It’s been a year dogged by controversy, Twitter storms and more recently a government shutdown. But for many others it’s also been a year which allowed democracy to shine, whether in the thousands taking to the streets to protest his policies or the judges who attempted to water down his travel ban.

Love him or loathe him, the Trump presidency and the mass demonstrations it triggered has shown us that the US remains much more than one person.

And for UK agents and operators, America continues to present a huge opportunity. In this special US-themed edition we look at the operators expanding their programmes as well as those offering alternative ways to explore the US. We also discover another side to Las Vegas and explore music city highlights in honour of this year’s Brand USA MegaFam, which culminates in the home of country music.

Meanwhile, as Southall Travel’s new chief operating officer Paul Wait points out, business travel remains key, with a significant proportion of trips still being taken to the US, and the country likely to appeal further in a post-Brexit world as politicians push for new trade deals.

In recent weeks sterling has climbed against the dollar and as TTG went to press the pound was equal to $1.4 – its highest level since the Brexit vote. This is sure to have a positive effect on the UK market and will be music to the ears of agents currently competing to earn their place on this year’s MegaFam. Next stop, Nashville!