Switzerland’s main trade promotion for travel to the U.S.

Mövenpick Hotel Zurich-Regensdorf January 31, 2018

VISITUSA2018SEMINAR

EARLY BIRD

DISCOUNT CHF 200.–

FOR REGISTRATIONS

UNTIL JULY 7, 2017

WELCOME

EXECUTIVE BOARDMr. Werner E. Wiedmer Committee ChairmanMr. Heinz Zimmermann Committee Vice Chairman Mr. Reto Schneider UnitedMr. Tino Swoboda Kuoni TravelMr. Pino Andreano Hotelplan SuisseMr. Andreas Heinzer Swiss International Air Lines

COMMITTEEAir France KLM Delta Alitalia, Eddy GerberAmerican Airlines, Markus BoeckerCaesars Entertainment, Richard GugerliFTI Touristik AG, Fabio NegroHertz Car Rental, Roberto DelvecchioKnecht Reisen, Kenny PrevostOfran, drive more, Sandra MeyerPara Tours, Hans-Peter RiesenThomas Cook, Rita MurteziTUI Suisse, Rahel Seiler

GROUP MEMBERSHIP (DACH)Adventure Travel WestAer Lingus Alabama Tourism Department Alamo Rent a CarAmerica Unlimited GmbHAmerican Queen Steamboat CompanyArizona Office of TourismAvisBradenton Area CVBCaesars EntertainmentChoice Hotels InternationalColorado Tourism OfficeDallas & Fort Worth CVB Discover New EnglandEnjoy IllinoisExperience Kissimmee Explore FairbanksExplore Minnesota Tourism

Fairflight Touristik GmbHFTI Touristik GmbH FVB PhiladelphiaGeorgia TourismGet It Across Marketing & PRGreater Miami CVBHawai’i Tourism EuropeHilton Worldwide SalesHyatt Hotels & ResortsIcelandairKansas / Oklahoma Travel and TourismLos Angeles CVA and World AirportsLOT Polish Airlines Mall of AmericaMandarin Oriental Hotel GroupMarriott Hotel Holding GmbHMemphis & MississippiNaples, Marco Island, Everglades CVBNew Orleans / Louisiana FVANYC & CompanyOutrigger ResortsPapillon Grand Canyon Helicopters Puerto Rico Tourism CompanySeaWorld Parks & EntertainmentSimon Shopping Destinations South Carolina TourismTeam San JoseTennessee TourismThe Beaches of Fort Myers & SanibelThe Florida Keys & Key WestThe Real AmericaTravel Michigan Travel NevadaTravel OregonUnitedUS Bike Travel GmbH & Co. KGVail Resorts Management CompanyVirigin Atlantic Airways LtdVisit Denver CVBVisit FloridaVisit North Carolina Visit OrlandoVisit Seattle & Washington StateVisit St. Pete / Clearwater Visit Tampa Bay

Mr. Werner E. Wiedmer

Mr. Andreas Heinzer

Mr. Reto Schneider

Mr. Pino Andreano

Mr. Tino Swoboda

Mr. Heinz Zimmermann

Dear friends and industry partners

It is a privilege to once again invite you to the Visit USA Seminar which has been the industry’s annual «kick-off» for years for travel to the U.S. Hard to believe that an impressive 536’000 Swiss people made it to the U.S. in 2015!! It compares favorably to most other markets.

Today America is the unrivaled most popular overseas destination! Living in a multicultural, multilingual environment Swiss always liked to escape their narrow borders. High incomes and a strong local currency make it «easy»!

The Visit USA Seminar continuously adjusted its format to the changing market in close contact with the industry. Education and competence are now in focus to enable a service which the internet cannot provide. Swiss are willing to pay for service and quality, particularly for complex trips which are typical for a mature market. About three quarters are now «repeaters». It explains why the VUSA Seminar has the status of a training platform for U.S. specialists of 3 major TOs!

Our goal is to be as authentical as possible with your presence and expertise. Join us at the Visit USA Seminar 2018 – it is worth your time and money!

Sincerely yours,

Werner E. WiedmerChairman, VUSA Committee Switzerland

Please note: The German, Austrian and Swiss Visit USA Committees offer a common DACH membership for your convenience and to save cost. For information and membership please contact: Cristian Meuter at cristian@vusa.travel

VISIT USA COMMITTEE SWITZERLAND

WW

W.V

USA.

