Selling Travel Connect: North America was held on March 17 at The Skyline London. The event attracted 68 travel agents.
The following suppliers were present:
Delta Air Lines
Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines partnership redefines transatlantic travel, flying to over 200 destinations in the U.S. with convenient flight times and connections.
Delta’s fleet of Boeing 767 and Airbus A330 aircraft on UK flights feature a choice of up to four cabin experiences, including the Delta One suite and Delta Premium Select.
Fast, free Wi-Fi, presented by T-Mobile, is being brought to the entire Delta Air Lines global fleet. More than 720 aircraft are equipped with reliable, streaming-quality connectivity and more will come.
Expedia TAAP
Expedia TAAP recently introduced a new payment feature allowing the booking of pre-paid property rates without the need for immediate payment, giving flexibility to pay seven days before the free cancellation date.
Expedia TAAP has one of the world’s largest inventories of accommodation, with over three million properties. Approximately 95% of hotels are directly contracted.
A generous commission structure is available on bookings of properties, car hire, activities and airport transfers. Exclusive trade-only rates have a discount of up to 20% on accommodation. Exclusive wholesale rates across all Marriott, IHG and BWH properties are offered.
Agents can now add an agency service charge to a booking and Expedia TAAP will charge the entire amount to the traveller – not just the published price.
Expedia TAAP has listened to our travel partners’ feedback and is enhancing the booking platform with new shopping experiences and flexible payment options.
Global Hospitality Services (GHS)
GHS has a diverse portfolio spanning major destinations from capital cities to unique resorts, providing travel agents with exclusive access to distinctive properties, competitive rates and tailored experiences for their clients. Whether seeking city hotels, luxury resorts or serviced residences, GHS ensures every traveller finds the perfect stay.
Partnering with over 150 independent hotels worldwide, GHS empowers travel agents with special rates, bespoke packages and global booking solutions. Agents benefit from a dedicated team of industry experts, ensuring access to properties that cater to leisure, corporate and MICE travellers.
In North America, GHS represents a collection of premium independent hotels, offering stays across Canada and the USA, including the luxury of The Godfrey Hotel Chicago, the modern midtown retreat of Pestana Park Avenue New York and the exclusive coastal escape of Fox Harb’r Resort.
GHS continues to expand its reach, offering unparalleled hospitality, exclusive benefits and seamless global booking solutions.
Lubbock and Grapevine
The Grapevine Vintage Railroad resumed operations following its winter break in January. It offers scenic excursions on historic 1920s-era coaches between Main Street and the Fort Worth Stockyards, with themed rides throughout the year.
Lubbock is gearing up for Cotton Fest, a celebration of the region’s cotton heritage featuring local vendors, live music and rodeo events. The 2025 Cotton Fest will be held at Cook’s Garage from June 26-28.
For the latest updates, visit the official websites and follow the social media channels.
visitlubbock.org ; grapevinetexasusa.com
Memphis Tourism
Elvis Presley’s 90th birthday is being celebrated this year in Memphis, Tennessee.
B.B. King’s Blues Club has 100th birthday celebrations planned for the man known as the ‘King of the Blues’.
On September 14, a live music event is planned along Beale Street. On September 18, a ticketed event with food and drink is planned in partnership with the B.B. King Museum and will feature a hologram concert.
The green spaces of Memphis are ideal for enjoying time outdoors. In May, the new Tom Lee Park, overlooking the Mississippi Rover, will host the RiverBeat Music Festival. The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest will also be held in May, as will the new Smokeslam BBQ Festival.
Travellers who enjoy outdoor activities can also canoe on the Mississippi River.
New Mexico
The centenary of the establishment of Route 66 centenary will take place in 2026. New Mexico is home to the longest urban stretch of the Mother Road and is gearing up for a range of celebrations throughout the year. Visit Albuquerque has collated a Route 66 guide.
Several iconic Route 66 motels were recently refurbished, including sister properties El Vado Motel, The Monterey Motel and The Imperial.
Palisociety’s Arrive hotel brand has opened in Albuquerque too.
Agents wishing to learn more about the Land of Enchantment should look out for the module coming soon on Brand USA’s Discovery Program.
Norse Atlantic Airways
Norse Atlantic Airways operates long-haul affordable air travel, allowing passengers to save money on transportation costs to spend on holiday experiences. Norse operate Dreamliner 787s from London Gatwick, its main European hub to destinations including New York, Miami, Orlando, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Norse is now available in the global distribution system (GDS) under the APG airline code A1. Fares with a 90-day before departure ticket time limit are widely available to book from tour operators and consolidator agents. All fares bought in the GDS include a meal and a baggage allowance of one 10kg bag in the cabin and one 23kg bag in the hold.
Norse operates two-cabin aircraft. The 282 Economy seats have a 32-inch seat pitch, and a seatback in-flight entertainment screen for watching movies and ordering additional food and beverages. Norse Premium has the largest seat in its class, with a 43-inch pitch and a 12-inch recline, offering enhanced comfort at affordable fares and representing exceptional value.
