USAirtours eyes increased trade activity as it rejoins Tipto

Trade-only tour operator USAirtours is to rejoin Tipto after a gap of nearly six years.

The supplier will become a member from September 1, the start of the twenty-fifth year of the trade marketing organisation.

USAirtours aims to use Tipto’s face-to-face events to boost its trade activity as part of a reinvestment in current agent relationships post-Covid. It also hopes to build new agent partnerships.

Head of sales Jessie Manzi said: “As a trade only operator, agents are of course at the heart of our growth strategy.

“Tipto will help the team to reinvest in our current trade relationships, as well as make and build brand new connections.

“We want to offer our thanks to every agent that continues to support our operation and by rejoining Tipto and attending its popular events, we have the perfect platform from which to do that.”

USAirours was set up more than 40 years ago and offers tailormade holidays, including cruise and stay, in the US, Canada, Caribbean and Mexico.

With owned flight allocations and the ability to sell destinations with out-of-date range flights, it can currently guarantee prices for agents until December 31, 2025.

Tipto currently has 20 members. It recently announced car rental broker DriveAway will also join its ranks in September.

Tipto chairman Richard Forde said: “The Tipto team is delighted to welcome back USAirtours for our twenty-fifth year

“Returning suppliers really are a testament to how powerful the Tipto offering is for building a meaningful presence and key relationships within the trade.

“I have no doubt the event format Tipto offers will support USAirtours in its quest to reconnect with agents, as well as allowing them to build brand new relationships to expand its network – it’s exactly what Tipto is all about.”

Pictured left to right: Lorna Willis-Edwards, Spirit Events, appointed secretariat of Tipto;  Jessie Manzi, head of sales, USAirtours; Richard Forde, Tipto chairman