Six lucky winners from the August East Coast USA sales mission have returned from an 11-day famil exploring the vibrant cities of Boston, Newport, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. Winners Lee-Anne Griffiths (Corporate Travel Management), Natasha Warfield (Travel Associates), Wai Wing (Flight Centre), Luke Watts (Travel Managers) along with Natalie Mersin and Simone Mitchell (Sportslink Travel) were hosted by Meet Boston, Discover Newport, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), The Countryside of Philadelphia, and Destination DC in partnership with Delta Air Lines and Marriott International. Destination DC’s Tourism, sports and visitor services senior vice president, Theresa Belpulsi said, “We were delighted to host this distinguished group of travel trade partners following our August in-market mission.”
“Alongside our esteemed partners, we embraced the opportunity to showcase our diverse offerings and illustrate how our cities seamlessly connect to craft a memorable East Coast USA holiday experience.
“We are genuinely excited about the immense growth potential within the Australian and New Zealand markets and eagerly anticipate welcoming future travel trade and visitors to our region.” The journey began with an opportunity to experience Boston from new heights, with panoramic views from View Boston’s bright new indoor and outdoor observation decks, followed by a city tour and splash in the Charles River with Boston Duck Tours.
A peek inside the beautiful Boston Public Library, a taste of New England at the Boston Public Market, a sunset tour of Fenway Park followed by an evening visit to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, brought the destination’s rich history and culture to life.The charm of Newport was unveiled with a scenic drive along 10-mile Ocean Drive. The group toured The Breakers, the grandest of Newport’s summer “cottages”, and indulged in brunch and tea service at The Chinese Tea House at Marble House.In Philadelphia, the city’s history came to life on a Philadelphia Highlights & Revolution walking tour with WeVenture. The Wonderous Space VIP Event at The Franklin Institute and a captivating Philadelphia Mural Arts Guided Mural Mile walking tour were also highlights.
Our winners were also excited to explore Philadelphia’s lush countryside, where they enjoyed wine tasting at Wayvine Winery, and embarked on a tour and lunch at Longwood Gardens.In the nation’s capital, Washington, DC, the group personalised their experience with visits to the National Air and Space Museum, the U.S. Capitol, and the International Spy Museum. They delved into history with the Georgetown Spy Tour led by SpyGuide followed by brunch at Martin’s Tavern, a Georgetown landmark for almost a century. The excitement of their trip was heightened by attending an NBA game at Capitol One Arena. The group travelled between cities on Amtrak’s Acela train, which offered seamless connections, and enjoyed exceptional hospitality, which included stays at Boston Marriott Copley Place, Westin Copley Place, Newport Marriott Hotel & Spa, Element Philadelphia Downtown, Fairfield Inn & Suites Kennett Square Brandywine Valley and Washington Marriott Georgetown.
