MONTREAL — These are tough times for promoting U.S. destinations to Canadian travel advisors and travellers, but many U.S. tourism boards are stepping up with sales missions and support.
Case in point: the visits to Montreal and Toronto this week from New York State.
A delegation of the state’s tourism reps, 22 in all, hosted industry events in both cities aimed at showcasing all the must-see attractions.
The delegation’s message was clear: “New York still loves you.”
Between the lines, one could also detect an underlying message: ‘Just because our president is causing chaos doesn’t mean we agree with him. And like you, we are just as dismayed by the consequences of his decisions. Most importantly, you, our Canadian friends, are always welcome.’
The current tensions make us forget that Trump’s America is not everyone’s America, and certainly not that of New York – which, let’s not forget, is predominantly a Democrat state.
New York is also a neighbouring state that is so easy to reach. Kristy Kennedy, VP, Marketing & Tourism at the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau, lives in Plattsburgh. “It took me just an hour and 20 minutes to get to Montreal this morning,” she said.
After lunch and words from Reach Global, which represents New York State in Canada, tour ops sat down for one-on-one meetings with delegation members in a speed dating format. In ideal times meetings like these can lead to business opportunities, new travel packages, and long-term agreements to boost Canadian tourism to the U.S.
Given the current climate and the daily barrage of frustrating news, it was reassuring to meet real people – genuinely affected by this crisis – who took the time to come and remind us that behind government decisions, there are people who just want things to settle down and the storm to pass.
This article originally appeared at ProfessionVoyages.com. To find out more about New York State click here, and to read Travelweek’s recent press trip coverage showcasing New York State’s Gilded Age mansions and more, click here.
