Published on Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Great Lakes USA Expands with New Members

The Great Lakes USA has expanded its membership and welcomed Visit Pittsburgh and Experience Columbus as partners into the consortium, underlining the region's continued commitment to the UK and Irish markets. The additional funds from the partners will enable Great Lakes USA to enhance its sales and marketing programmes to drive international traffic into the six member states for 2020.

Pittsburgh is situated in western Pennsylvania and is known for its sports, as home to three professional teams - the football team Steelers, hockey team Penguins and baseball team the Pirates. The Andy Warhol Museum has the largest collection of Warhol art and archives in the world and the city has many fun-filled family attractions including The Carnegie Museum of Art, the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.

Columbus is Ohio's capital and its blend of unique neighbourhoods, dynamic nightlife, noteworthy music scene, arts, events, culinary experiences, attractions and accommodations are all made unforgettable by the diversity of its outgoing locals who warmly welcome visitors. It also has an impressive brewery scene with nearly 50 breweries, including the US headquarters of Scottish company Brew Dog.

Toby McCarrick, Executive Director of Great Lakes USA has said: "The expansion of members helps to expand our budgets for international marketing as well as our commitment to supporting the UK and Irish travel trade.

'The new Aer Lingus flight into Minneapolis this year and the increased product demonstrates continued consumer demand into the region."

The Great Lakes consortium exists to promote international tourism to the area and the current member states are Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin. The Great Lakes Preferred Partner Programme allows destinations and attractions within each member state to be part of the international tourism effort and participate in sales missions, trainings, roadshows and events; there are 22 total members currently.

Great Lakes USA will be at World Travel Market on stand NA260.