Prestige Travel
This trade-friendly company is on hand to curate your clients’ ideal holidays, from Alaska to the Deep South in the U.S. and from the Atlantic to the Pacific in Canada.
The team only promote North America, so you can be assured of speaking to someone committed to delivering the highest level of personal service, exceptional product knowledge gained from personal experiences, and itinerary planning from conception to completion.
Prestige Travel offers a full range of services: transatlantic flights, transfers, accommodation, car or motorhome rental, day excursions, wildlife viewing lodges and exceptional rail journeys.
Tennessee Tourism
Beyond the British Airways direct service from Heathrow to Nashville, Tennessee, 2025 sees two new flights to Nashville International Airport. On April 12, Aer Lingus begins operating its new direct flight from its Dublin hub, which is well connected from across the UK. Similarly, Icelandair will introduce its new service direct from Reykjavik in April.
Tennessee has internationally beloved brands like Dolly, Elvis and Jack. And with the UK and Ireland’s love for music, whiskey and great food, a trip to Tennessee is ideal.
Credited with making country music famous, the Grand Ole Opry is the world’s longest-running live radio show. Based in Nashville, 2025 sees the Grand Ole Opry’s 100th anniversary and a year-long celebration of the artists, fans and music that have created a global phenomenon.
Visit Baltimore
At the heart of the USA’s Capital Region, Baltimore is an authentic American city, combining small-town charm with big-city adventure. Conveniently within driving distance of all major mid-Atlantic cities but without the big city price tag, Baltimore is a perfect addition to an East Coast itinerary and boasts high-end hotels, award-winning restaurants and world-class museums and attractions.
The Baltimore Peninsula, a redevelopment of Port Covington, a former railroad terminal with 2.5 miles of restored waterfront and 40 acres of parks/green space, will include multiple new businesses. Penn Station, the historic Baltimore Penn Station (and the 8th busiest train station in the U.S.), is undergoing a multimillion-dollar revitalisation and expansion.
Last year the ROOST Baltimore and guesthouse by good neighbour opened.
In April, The William Fell, a new luxury hotel at a historic property in Fell’s Point will open.
Visit Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, In western Pennsylvania, is home to an array of arts and cultural offerings, has a burgeoning food scene and a buzzing downtown district. Encompassing over 90 ethnically diverse neighbourhoods, this mid-sized city attracts families and well-travelled visitors. It is the birthplace of the most iconic American artist of the 20th century, Andy Warhol, and the city hosts his museum – the largest in the U.S. dedicated to a single artist.
From March 30, British Airways will fly daily between London Heathrow and Pittsburgh, making the city as accessible as ever. It is ideal for a city break, the starting place for a fly-drive tour of the eastern U.S., or as part of a multi-centre holiday.
From annual festivals such as Picklesburgh, to the 2026 NFL Draft, there are plenty of reasons to visit year-round.
WestJet
WestJet’s Atlantic Canada services have been expanded between May and October.
From London Gatwick, WestJet will operate four weekly flights to St. John’s the provincial capital of Newfoundland and Labrador and three to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Slightly under six hours’ flight time from London, St. John’s is closer to Britain’s capital than to Vancouver, making Canada accessible.
From Edinburgh, WestJet will operate daily service to Toronto, three times a week to Halifax and four times a week to Calgary.
Serving the Calgary routes from London Heathrow and Edinburgh, WestJet’s Boeing 787-900 aircraft feature three cabin classes. All other routes are served on Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft with Premium Economy and Economy cabins.
This summer, WestJet will introduce a new Anchorage to Calgary service, providing a convenient connection for cruise passengers returning to the UK.
From its Calgary hub, WestJet offers connections to over 100 destinations across the Caribbean Mexico and the USA.
Prize-winning travel agents
Travel agents attending Selling Travel Connect events have opportunities to drop their business cards and enter prize draws. At the North America event at The Skyline London, in the Tower Suites by Blue Orchid, the following attendees won prizes:
Daryl Glean from Travel Counsellors (Delta Air Lines); Sue White from Go Travel (Expedia TAAP); Rachel Elston from Hayes Travel (Lubbock and Grapevine); Karen Brooks from Travel Four Seasons (Memphis); Karen Dosremedious from Your Holiday Booking (New Mexico); Gillian Davis from Travel Counsellor (Norse and Gatwick); Darrel Toakley from Darrell James Travel (Prestige Travel); Nick Lee from Not Just Travel (Tennessee Tourism); Debbie Carmichael of Nutzabouttravel (Towersuites); Peter Foster from Those Travel Guys (Visit Pittsburgh) and Rina Patel from Inteletravel (WestJet).
Selling Travel Connect
See the Selling Travel Connect Calendar to find out about planned events and to register. The next one, in London on March 31, will have Australia and the South Pacific as its theme.
We look forward to welcoming you seeing you soon.
