The Brandman Agency Named U.S. Public Relations Agency of Record for Visit Victoria

The Brandman Agency is pleased to announce Visit Victoria as the newest destination addition to its worldwide luxury travel and lifestyle portfolio. Victoria's tourism and events company, Visit Victoria is responsible for marketing to visitors globally, across Australia and from within the State. Home to world-class events, unparalleled nature experiences, and Melbourne, voted the “World's Most Livable City” for the sixth-straight year, Victoria continues to see consistent growth in visitor expenditure.

As Australia's fastest growing city, Melbourne is renowned for its superb restaurants, café culture, theatre, diverse art and cultural offerings, and is a gateway to unique nature based experiences. Known as the events capital of Australia, Melbourne hosts a year-round calendar of outstanding international events including the Australian Open Tennis (Grand Slam of the Asia Pacific), Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, Spring Racing Carnival (Melbourne Cup) and the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival. The city has also recently been chosen as the second international host of the World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards, coming to Melbourne in 2017.

Victoria's compact size allows ease of travel for visitors, with a diversity of authentic Australian experiences all within close proximity to Melbourne, including wineries, regional gourmet experiences and spectacular wildlife and natural attractions. “The Penguin Parade” at Phillip Island, the Yarra Valley wine region, the Great Ocean Road, outdoor adventure and walking trails in the Grampians, and the iconic colorful beach boxes of the Mornington Peninsula, all continue to attract visitors year after year.

“I could not be more thrilled to be working with Visit Victoria,” says Melanie Brandman, Founder and CEO of The Brandman Agency. “As an eighth generation Australian, I am both honored and humbled that The Brandman Agency has been chosen as Visit Victoria's strategic partner in the U.S. As a former resident of Melbourne, I was always so enthralled by the cultural and culinary diversity of the city and I look forward to elevating market awareness by illustrating all of the amazing experiences the state of Victoria has to offer.”

“We are incredibly excited to be working with Melanie and her team at The Brandman Agency,” said Susan Brown, Regional Manager, Visit Victoria North America. “I am confident that with the Agency's strong media contacts, deep understanding of the market, innovative approach, and passion for the region, we will continue to elevate and reinforce Victoria's reputation as a world-class destination.”

The United States is currently Australia's fourth largest inbound market based on visitor arrivals, and third largest market when ranked on total expenditure. Annual arrivals from the U.S. exceeded 600,000 for the first time in the 2015 calendar year, and expenditure grew at an increasingly rapid rate to a new all-time high. Between 2010 and 2015, U.S. overnight visitation to Victoria increased at an average annual rate of 8.0%, ahead of the national average.

For more information on travel to Victoria, visit: http://www.visitvictoria.com/.

About Visit Victoria

Visit Victoria is the principal tourism and events company for Victoria, Australia. The organization is dedicated to growing Victoria's visitor economy by marketing to visitors from within the state, across Australia and around the world, and attracting sporting, cultural and business events for the state's world-class events calendar. www.visitvictoria.com.

About The Brandman Agency

Founded in 2001 by Melanie Brandman, The Brandman Agency represents some of the world's most prestigious luxury travel brands and destinations including FRHI Hotels & Resorts, the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, and Barbados Tourism Marketing, Inc. Visit The Brandman Agency at www.thebrandmanagency.com.