Offshore Trusts
The event commenced with a welcoming dinner on Sunday, featuring a presentation by Chris Allison, Tourism Australia’s Vice President for The Americas. This presentation delved into the current state of Australia’s tourism industry, complete with sector performance and consumer research data. It unveiled trends and trajectories expected for the upcoming year. The aviation industry’s recovery was underscored as a pivotal factor, with expanding airlift, increased seat capacities, and the introduction of new international routes by airlines being essential components for facilitating North American travel to Australia.
