MIAMI: The US Travel Association’s annual International Pow Wow was a great place to pick up the latest news on the international travel industry.
Here are a few disclosures from USTA’s four-day meeting last month in Miami:
• For those in the Gulf traveling to the US: “There are fewer restrictions on visas to the United States, and many more multiple entry visas are being issued,” said Bosco Rodriques, a repeat delegate of POW WOW who serves as the area sales manager for British Midland (bmi) Airways in Jeddah. “At bmi, we are hopeful that the opening of the new US consulate in Jeddah will soon result in the improvement of the process of getting an American visa.”
• British airways will launch daily, non-stop service beginning October between London Heathrow Airport and Las Vegas, Nevada.
“The Las Vegas service will be British Airway’s 19th city in the US with daily flights to the United Kingdom,” said Derrick Surratt, Regional Sales Director of British Airways.
• Walt Disney Parks and Resorts has purchased 15 acres of land overlooking the Potomac River for $11 million. The property is located in National Harbor, Maryland, near Washington D.C. Disney is considering using the land to develop a resort hotel, which would be separate from the Disney theme parks. A similar resort hotel is currently under construction on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.
• Universal Studios has decided to add a new “4-dimensional” thrill ride to its Hollywood Studio Tour in summer 2010 based on the beloved screen characters, King Kong.
The new King Kong attraction combines light, movement, aromas, and splashing water, with the world’s largest Surround Digital projection system.
