Pittsburgh’s a Destination for Europeans Seeking Americana

Katie Conaway sits in a booth in a giant convention hall in Berlin, Germany.

Over and over throughout the day, she meets with European tour operators and travel writers. Every person that stops to see her at this International Trade Bourse (ITB) is met with her bright smile and an enthusiastic sales pitch about Pittsburgh.

Maybe that seems like a hard sell to you. After all, who in Germany wants to come to Pittsburgh? Do they even know about us?

“We knew Pittsburgh was featured on a couple of itineraries by some tour operators, but the level of their excitement about Pittsburgh was so encouraging,” said Conaway, domestic and international group sales director for VisitPittsburgh. “Everyone was so open about ways to increase our presence in the market. The trip provided a clear blueprint on how we could work with operators better in Europe.”

VisitPittsburgh is spearheading the Pittsburgh Regional Travel Cooperative, which is working to increase international travel — both leisure and business — to Pittsburgh and southwestern Pennsylvania through tour operators and other travel groups.

In November, members of the PRTC will attend the World Travel Market trade show in London, which draws more than 50,000 people. While in Europe, they’ll stop in France and Belgium as well.

The PRTC also includes other regional organizations: Butler County Visitors and Convention Bureau, Visit Washington County, Allegheny Conference on Community Development,