Brand USA Newsletter - November 2019

Brand USA's board of directors met on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at Brand USA headquarters in Washington, DC. The board elected a new chair and vice chair and bid farewell to two long-serving members. The board also received glowing reports about the inaugural Brand USA Travel Week Europe and the annual U.S. — China Tourism Leadership Summit. Additional conversations included a 2020 market outlook, a discussion about Brand USA efforts in India, and updates about marquee marketing efforts. A recording of the board meeting is available here .

Poland has become the 39th market to be designated for inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), effective Nov. 11, 2019. Citizens and nationals of Poland are now eligible to visit the United States for tourism and business purposes for up to 90 days without obtaining a U.S. visa. Under the VWP

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is reminding travelers that they must present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license by Oct. 1, 2020 to board a federally-regulated aircraft, or access federal facilities in the United States. REAL ID-compliant identification is marked with a star in the

The 2020 Brand USA Video Storytelling contest is open to U.S. destination marketing organizations (DMOs) that use video storytelling to bring their destination to life. To participate, simply send a link to the video or video series you’d like considered to [email protected] . If your video is

WASHINGTON, DC - NOV. 21 2019: Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, announces the global streaming launch of “ America’s Musical Journey ,” presented in partnership with Expedia Group and Air Canada, on Brand USA’s travel entertainment network, GoUSA TV . The film, which first premiered in IMAX® and giant screen theaters in 2018, stars Grammy Award®-nominated singer and songwriter Aloe Blacc. Throughout the film, Blacc takes audiences on a cross-country adventure exploring the musical heritage of the United States and the cultural cities where American music was born. To celebrate the streaming launch, Brand USA will host premiere events in New Delhi and Mumbai, India, on Nov. 19 and Nov. 21, respectively.

WASHINGTON, DC - NOV. 4, 2019: Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, and United Airlines today announced a multi-year, global sponsorship agreement to promote international travel across the United States.

Long-time Brand USA team member, Aaron Wodin-Schwartz, has taken on the new role of senior vice president of communications and public policy. In this capacity, Aaron will lead and manage a multi-function team responsible for the development, execution, and outreach for public policy and corporate communications. The purpose of this work is to promote and advance Brand USA's mission and raise visibility worldwide for the organization, build community engagement, and respond to requests from these stakeholders regarding the organization and its successes. The senior vice president functions as a liaison with all levels of government and key stakeholder organizations, and also focuses on strategic engagement and communications surrounding Brand USA’s programs, including media and other corporate communications channels.

SEATTLE, WASH. - SEPT. 19, 2019: Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, joined the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, to host the 13th annual U.S. – China Tourism Leadership Summit in Seattle, Washington, from September 18-20. The summit is the marquee opportunity to build and strengthen relationships between U.S. and Chinese travel and tourism industry leadership and government officials. Participants emphasized the important contribution of travel and tourism to the world's two largest economies

LONDON - SEPT. 9, 2019: Today, during the opening address at the inaugural Brand USA Travel Week Europe , taking place Sept. 9-12, 2019, Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, revealed that the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and the Netherlands are the countries chosen to host the game-changing initiative between 2020 and 2025. Once again, the event will be an immersive celebration of the United States, showcasing the diverse range of travel experiences available throughout the 50 states, five territories, and the District of Columbia. In 2020, the event will once again be held in London, the United Kingdom's capital city