2008-02-05 - Austin CVB Selects New International Marketing Agency - GHML to Promote Austin Abroad

 

Austin CVB Selects New International Marketing Agency

Global Hospitality Marketing Link to Promote Austin Abroad

Austin, TX - The Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) has selected Global Hospitality Marketing Link (GHML) to promote the Texas capital as a leading leisure and group travel destination for international visitors. GHML is also representing San Antonio, allowing the firm to more comprehensively package Texas as a destination and capitalize on the record number of international visitors Texas has received in the past year.

One of the nation's leading international representation companies, GHML is charged with developing strategies and partnerships to bolster relationships with key European travel partners and trade organizations, especially those based in the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, France and Germany.

According to a 2007 study conducted by Global Insight, Inc., Austin welcomed 1.14 million international visitors who generated $216 million in economic impact in 2006. On a larger scale, the US Department of Commerce announced that international tourism in 2007 rose nearly 10 percent above 2006. Visitation from Western Europe was up 12 percent. Still, there is tremendous untapped potential in expanding and diversifying international tourism, particularly with favorable currency rates and a significant increase in airline capacity from Europe into Texas. In addition, the "Open Skies" agreement between the U.S. and E.U. takes place in March. It is intended to provide airlines with more flexibility and control over their hubs and destinations, as well as lower airfares and raise the number of U.S. airports receiving direct flights from Europe.

With an average total of six weeks of holidays each year, it is common for European visitors to spend 12-14 nights discovering the US. Texas as a whole is gaining popularity, particularly as the European travel market has expanded and many Europeans have already once visited the US. International visitors are passing over first-tier destinations, such as Las Vegas, California, Florida and New York, in favor of unique, second-tier destinations like Austin and San Antonio. GHML positions these Texas cities as easily accessible, authentic cities offering world-class golf, history, music and shopping.

"Global Hospitality Marketing Link has proven itself again and again as the definitive leader in international marketing," says Bob Lander, President and CEO of Austin CVB. "With an increasingly favorable reputation among international visitors, from 'green' initiatives and live music to golf and a rich heritage, Austin and San Antonio are perfectly positioned to appeal to the international market. We expect this to be a terrific partnership that elevates the Texas Hill Country among the top group and leisure travel destinations for Europeans."

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Beth Krauss, 512-583-7210, krauss@austintexas.org

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About Global Hospitality Marketing Link

Based in St. Petersburg, Florida, Global Hospitality Marketing Link was founded in 2005 with the specific purpose of providing cost efficient sales and marketing resources for USA based tourism industry products to effectively target key international markets. With in-market sales offices based in UK/Ireland and Scandinavia, supplemented by affiliate offices in France and Russia, the group enables tourism products a focused sales effort tailored to their individual needs through their experience and network of key travel distribution partners handling outbound business to USA. The group is now recognized as a leading international representation company for USA based tourism products.

For more information, contact Eric Hamblen, Managing Director: ehamblen@globalhml.com, +1-727-254-3033