Brand USA has released a new knowledge sharing facility to the USA Discovery Program – the online training website for agents in the UK and Ireland.

The Knowledge Forum allows users to ask a question which other members answer, providing an opportunity to share their insight into a specific destination. For each question asked the agent whose answer is found most useful will be recognised and ultimately rewarded with a ‘star member’ status. Users on the site can also vote the answer up and down on a live leader board.

The brand new section follows the development of yet another new experiential module as the USA Family Holidays Specialist badge joins a suite of existing modules on the Program; these are Big City Buzz, Great Outdoors, Winter Sports, Fly-Drive, Food & Drink, Coastal Escapes and Music, Culture & Heritage; as well as the Regional Expert badge, which users must complete initially.

The USA Discovery Program is currently integrated into the entry mechanism to this year’s Brand USA Megafam. The Megafam, taking place from 15-22 May 2014, will host 100 agents on seven different itineraries to experience the USA, before culminating in a grand finale in Austin, Texas. To qualify, agents should register their American Airlines and British Airways bookings to and within the USA at USAmegafam.co.uk, and complete a minimum of two Specialist modules on the USA Discovery Program.

Chris Thompson, President and CEO Brand USA, said: “By creating the new Knowledge Forum element to the USA Discovery Program, we hope that agents will utilise the site even further and ask their peers and colleagues for advice. This gives them the opportunity to learn more about the intricacies of the destination to develop their knowledge even further and, ultimately, to enhance their sales of the USA as a holiday destination.”

Thompson continued: “In the nine months the USA Discovery Program has been live in the UK and Ireland we have seen a number of developments and so far have over 2,100 active users. We aim to provide agents with the tools they need to sell the USA like never before and the forthcoming Brand USA Megafam is another important mechanism for us to do that.”

The USA Discovery Program is optimised for tablets and smartphones, and integrated with Facebook and Twitter.

Brand USA’s objective is to rekindle the holidaymakers’ love affair with America – reclaiming the USA’s share of the market and positioning the country as a diverse destination with near limitless experiences still to be explored. By highlighting the country as a fresh and unexpected destination, with welcoming and friendly locals, Brand USA promotes the U.S. as the world’s leading tourism destination.