Disha Shah Ghosh - Mumbai Keen to tap MICE segment & Tier-II & III cities in the coming years
The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau is keen to foray into the Tier-II and III cities of India next year, after undertaking a series of sales activities via direct engagement and B2B roadshows and exhibitions in the key gateways in 2024.
Talking to TravelBiz Monitor in Mumbai, during his second visit to India, Joe Docal, Director of Travel Industry Sales – Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, said, “After seeing the potential that India has for the US and Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, I want to enhance our focus in the Indian market than what was in the past.” Docal is in India to participate in the Brand USA Sales Mission in Goa.
“I am meeting the travel trade in India for sales call presentations. In the absence of direct air connectivity to Miami Airport, I am currently getting my feet wet in the market, before foraying into Tier-II and III cities in India in 2025,” he said.
He spoke about the challenge in quantifying visitor numbers from India, but termed the country as ranking “high- priority” market.
Docal informed that exploratory talks are underway with carriers in India to seek direct air access to Miami International Airport. “We are keen to bring in more MICE groups from India, especially incentives movement since we have the facilities to service and have the necessary hotel infrastructure in place. Of course, the larger chunk of visitors from India is leisure travellers to the USA.”
Shedding light on the popularity of Miami and the Miami Beach, he said soap operas and sitcoms have done a great job in creating awareness about the destination. In the past, the city and its beach were used as attractive locations for film shoots. Going forward, the plan is to tap that segment even in the Indian market with financial incentives.
