Brand USA Names Daystar Van Wagner Senior Director of Event Operations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Chris Heywood | Andrew Felts
[email protected]
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 22, 2026) — Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, today announced the appointment of Daystar Van Wagner as senior director of event operations. Van Wagner began her new role Sept. 21, one week before Brand USA Travel Week U.K. & Europe kicks off in Amsterdam. She will lead the planning and execution of Brand USA’s expanding portfolio of international events.
The portfolio includes Brand USA Travel Week, the organization’s flagship event series connecting U.S. destinations and travel industry partners with leading international buyers and media. The series now operates across four regions, including U.K. & Europe, India, Latin America and Canada. Van Wagner will also oversee event operations for sales missions, road shows, industry conferences, internal meetings, and other Brand USA programs.
“Daystar brings the experience, operational leadership and attention to detail required to deliver complex events at the highest level,” said Malcolm Smith, senior vice president, global markets and chief trade and product development officer at Brand USA. “Her extensive background in large-scale trade shows, meetings and stakeholder events will strengthen how we plan and execute our growing global portfolio. Just as importantly, she brings the strategic perspective to help us evolve these programs and create even greater value for our partners and attendees.”
Van Wagner joins Brand USA from U.S. Travel Association, where she most recently served as director of event experience. In that role, she oversaw exhibits for IPW, the leading international inbound travel trade show for the United States, and managed the full event lifecycle for programs serving thousands of attendees. She also has extensive experience working across internal teams and with executive stakeholders, venues, production partners and outside contractors.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to be part of an organization focused on growing America’s economy through international travel,” said Van Wagner. “I’m looking forward to working alongside a strong team and helping shape what comes next for Brand USA.”
Before joining U.S. Travel, Van Wagner spent five years with Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, supporting nonprofit fundraising events and overseeing catering, food and beverage purchasing and menu planning. She holds a bachelor’s degree in dietetics and food administration from Texas Woman’s University.
To learn more about Brand USA, visit thebrandusa.com.
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About Brand USA
Brand USA is the nation’s destination marketing organization, dedicated to attracting legitimate international inbound travel to strengthen the U.S. economy, increase exports, create quality jobs, and promote community prosperity. By running data-driven campaigns and unifying messaging across industry and government, Brand USA positions the United States as a top global destination while providing current visa and entry information.
Over the past 13 years Brand USA has driven 11.3 million additional international visitors who spent $38.1 billion in the United States, leading to $82.9 billion in total economic impact and sustaining an average of more than 40,000 jobs each year. These efforts have generated nearly $11 billion in attributable tax receipts at the federal, state, and local levels.
