A Partner You Can Trust

LISA SIMON Executive Director

International Inbound Travel Association

Discover IITA’s leadership role in the inbound sector and the many benefits for members by scanning the code above.

IITA assists its members navigate the logistical, cultural and health challenges international inbound travelers face

AMERICA’S DIVERSITY IN culture, landscape and experiences throughout the country has always made the United States a challenge for international tour operators and travel advisors to navigate. The pandemic has added to the challenge with the inconsistencies in health and safety guidelines/requirements and changes in travel product and service levels. Now more than ever, international buyers need trusted inbound operator partners here in America.

One of the ways for international operators to feel confident in building strong working relationships with U.S. inbound operators is to specifically seek out those who are members of the International Inbound Travel Association (IITA). IITA inbound operator members have expertise in delivering the real, authentic American travel experience, geared for the international traveler, including first-tier gateways as well as the vast and varied destinations stretching the breadth of the country.

Inbound operators also have trusted destination and supplier partners, so they know who “gets it” and where international travelers will be best served. They know the products and destinations that are ready for international visitors and right for specific clients. Having these personal contacts on the ground provides firsthand quality control and assures international buyers that they’re getting products and services that have been personally experienced by professional tour operators.

Inbound operators come in all shapes and sizes and represent different markets and product types – groups, FIT, itineraries or trip components. Regardless of buyers’ needs, inbound operators will provide experiences that the general public cannot get on their own and develop deep personal relationships with their clients.

There are many factors to understand in order to deliver the best possible U.S. travel experience, including specific considerations involving religion, sensitivities, language, timing, food and dining customs. Layer on the health and safety guidelines and best pandemic practices, and it can become insurmountable for the international travel buyer.

IITA inbound operators are key partners for tour operators in defining how international visitors engage with the travel product and how comfortable they feel while visiting the U.S., ultimately defining the overall U.S. travel experience. They are the crucial link between America’s diverse cultural experiences and the logistics of international travel.

IITA inbound operators are partners you can trust. They are unmatched in their knowledge of the industry, trends for inbound visitors and current protocols that make visiting this beautiful country as stress-free as possible.

In this edition of Inbound Insider, you’ll find profiles for IITA member inbound tour operators that serve various markets and types of travelers with an array of products from hotel bookings to full inclusive itineraries. In the following pages, you’ll find a directory of our supplier and destination members too. Page through these sections (page 22) to find the partners that meet your needs.

Safe Travels,

Lisa Simon Executive Director International Inbound Travel Association