Brand USA has named 30 Australian and New Zealand travel advisors to its 2026 Ambassador Program, with Qantas signing on as the exclusive airline partner for the region.
Twenty-two Australian and eight New Zealand travel advisors make up the new cohort, forming part of an expanded Global Ambassador Program that will appoint 250 Global Travel Trade Ambassadors worldwide in 2026 to mark America’s 250th anniversary.
The initiative follows an inaugural Australia and New Zealand pilot in 2025 and has now rolled out across key international markets. Over the next 12 months the ambassadors take part in destination training, partner events and immersive educational trips across the United States.
The program also opens access to Brand USA’s trade resources, including the Get Facts. Get Going. toolkit for the latest visa and entry information and the America the Beautiful planning suite of itineraries and trip-planning tools.
Who made the 2026 cohort?
The Australian ambassadors are:
- Hayley Maree Lyson (italktravel)
- Lauren Zanesco (iTravel)
- Elyse Palmer (Travel Managers)
- Mel Sherry (MTA)
- Allirra Franks (Helloworld)
- Michelle Pelley (Travel Managers)
- Melanie Evans (Travel Associates Mosman)
- Bianca Douglas Watt (Stage and Screen)
- Kelly Chapman (Everything Travel)
- Jade Garlick (Roast and Roam).
- Kat Chatfield (Helloworld Everton Hills)
- Brayden Kemble (Helloworld Gladstone)
- Fiona Gent (MTA)
- Stacey Brooke Martin (Destinations Designed)
- Clare Dos Santos (Clare Dos Santos Travel)
- Lisa Trestrail (RAA)
- Zoe Mashford (RAA Travel)
- Cara Buhagiar (Helloworld Templestowe)
- Lauren Perrow (MTA)
- Jessica O’Grady (Travel Associates)
- Abby Pezze (Travel Associates)
- Brittany Mason (Mr Chocolate’s Travel)
The NZ ambassadors are:
- Swapnil Bhate (Flight Centre NZ)
- Holly Cliffe (House of Travel Auckland City NZ)
- Tori Melody Taiaroa (House of Travel Devonport NZ)
- Kimberley McCormick (House of Travel Botany Junction NZ)
- Yvette Dyer (Travel Managers Group NZ)
- Fiona Muir (House of Travel NZ)
- Abbie Bluck (Helloworld Mt Maunganui NZ)
- Leonie Paul (House of Travel NZ)
Why the timing matters
The U.S. remains one of the top 10 outbound destinations for Australian travellers, and 2026 lands amid a busy calendar of sporting and cultural events drawing Aussies stateside.
Brand USA senior vice president, global markets and chief trade and product development officer Malcolm Smith said the response had been strong.
“The response to Brand USA’s Global Ambassador Program reflects the incredible enthusiasm travel advisors have to connect international travelers with the United States,” he said.
“The volume and quality of applications exceeded our expectations, and it was inspiring to see how many U.S. specialists are committed to growing their destination knowledge while helping elevate the industry around them.”
Brand USA senior director, global trade development (APAC) Suzy Shepard congratulated the cohort.
“We’re thrilled to welcome 30 outstanding travel advisors to this year’s Australia and New Zealand Ambassador Program as it expands globally,” she remarked.
“Our ambassadors are passionate advocates for the USA, and we look forward to working with them over the next 12 months to inspire more Australians and New Zealanders to discover everything the United States has to offer.”
Qantas on board
Qantas has joined the program as the exclusive airline partner for Australia and New Zealand, supporting it over the next 12 months through destination education, collaboration and advocacy.
The carrier operates up to 40 flights per week between Australia and the U.S, serving Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Dallas Fort Worth and Honolulu, with new services to Las Vegas launching in December 2026.
Project Sunrise is also set to introduce direct flights from Sydney to New York and London for the first time in 2027.
How the trade can get involved
Brand USA will host a Sydney Agent Training Event on Tuesday, 4 August 2026, from 6pm to 9pm at Universal Sydney Super Club to mark the launch.
Registration for the Sydney Agent Training Event and further USA travel resources are available through Brand USA’s travel trade portal, TravelTrade.VisitTheUSA.com.
KARRYON UNPACKS: With the USA sitting among Australia’s top outbound markets and a marquee event calendar building toward America’s semiquincentennial, a bigger specialist network and a Qantas tie-up hand the trade a clear line into growing USA demand. For the 30 named advisors, ambassador status is a year of first-hand product knowledge that clients can feel in the sell.
