‘New’ business is healthy
THE 23rd staging of the Discover New England (DNE) Annual Tourism Summit trade show took place in Falmouth, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, against the backdrop of one of the six member states dropping out of the organisation.
However, despite the absence of Vermont this year, business on the trade show floor at the Sea Crest Hotel was brisk and participants praised the effectiveness of three days that showcased the tourism products in the host state along with those of Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine.
The show attracted 300 suppliers who held meetings with 85 international buyers from 15 countries. “It was one of our best shows yet,” said Lori Harnois, Executive Director, Discover New England. “DNE provides the setting for many smaller tourism providers to show off their products in a place where everyone is thinking New England. The people of Cape Cod really put out the welcome mat for us.”
UK tour operators at the show included Titan, America As You Like It and Vacations to America.
Titan’s Jayne White said: “At DNE you get to find out about so many regional products that you don’t see at the bigger shows like IPW.
“Everyone wants to go to New England in the fall – but it is a lot more expensive then and more difficult to get space, so I am trying to develop tours that work well at other times of the year as well.”