Eloise steps into the spotlight as the only South Australian retail agent on this year’s Brand USA Ambassador Panel. As a senior travel consultant at Flight Centre Australia with nine years’ experience, Eloise is passionate about helping her clients bring their travel dreams to life. A devoted live music fan, one of her most memorable travel experiences was attending Coachella in California in 2017.
Now in her ambassador role, Eloise is excited to share her love for the energy and diversity of travel to the USA. From headline tours like Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter shows, to major events like the Super Bowl and Burning Man, she’s driven to help travellers build U.S. holidays around these iconic events – creating memories that last a lifetime.
What motivated you to apply to be a Brand USA Ambassador?
“When registrations opened to become a Brand USA Ambassador, I jumped at the opportunity. I have loved being able to experience the USA myself, so I was excited to gain further insight into the destination by broadening my knowledge throughout this program. I am very passionate about the USA and what each of the states has to offer, so the opportunity to further assist my customers with the new information I have been learning has been amazing.”
How do you plan to share your USA expertise with your clients and network?
“I’m planning to host and organise a training event in Adelaide for my colleagues and peers to learn more about the USA – more specifically, the training will focus on some of the Southern states beyond the typical gateways. My event will include a mix of product training along with a line dancing lesson which should be engaging and lots of fun for everyone attending.”
What’s the top U.S. destination(s) on your travel wish list?
“So far, I’ve travelled throughout California and down the East Coast of the USA. I’d love to head back and explore the South where they have a big music scene, particularly in states like Tennessee and Texas. I’m also in awe of many U.S. National Parks and I would love to experience them in person, especially Yellowstone National Park which is at the top of my wish list.”
What is something you can only experience in the USA?
“When I travelled to the Grand Canyon in Arizona, I was lucky enough to see snow for the first time while exploring the national park. It was absolutely one of my favourite travel moments. Magical, uniquely American, and definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Travel across the USA is so diverse, what’s your favourite style of travel there?
“Most of my U.S. travels have been solo, with a mix of flying and road tripping between destinations. I love building tailor-made itineraries for my clients, crafting their dream U.S. holidays based on the places of interest to them, and their list of things they want to do. With so much to see and do in each state, I believe self-drive road trips or travelling by coach are some of the best ways to take it all in.”
How do you stay ahead of U.S. travel trend and keep your clients in the loop?
“I am always keeping up to date with happenings in the USA and find social media is a super handy way to do this. Current travel trends are always at the top of my feeds and once you start looking at certain things, algorithms learn your interests and show you more relevant articles and videos. This helps me keep my knowledge fresh and current, so I can pass that insight on to my clients.”
Why do you think the USA is such a special destination for Australian travellers?
“The USA is such a popular destination for Australian travellers because there is truly something for everyone! Whether you’re a sports fan, music lover, foodie, or just love adventure, you’ll get to experience something you love over there. Last time I was in the USA, I attended a basketball game, and the atmosphere was on another level compared to sporting events here in Australia. I think that’s a major drawcard for Aussie sports fans.”
Which U.S. city has the best food, and what’s your must-try dish?
“I loved my time in New York City and getting to try a famous pizza slice; however, New Orleans tops my list for U.S. foodie destinations I would love to visit. There’s so much history there and trying a traditional New Orleans gumbo is definitely on my wish list.”
If the USA were a playlist, what song would you pick as the anthem of your travels?
“This is a tough question for me! There are so many songs that come to mind, but they tend to focus more on one destination. I feel like Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus would have to be the one which encapsulates it all.”
You mentioned you have attended Coachella in the past. Can you paint us a picture of that experience? What is the standout memory of your time there? Why do you think Coachella is as iconic as it is and why should Aussies put a trip to Coachella on their wish list?
“I have been lucky enough to attend quite a few different music festivals throughout Australia, but Coachella is on another level- Lady Gaga was the headliner which was amazing. The weather was incredible; the location is stunning – it feels like the perfect backdrop to enjoy live music. I was in awe of how big the festival was and how many people were in attendance; it is so much bigger than all the festivals we have at home. Coachella was a once in a lifetime experience for me, and it should be on any music lovers bucket list. The atmosphere alone is great, but there’s nothing better than seeing some of the best acts in the world on one lineup.”
You love live music, if you could pick one artist to see in concert in the USA who would it be and where would you want to see them?
“I am currently in my country gal era, so Stagecoach is definitely on my list of festivals to attend. I would LOVE to see Morgan Wallen. Also, the Sphere in Las Vegas is on my list of venues to get to!”
Find out more
To deepen your knowledge of the USA and access a range of tools and resources, register for the USA Discovery Program – Brand USA’s official training platform for travel agents.
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