Brand USA Returns to AIME in February 2015

Brand USA to host Pavilion alongside five USA tourism partners

Brand USA, the destination-marketing organization for the U.S., will return as an exhibitor at this year's Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME). Recognising the potential value in the Australian MICE market, Brand USA will host a highly branded USA Pavilion in partnership with a strong contingent of U.S. tourism boards and suppliers.

Brand USA will share a stand with Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau, Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau, Marriott North East and Marriott South East.

“Australian visitation to the U.S. has grown steadily over the last six years, reaching a peak of 1.2 million in 2013 and annual visitation is already up 5.2% year through to October 2014. The business market presents opportunities for Brand USA to explore new target markets and generate incremental visitation,” said Ollie Philpot, Director for Australia and New Zealand, Brand USA.

The Brand USA Pavilion provides the opportunity for U.S. destinations, products and services to promote the USA as a key destination for corporate visitors and the MICE industry.

A full list of tourism partners and representatives who will exhibit as part of Brand USA's pavilion include:

• Brand USA – Tahnee Dobson and Rebecca Hyde
• Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board – Craig Gibbons
• Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau & Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau - Geoffrey Hutton and Laurie Sprouse
• Marriott North East - Leslie Platt-Rao and Jim McCabe
• Marriott South West - Susan Weander

Brand USA and partners will be situated at stand B500.

Brand USA

Brand USA is the public-private partnership responsible for promoting the United States as a premier travel destination and communicating U.S. entry/exit policies and procedures. Established by the Travel Promotion Act in 2010, the organization's mission is to increase international visitation to the United States while working in partnership with the travel industry to maximize the economic and social benefits of travel. These benefits include creating jobs essential to the economy and fostering understanding between people and cultures.

According to a study done by Oxford Economics, Brand USA's marketing initiatives in 2013 alone resulted in an incremental increase of 1.1 million visitors to the USA and total impact on the U.S. economy of $7.4 billion in spending, which supported 53,000 new jobs.

Brand USA's activities are funded at no cost to U.S. taxpayers through a combination of private-sector investment and matching funds collected by the U.S. Government from international visitors who come to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program. Through its call-to-action—Discover America—Brand USA inspires travelers to explore the United States of America's boundless possibilities.

For industry or partner information about Brand USA, visit www.TheBrandUSA.com. For information about travel to and around the United States, please visit Brand USA's consumer website at www.DiscoverAmerica.com.

Gate 7

Founded in 1998, Gate 7 is a marketing and representation agency specialising in the promotion of travel and tourism in Australia and New Zealand. The recipient of multiple travel industry awards Gate 7's services include sales and marketing, public relations, consumer marketing, social networking, MICE services and brand development.