The United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) reports the launch of its Travel Together campaign, a curated collection of experiential videos and blog posts. USTOA says it will bring travelers “live like a local” moments that delve deeply into immersive cultural experiences in featured destinations across the globe. It will appeal to the more than 6.5 million people who travel with USTOA tour operator members each year.
“Our tour operator members are uniquely suited to help make bucket-list destinations such as Egypt and South Africa accessible and within reach, and by harnessing local connections and expertise, they create extraordinary opportunities to immerse travelers in local culture and customs,” said USTOA president and CEO Terry Dale. “The Travel Together moments shared are the definition of ‘experiential’ travel.”
Egypt and South Africa are the first Travel Together destinations, in partnership with USTOA members Abercrombie & Kent in Egypt and Collette and Swain Destinations in South Africa, with videos from travel expert and video journalist Kelley Ferro and in-depth blog posts from a team of Ambassadors from AFAR magazine.
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Each shares a number of local connections accessible through USTOA tour operator members that use knowledgeable, on-the-ground experts throughout the destinations, from native Egyptologists to resident guides to artisanal businesses and schools in Soweto and game preserve conservationists locating the “big five” at an animal preserve in South Africa.
Travel Together videos and blog stories can be found at www.youtube.com/user/ustoanyc and www.ustoa.com/blog, as well as www.ustoa.com/travel-together. Consumers can follow the adventures on Twitter by using #traveltogether and joining Facebook chats at www.facebook.com/USTourOperatorsAssoc
“That is really the heart and soul of why we travel: to share experiences with travel companions and make connections with the native people in the local markets, restaurants, museums, sites, and attractions visited,” said Dale.
“Travel Together provides insider looks at travelers sharing singular experiences to meet with shopkeepers, learn how to make native foods, share a meal with a family in their home, see how carpets are woven, explore the backroads and even visit local schools, among so many others, because of the access provided by USTOA members, " Dale said.
As part of the Travel Together launch, USTOA is giving travelers the chance to win a trip for two to England courtesy of Worldwide Traveler and Delta with local experiences such as a private tasting of award-winning Somerset ciders and a visit to the picturesque village of Lacock, the filming location of Harry Potter and Pride and Prejudice.
The six-night trip includes roundtrip coach airfare, transfers, accommodations, scheduled meals, local transportation and tour leader. To enter the sweepstakes, visit http://bit.ly/USTOA-Sweeps.
Following the June launch, videos and blogs about new destinations visited with USTOA tour operator members will be added monthly, which include Australia’s Northern Territory with Goway, Taiwan with Ritz Tours, Croatia with VBT Bicycling & Walking Vacations and Delta, Manitoba with Tauck, and Colombia with Avanti Destinations.