CH

With over 536’000 visitors in 2015 Switzerland produced about one fourth of the arrivals of the ten times bigger German market!

With a daily average spending of USD 390* Switzerland is a most profitable market reflecting the high per capita incomes of the Swiss! * without flights

The VUSA Seminar has been the leading trade promotional and educational platform for travel to the U.S. for the past 25 years!

350 – 400 top travel agents from around the country

Major Swiss TOs now use the seminar as training platform for their agents

Each year a U.S. destination is featured as event highlight with extensive additional exposure

Interactive program with a mix of workshops and individual meetings at the marketplace

Online USA Knowledge Test, prior to the VUSA, intended for destina-tion partners to establish a working contact before the event

WHY INVESTING IN THE SWISS MARKET?

VUSA FACTS & FIGURES

VISIT USA SEMINAR«The Visit USA Seminar with over 60 exhibitors and some

400 travel agents is the largest and most efficient learning platform for U.S. travel on the Swiss market – be part of it!»

Former U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland, Madame Suzan LeVine Committee Chairman, Werner E. Wiedmer Presenter Miriam Rickli

* For registrations until July 7, 2017. Please note that discounts cannot be cumulated, except for membership.

ConceptThe event format provides for a dynamic mix of individual meetings at the marketplace and workshops. The marketplace is an attractive, professionally built exhibit including all partners. Attendees rotate between workshops in separate rooms and personal meetings at the marketplace which results in traffic and good attendance at the booths. An attractive raffle* with prizes sponsored by the destinations and other partners concludes the program. The online USA Knowledge Test before the seminar has proven to be an effective tool to get attendees «up-to-speed» in advance and establish a contact with the exhibitors, their websites etc. * (Results of the knowledge test are included as selection criteria).

MarketplaceThe so-called marketplace is the center piece of the event where the networking and individual meetings take place. It features all partners representing the destination USA, its products and services. Partners are present with individual exhibition booths of different size, depending their requirements (see below). The event concept provides for a high level of circulation with excellent exposure and attendance!

Exhibition booths at the marketplacePartners, resp. exhibitors may choose among booths of different size, depending their requirements, a standard booth being the smallest (for size and rates see registration). All booths are furnished with a table for flyers and brochures, chairs and provided with the exhibitor name and standard decorations. In a nutshell – you get a «ready-to-move-in booth». Experience shows that setting-up time in a standard booth takes about half an hour average. Each participation agree-ment as of a standard booth includes F&B for two.

COSTS AT A GLANCEStandard booth (5 sqm / 55 sft) CHF 3’000.–Sub-exhibitor (sharing with another partner) CHF 1’000.–Double booth (10 sqm / 110 sft) CHF 5’000.–Quadruple booth (20 sqm / 220 sft) CHF 7’000.–

DISCOUNTSMember VUSA Switzerland CHF 200.–Early Bird discount* CHF 200.–

CONCEPT & BOOTHSMARKETPLACE

EARLY BIRD

DISCOUNT CHF 200.–

FOR REGISTRATIONS

UNTIL JULY 7, 2017

COST Workshop presentation: CHF 2’200

GUIDELINESWORKSHOPSPlease note that workshops are in demand and their number is limited. Workshops are presen-tations in small groups in separate rooms.

The duration per workshop is 20 minutes and each workshop is given six times*. Technical equipment such as beamer, laptop and screens are provided. Decorations (roll ups etc.) are possible. Workshops are not a «hard-sell» opportunity. Themes have to match the overall goals and themes of the seminar – the promotion of the destination USA. «Selling» is done by the quality and substance of the presentations.

Workshops are subject to approval by the Committee based upon the following criteria: CVB’s and other relevant agencies are given

priority as well as tour operators**

Theme, content and «substance» Workshops must be combined with

participation in the exhibit The Committee Executive Board reserves the

right to preview the presentations and suggest adjustments as deemed appropriate

Please note:It is standard procedure to preview all work-shops the day before the seminar per se. The rehearsal will take place on Tuesday, January 30, 2018.

* may be subject to change** TOs are committed to focus on their

destination know-how

THE WAY

TO GET

MAXIMUM

ATTENTION!

Largest exhibition booth (approx. 20 sqm/220 sft) in a prime location at the marketplace to accomodate all partners

Booth decorations and signage (exhibitors names) are included. Basic decorations (U.S. colors) may be completed with typical decorations as deemed appropriate

The wall in the back of the booth is available for graphic designs of your own (size approx. 33 x 6.5 ft). Print cost are included in the package fee

A 30-minutes time slot is available to present your product/destination and partners on stage A technician / operator incl. relevant equipment (mics, beamer etc.) are provided A press / media conference may be organized upon request

How do you apply? When submitting your registration just check the box informing us of your interest in being Featured Destination. Checking the box is NOT yet a commitment. You will be contacted to discuss the project in order to match your budget, our program and to hopefully meet your expectations. Your firm commitment starts with our confirmation. Again... creativity is everything! Please feel free and let us have your ideas! Applications will be handled on a «first come, first served» basis.

BENEFITS OF A FEATURED DESTINATION

FEATURED DESTINATION The format of the Featured Destination has been created to offer a given state, region or city the opportunity to get special exposure. Tourism services typical for the U.S. or themes like

the National Parks may also be considered as featured highlights. Creative proposals are welcome to get the most out of your presence as featured destination (e.g. presentation

of typical F&B, cultural contributions, entertainment, decorations, give-aways etc.). The event organizers and the Committee Executive Board are open to discuss your ideas!

COST Basic featured destination package: CHF 10’000

The USA Knowledge Test, introduced some years ago, provides exhibitors with considerable additional value at no cost. The test since became an established training tool preparing visitors for the seminar and the promotion of networking with exhibitors. All questions are provided by the exhibitors and, as a result, are related to their products and services. Seminar attendees sign up for the test at the time when they register for the seminar. Results are a factor in selecting the prize winners.

The USA Knowledge Test aims at: building new working contacts before and during the seminar promote the visitation of your websites get agents used to your websites as a tool in clients counselling selecting the most competent participants for fams and similar educational programs

Please note:The test always starts in the Fall weeks before the seminar early in the following year. You will be informed in due time.

ONLINE DESTINATION KNOWLEDGE TEST

VISIT USA SEMINAR Förrlibuckstrasse 110 8005 Zurich Switzerland

Phone +41 (0)44 749 25 25 Fax +41 (0)44 749 25 20 E-mail: visitusa@topline.ch www.vusa.ch

VISIT USA COMMITTEE Werner E. Wiedmer 34, chemin des Bourguignons 2505 Biel Switzerland

Phone +41 (0)79 417 09 57 E-mail: wew@vusa.ch www.vusa.ch

Registration Visit USA Seminar 2018

Visit USA Seminar, Förrlibuckstrasse 110, CH-8005 ZurichOnline registration: www.exhibitor.vusa.ch

Please note that the exhibition space is limited. We recommend that you secure your booth by submitting your registration no later than September 15, 2017.

Company: Person in charge:

Street / No.: Phone:

City / ZIP: E-mail:

Country: Date / Signature:

We herewith register for the Visit USA Seminar on January 31, 2018 in Switzerland

❏ VUSA Member (DACH) ❏ VUSA Non-member

❏ Standard booth (CHF 3’000.–) ❏ Quadruple booth (CHF 7’000.–)❏ Double booth (CHF 5’000.–) ❏ We register as sub-exhibitor (CHF 1’000.–) Double booth: one sub-exhibitor is free of charge / Quadruple booth: two sub-exhibitors are free of charge Please indicate name of main exhibitor:Name to be displayed at booth:

❏ We are interested in booking an animation tool such as: Please contact us.

❏ We apply for a 20 minutes workshop presentation (CHF 2’200.–) Technical equipment such as laptop, beamer and screen is included.

❏ We may apply for «featured destination» status. Please contact us for further details.

Participation / Payment conditionsInvoice to be paid within 30 days after invoice date. Full payment is required until January 8, 2018 in order to have a guaranteed exhibition booth and other services ordered.

Event location: Mövenpick Hotel Zentrum, 8105 Zurich-Regensdorf, Switzerland www.moevenpick-regensdorf.com

Terms of cancellation: up to October 31, 2017: no charge as of November 1, 2017: 50% charge as of December 1, 2017: full charge