The annual Visit USA Roadshow lunch event was in Dublin on May 7th, hosted at the newly opened Leinster Hotel, drawing an impressive turnout from the Irish travel trade. The 2025 roadshow featured key representatives from Visit Utah, Florida Keys & Key West, Visit Fort Lauderdale, Florida Space Coast, Visit Central Florida and Hertz. Attendees were welcomed by Tony Lane, Executive Director of the Visit USA Committee, and Tryphavana Cross, Chairperson of the Visit USA Committee Ireland, during a networking lunch that also included ITTN’s Shane Cullen.
Speaking at the event, Clare Dunne (Chief Executive Officer of the Irish Travel Agents Association) shared, “to all our Representatives who’ve made the time to come here to talk to us today, events like this are absolutely vital to our industry. Because we are the experts, we have to be experts in what we’re doing. And the only way we can be expert and retain that expertise and maintain it is by constantly listening, and learning.”
Visit Central Florida
Central Florida’s Polk County, between Orlando and Tampa, is a more affordable, less busy outdoor adventure. It is an ideal base for accessing both coasts, major theme parks, and other Florida attractions. It offers a fantastic family getaway that lets you escape the crowds, fit in a theme park (or two), see a rodeo, take a pontoon cruise or an epic outdoor adventure. Finally, get your teeth into some tasty goodness here, the BBQ Capital of Florida.
There is a wide range of hotels (Hilton, Marriott, Holiday Inn) and vacation villas. Equally, there are over 8,000 vacation homes which are hugely popular for families due to space and proximity to amenities, such as Holiday Inn Club Vacations Orlando Breeze is one of the closest to Disney. The variety ranges from theme park hotels such as the Legoland Florida Resort, luxe teepees and covered wagons at Westgate River Ranche Resort or cabana cabins for up to 6 at the beautiful Camp Margaritaville. There is something for every taste and group size.
Polk County is within easy reach of world-class attractions such as:
- LEGOLAND Florida Resort: Main attraction with seasonal events like Red, White & BOOM (4th of July), Halloween, and Holiday Bricktacular.
- Peppa Pig Theme Park: Perfect for young children, autism-certified, and sensory-friendly.
- Sea Life Florida Resort: A new, diversity-focused theme park opening soon.
- Bok Tower Gardens: Scenic gardens with birdlife, a neo-Gothic singing tower, and seasonal concerts.
- Westgate River Ranch: Largest dude ranch east of the Mississippi with live rodeos and outdoor activities.
This place is branded as “the real Florida,” offering small-town charm, local shops, restaurants and bars. It is less touristy than International Drive, yet close to major attractions.
Visit Lauderdale
With eight golden beaches spread among 24 miles of golden sand, Greater Fort Lauderdale is the place to be. Beyond the beach, there’s plenty more to see and do – paddle the Atlantic Ocean or scenic waterways on a kayak or paddleboard, take an airboat ride through the Everglades, dine along the waterfront, enjoy a drink at one of the many rooftop bars, explore the arts and culture, enjoy the street festivals and discover a shopping paradise plus plenty of markets from flea to farmer! For more, check out VisitLauderdale.com.
Meditate as you watch the sunrise on beautiful Deerfield Beach, Greater Fort Lauderdale’s cove-like beach with a fishing pier, sand volleyball courts and surf lessons. Hillsboro Beach boasts the brightest lighthouse on the East Coast with monthly tours. Heading south, enjoy Pompano Beach for families with playgrounds, a fishing pier, dive shops and boat charters. Catch the Old Florida “beach village” vibe of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea’s half-mile hamlet and snorkel (no boat needed) from the shore along three-tiered reefs. Stroll along the Fort Lauderdale beachfront promenade, a charming cosmopolitan spot. Dania Beach is home to some of the least crowded stretches of shoreline, and a favorite for kayaking, swimming and picnicking. Hollywood is retro-cool and laid-back with a 2.5-mile Broadwalk that is ideal for walking, cycling (try a fun-cycle) and jogging. In Hallandale Beach, visitors can enjoy beautiful stretches of beach and exciting nightlife.
The Florida Keys & Key West
Compose your vacation in any key. Wherever you go in Florida’s Lower Keys, you’ll be close to pristine waters, unspoiled wilderness and an amazing variety of places to call home, including everything from cozy campsites and luxurious RV parks to charming inns and upscale hotels set amidst the rustic charm of Stock Island.
