TORONTO — TravelBrands Inc. and Brand USA have announced a strategic partnership in which TravelBrands has made a significant contribution that will see the company leverage its extensive network in the promotion and marketing of the United States as a tourism destination for Canadian travellers.
TravelBrands and its group of companies, which include Sunquest, Holiday House and Red Tag Vacations, will use its prominent market position to assist Brand USA and its destination partners reach millions of Canadians across the country. Through its large network of distribution channels – including its own retail distribution network and through online travel agency (OTA) portals that carry the company’s wholesale products – TravelBrands offers direct access to 36,000 Canadian travel agents nationwide, in addition to a variety of exclusive marketing platforms and partnerships, including sponsorship and incentive programs.
“This is a major initiative for our organization and one we are very excited to embark upon,” said Frank DeMarinis, CEO, TravelBrands Inc. “Together with our existing strategic partners, we are looking forward to collaborating with Brand USA to not only attract new partners, but to encourage even more Canadian consumers to travel to the U.S. by highlighting the huge diversity of experiences that are available to them – from theatre, shopping and theme parks to gastronomy, eco-adventure and festivals.”
Established by the Obama administration in 2010, Brand USA works in partnership with the travel industry to promote the United States as a premier travel destination and to increase the number of international visitors to the country. According to a recent Conference Board of Canada report, 24 million Canadians are projected to travel to the U.S. next year, a destination that has already captured 68% of Canadian outbound leisure trips in the last four years, making Canada the leading international market for the U.S.
“Canada remains the leading driver for international visitation with 23.39 million arrivals and $27 billion in spend to the United States last year,” said Christopher Thompson, President and CEO for Brand USA.
“The partnership with TravelBrands enhances Brand USA’s ability to develop cooperative marketing opportunities for U.S. destinations that add and create value by ultimately increasing international bookings.”
“By leveraging our distribution model and maximizing our dynamic packaging technology, which enables consumers and travel agents to create customized U.S. vacations with increased flexibility, choice and freedom, we will reach millions of Canadians and invite them to discover America like never before,” said DeMarinis.
For more information about Brand USA, visit TheBrandUSA.com. For partnership information, contact Kim Uno, Director of Strategic Partnerships for TravelBrands, at 416-993-5383.
