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U.S. suppliers host Thanksgiving to celebrate reconnection, border reopenings and more

Last week a number of suppliers and travel advisors celebrated Thanksgiving, the annual holiday celebrated in the U.S. and Canada to give thanks for the blessings they've received over the past year.

Last week a number of suppliers and travel advisors celebrated Thanksgiving, the annual holiday celebrated in the U.S. and Canada to give thanks for the blessings they’ve received over the past year.

Thanksgiving Day is an annual national holiday in North America, that gives people the time to reflect on all they are grateful for and celebrate the harvest and blessings of the past year.

Some years are easier than others to look back on and cherry pick the best bits, but these gatherings certainly help remind us of the things that are really important.

Events happened in both Sydney and Brisbane and were a great way to catch up with old friends, learn about new product and have a well-overdue catch up over a glass of bubbly.

Colorado Thanksgiving Celebrations

Thanksgiving
The Brisbane Celebrations

To celebrate the return of Australian travellers as the state’s ski season begins, Colorado Tourism Office welcomed key industry partners for simultaneous lunches yesterday in Sydney and Brisbane, as Thanksgiving holidays take hold across the U.S.

The events, organised either side of the Queensland/New South Wales border, brought together industry colleagues from tourism boards, airlines, travel agencies, wholesalers and travel media.

Thanksgiving

Taking place in Squire’s Landing, Sydney and Mr. Badgers, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Colorado Tourism Office’s local representatives, Kylee Kay (Director) and Polly Simmons (PR Manager) thanked guests for continued support for the destination throughout the pandemic, as the tourism office remained in-market throughout.

This year, the state has welcomed a brand-new rail journey from Denver to Moab, Rocky Mountaineer’s Rockies to the Red Rocks, which will resume in April 2022, as well as a multitude of new accommodation options, including Denver’s Catbird and The Rally Hotel, camping and glamping spot, CampV in Naurita, and The Hythe Luxury Collection Hotel in Vail.

Across Colorado’s 28 ski resorts, celebrations throughout the season will be taking place in Aspen and Arapahoe Basin which both mark 75 years in operation, and Breckenridge which celebrates its 60th anniversary.

Thanksgiving

Kylee Kay, Director of Colorado Tourism Office Australia / New Zealand, comments, “Colorado is thrilled to welcome back visitors from Down Under after a long-awaited 18+ months. Across the state’s cities and resorts, health and safety of visitors, as well as locals, is of great importance and we encourage returning visitors to travel responsibly and acknowledge any mask and testing mandates in place.

“Colorado has a multitude of wide-open spaces, 26 scenic byways to explore on a road trip, more than 30 hot springs and 10 scenic rail journeys. We want to thank the industry for supporting the destination as operations continued whilst travel was halted and look forward to more visitors from Australia and New Zealand discovering the Rocky Mountain state as international trips resume.”

A Mammoth Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

Visit Mammoth and Ikon celebrated Thanksgiving, as well as borders reopening and fresh power with a fun get together at the Off Piste Ski & Snowboard Centre in Sydney’s Entertainment Quarter.

Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving

The event hosted around 30 people from the media and key ski and snowboard travel trade, giving them the opportunity to reconnect, eat, drink, and experience a taste of the winter fun to come on a fun snow-based simulator.

Thanksgiving 2021 with Delta Air Lines, NCL, Los Angeles Tourism and Collette

Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving

Delta, NCL, Los Angeles Tourism and Collette celebrated the national holiday and the ‘Return to USA’ travel with an electrifying evening event, complete with epic prizes and even more epic dance-offs!

About 85 people attended, mostly all trade, and there were plenty of smiles after what has been a long 20 months.

Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving