Brand USA concluded its 11th India Sales and Media Mission from January 20-22, 2025, at The Taj Krishna in Hyderabad. This year’s mission was led by Fred Dixon, President and CEO of Brand USA, who was accompanied by six other CEOs representing USA destinations and a luxury receptive agency.
Simon Brooks, President of Bonotel, John Percy, President and CEO of Destination Niagara USA, Doug Bourgeois, Assistant Secretary of Tourism, Louisiana Office of Tourism, Martha Sheridan, President and CEO of Meet Boston, Todd Davidson, Chief Executive Officer, Travel Oregon, and Liz Bittner, President and CEO, Travel South USA were present in the CEO mission.
Angie Briggs, Senior Vice President, Industry Partnerships and Engagement and Chief Development Office; Chris Heywood, Senior Vice President, Public Relations and Chief Communications Officer; and Jackie Ennis, Vice President, Global Trade Development, were other senior Brand USA executives at the mission.
A delegation of 48 USA tourism companies and 67 U.S. exhibitors participated in the mission, engaging with 123 senior Indian decision-makers from the travel trade and media.
Other events around this mission included speaker sessions with experts who addressed the international attendees on topics relevant to the Indian travel market.
2.19 million arrivals from India to USA
In 2024, the USA saw 2.19 million arrivals from India, a 24.3 percent increase from 2023, ranking second for overseas arrivals excluding Canada and Mexico and fourth for total international arrivals to the USA in 2024.
“We are extremely pleased to see strong arrival numbers from India to the USA, validating our past efforts and reaffirming our commitment for the future. As one of our top overseas markets, we are extremely bullish on Indian visitor arrivals and are committed to building stronger partnerships. The Brand USA India Sales and Media Mission and the meetings that the delegates had, are very crucial in building and expanding opportunities for USA travel companies and destinations, paving the way for stronger connections, increased travel, and collaborations,” said Fred Dixon, President and CEO of Brand USA.
Flight connectivity between the two countries is also expected to increase. Air India currently operates nonstop passenger flights to five key US cities: Chicago, Newark, New York, San Francisco, and Washington Dulles.
The airline also introduced its new wide-body flagship, the Airbus A350, on the Delhi-New York and Delhi-Newark routes, showcasing its deluxe offering on ultra-long-haul routes. Additionally, many European and Southeast Asian carriers have expanded one-stop operations to the USA via their respective hubs in Europe and Asia.
