Brand USA recently hosted its 11th India Sales and Media Mission, held from January 20 to 22, 2025, at The Taj Krishna in Hyderabad. The event was led by Fred Dixon, President and CEO of Brand USA, accompanied by senior executives from the organization, including Chris Heywood, Senior Vice President of Public Relations and Communications; Angie Briggs, Senior Vice President of Industry Partnerships; and Jackie Ennis, Vice President of Global Trade Development.
The mission also featured six prominent CEOs representing major U.S. destinations, including Simon Brooks, President of Bonotel; John Percy, President & CEO of Destination Niagara USA; Doug Bourgeois, Assistant Secretary of Tourism for the Louisiana Office of Tourism; Martha Sheridan, President & CEO of Meet Boston; Todd Davidson, CEO of Travel Oregon; and Liz Bittner, President & CEO of Travel South USA. The delegation comprised 48 U.S. tourism companies and 67 exhibitors, who engaged with 123 senior Indian decision-makers from the travel trade and media sectors.
During the event, expert-led speaker sessions explored trends and topics relevant to the Indian travel market, with a focus on fostering stronger connections and partnerships between U.S. destinations and Indian travel professionals.
The growing importance of India as a tourism source market was underscored by the U.S. welcoming 2.19 million arrivals from India in 2024—marking a 24.3% increase from the previous year. This positions India as the second-largest overseas market (excluding Canada and Mexico) and the fourth-largest for total international arrivals to the United States.
Fred Dixon commented on the milestone, stating, “We are extremely pleased to see strong arrival numbers from India, validating our past efforts and reaffirming our commitment for the future. As one of our top overseas markets, we are highly optimistic about Indian visitor arrivals and remain committed to building stronger partnerships.”
The U.S. is also preparing for an exciting year of new attractions and events that will continue to draw Indian tourists. Among the major family-friendly developments are Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Park, Disneyland’s upcoming 70th anniversary celebrations, and Virginia Beach’s Atlantic Park. Additionally, major sporting events such as the FIFA Club World Cup, which will take place in the U.S. from June 15 to July 13, 2025, will further boost tourism. The tournament will feature 32 soccer teams from around the world, serving as a precursor to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted jointly by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
In addition to sports, 2026 will see the U.S. commemorate two significant anniversaries: the centennial of Route 66 and the 250th anniversary of the United States, marked by the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. These milestones are expected to further fuel travel demand.
