Drum roll please … the winners of the Brand USA 2023 MegaFam have been announced, with 50 travel agents set to experience some of the best the US of A has to offer.
Taking place from 6-14 June, the Brand USA and Hawaiian Airlines famil will reward agents from across Australia and New Zealand with five itineraries covering 11 states, focusing on the great outdoors and sports tourism.
Along with more familiar destinations like New York, San Francisco and Las Vegas, the winners will discover less visited cities like Seattle, Reno, and the state of Utah.
Following their mainland experience, all of the winners will cap off their adventure by gathering together in Honolulu to share their stories.
To be considered for the famil, travel agents were asked to register and complete USA Discovery Program Badges (including The Great Outdoors, Winter Sports and new MegaFam 2023 – Hawaiian Airlines Badge), sign-up to the HawaiianMiles program, sell at least four HA tickets, and say why they wanted the chance to take part in the famil.
Deep dive into the US
“With a strong travel rebound, we’re excited to resurrect the Brand USA MegaFam in Australia and New Zealand,” Brand USA vice-president of global trade development Jackie Ennis said.
“We are particularly thrilled to partner with Hawaiian Airlines to showcase the diversity of our great outdoors and our sporting culture which travellers can enjoy across the USA.
“These trips not only allow agents to get under the skin of a destination but also give them the confidence to sell both the iconic and lesser-known U.S. destinations.”
Hawaiian Airlines regional director for Australia and New Zealand Andrew Stanbury said the airline was “excited to be the carrier of choice for the Brand USA 2023 MegaFam”.
“This is a great opportunity to see so much of what travellers to the USA are looking for and to showcase our Hawaiian and mainland USA network,” he said.
“Hawaii is the closest U.S. state and perfect as a destination in its own right, as a stopover or as a transit to mainland USA.
“We’re delighted to help Australian and New Zealand USA sellers experience this firsthand.”
The 2023 Brand USA MegaFam agents are:
- Abbey Shannon – Flight Centre Business Travel
- Alice Fisher – Flight Centre
- Adam Ahmad – Itineraries Travel Consultants
- Amanda McKeown – Helloworld Rototuna
- Anna Rowbotham – Fuzion Travel
- Anne Parkinson – itravel Penshurst
- Ashley Larkin – Flight Centre BridgepointBella McCaull Luxury Escapes
- Brayden Ryan – Kemble Ignite Travel Group
- Candice Burgess – Flight Centre
- Caroline Moit – MTA Travel
- Cecilia Barr – Helloworld Travel Oakleigh
- Charlie Jolly – Flight Centre
- Charlie Martin – Flight Centre
- Cherie Johnson – Flight Centre
- Christine Berrick – Flight Centre
- Dielle DeSouza – Flight Centre
- Elvira Lanyon – Figtree Travel
- Fu-Jui Hsueh – Flight Centre
- Hameedallah Jafari – Phil Hoffman Travel
- Hayley Lyson – italktravel The Junction
- Hemal Jani – Beyond Holidays
- Inez Teni – Fuzion Travel
- Jackie Capuano – Helloworld Lakehaven
- Janine Snook Chris Watson Travel
- Jasvinder Singh – Flight Centre
- Jo Ann McLaughlin – House of Travel Papamoa
- Kathy Thomaidis – MTA TRAVEL
- Kristy Morris – Phil Hoffman Travel
- Krystal Cooke – HTG Newcastle
- Leonie Paul – House of Travel
- Lexi Phillips – Flight Centre
- Lucy Edwards – Cruise Travel Centre
- Madi Maton – Flight Centre
- Melanie Carter – TravelManagers Australia
- Merrilyn Priest The Well Connected Traveller
- Michelle Lehn TravelManagers
- Miranda Cullen – World Travellers Whangarei
- Mollie Sinclair – Flight Centre
- Natalie Khalife – Flight Centre
- Natasha Day – Flight Centre
- Nicole Bishop – Flight Centre
- Olivia Nicolle – Helloworld
- Patricia Greene – Suncity Travel
- Price Heaslip – Flight Centre
- Rebecca McCarthy – MTA TRAVEL
- Stephanie Towers – House of Travel Mt Maunganui
- Swapnil Bhate – Flight Centre Travel Group New Zealand
- Tabatha Knowles – Travel Associates
- Treena Moore – Galaxy World Travellers
