Delegates from across New England and international tour operators converged on Burlington in Vermont for t28th annual Discover New England Summit and International Marketplace at the Hotel Champlain.
Melissa May from Ireland participated in the global media forum for the first time, alongside Gaia Guarino from Italy, James Draven from USA, Katie McGonagle and Sophie Dickinson from England and Christiane Flechtner from Germany.
This premier event serves as the only dedicated travel trade show focused on boosting overseas visitor numbers to the six New England states with Vermont hosting for the first time since two thousand and thirteen and providing an ideal platform to showcase its unique attractions to more than sixty international buyers.
The summit combines professional development sessions networking opportunities and one to one marketplace appointments designed to generate new business for tourism operators hotels attractions and receptive agencies aiming to increase inbound travel from key source markets.
Day one opened with a comprehensive welcome and market updates session presented jointly by Discover New England Tourism Economics Brand USA and Expedia Group which highlighted positive trends in international demand for experiential travel authentic destinations and sustainable tourism options across the region.
Attendees heard data indicating steady recovery and growth potential in visitor spending with particular interest noted in nature based activities cultural heritage and outdoor adventures that align strongly with Vermonts strengths in rural landscapes seasonal experiences and community focused offerings. An international media panel followed allowing travel writers and influencers to engage directly with industry representatives and explore storytelling opportunities that could amplify New Englands appeal in overseas publications and digital platforms.
Breakout sessions addressed practical strategies such as igniting digital transformation for tourism operators with interactive discussions on leveraging technology to enhance booking processes personalise visitor journeys and improve marketing reach without significant upfront costs. Participants emphasised the value of collaborative approaches between states and operators to create seamless multi destination itineraries that encourage longer stays and higher expenditure per visitor often measured in the hundreds of euro per trip.
Vermont representatives used the opportunity to promote the states commitment to authentic experiences including farm stays craft trails and eco tourism initiatives positioning the Green Mountain State as a compelling addition to New England packages for European and other long haul travellers.
Organisers reported strong participation with pre summit familiarisation tours already introducing buyers to Boston and Vermont highlights setting the stage for productive appointments in the days ahead.