The 125-mile Florida Keys island chain is home to the continental United States’ only living-coral barrier reef. This teeming backbone of marine life runs the length of the Keys about five miles offshore and offers Florida Keys scuba diving vacation memories that last a lifetime.
Florida Keys and Key West offer something for everyone:
- Key Largo – the dive capital of the world less than an hour south from Miami
- Islamorada – the sport fishing capital of the world plus shop, dine or enjoy the art and crafts
- Marathon – your hometown in the heart of the keys with everything from a quaint family-owned boatel, cottage or resort
- Lower Keys – a natural escape with unspoilt nature, incredible living reefs in the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary
- Key West – discover a city where real estate titles date back to the Kings of Spain with palm-lined streets await
Check out https://fla-keys.com/ for inspiration and upcoming events, water-temperature as well as live webcams to entice travel.
Visit Space Coast, Florida
Experience a rocket launch, embark on the cruise of a lifetime, relax on the beach and so much more. Crossing adventures off your bucket list is easy as 3…2…1… From rocket launches to beautiful beaches plus world-class attractions like the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and the American Space Museum, the Space Coast is waiting.
Check out www.visitspacecoast.com for travel inspiration or to design a custom-made and shareable itinerary – https://www.visitspacecoast.com/planner/.
From Titusville and the Canaveral National Seashore to the east coast surfing capital, Cocoa Beach, to the charm of Melbourne and the Beaches and Palm Bay, there are plenty of unforgettable experiences such as kayaking with dolphins and manatees or twin with a cruise from Port Canaveral.
Visit Utah
Rachel Mathewson on behalf of Visit Utah told attendees about the Wild Beauty of Utah: A Journey Through the Mighty Five and Beyond. Tucked away in the southwestern United States, Utah is a land of dramatic red rock landscapes, iconic national parks, and surprising cultural depth. Whether you fly into Las Vegas and take a scenic drive or connect through Salt Lake City, Utah is well worth the journey.
Southern Utah is home to the “Mighty Five” National Parks—Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion. Each park offers its own spectacular natural wonders, from the thousands of sandstone arches in Arches National Park to the otherworldly hoodoo formations in Bryce Canyon. Zion, Utah’s first national park, is renowned for its soaring cliffs and vibrant alpine scenery.
Heading north, visitors can explore Salt Lake City, the state capital and spiritual heart of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or take in the cultural charm and skiing of Park City. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy water sports at Flaming Gorge or encounter wild bison and antelope at Antelope Island State Park.
Utah also boasts the highest concentration of International Dark Sky Parks in the world—perfect for stargazing and astronomy lovers. Visitors can join dark sky parties, where astronomers and indigenous storytellers bring the night sky to life.
For film fans, Utah’s cinematic scenery has served as the backdrop for Hollywood blockbusters for over a century. Follow the Utah Film Trail to iconic locations from Thelma & Louise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Forrest Gump, and more. A road trip along Scenic Byway 12 is the perfect way to tie it all together, linking the state’s most breathtaking landscapes into one unforgettable adventure.
For travel inspiration and useful Utah Itineraries, check out VisitUtah.com for the likes of a 2-day journey to “Small Town Charm: Orchards, Birding & Train History; or a 6-day journey: “Stars by the City”, travelling from Salt Lake City through the International Dark Sky Places in North Utah.
Hertz
Paul Manning (Sales Manager for Hertz Ireland) spoke at the event. The Hertz brand is one of the most recognised brands globally. The Hertz Corporation operates the Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty vehicle rental brands throughout North America. Hertz was also the winner of “Best Car Rental Provider 2024” at the ITTN awards and “Car Hire Provider of the Year” at the Irish Travel Industry Awards.
Customers choose Hertz for its wide selection of top-rated vehicles, for its free Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® loyalty program, and because of Hertz’s thousands of convenient locations. Hertz also operates the Firefly car rental brand and Hertz 24/7 car sharing business, and additionally rents vehicles to rideshare drivers through dedicated partnerships with Uber, Lyft, and others.
Having used Hertz on many an adventure in the United States, it has always been easy and hassle-free, regardless of where the journey has taken me.
