Brand USA Announces In-Market Representation Firm for Brazil

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Brand USA, the public-private partnership responsible for launching the United States' first-ever nationally coordinated tourism-marketing effort, has named Ogilvy Public Relations as its agency of record in Brazil. With offices in Brasilia and Sao Paulo, Ogilvy PR will provide ongoing travel trade outreach and implement promotional initiatives to increase international visitation to the United States from Brazil.  The scope of work includes trade and media management with specific focus on a strategic mix of travel trade relations, global media relations, digital communications, event management and public affairs. The assignment will be led by the agency's Media Influence team in its New York headquarters and continue through the end of 2014.

Ogilvy PR has had a presence in the Latin American market for nearly a decade.  The team specializes in travel trade promotion, industry relations, media relations, event support, social media and sponsorships, among other activities.  As directed by Brand USA, Ogilvy PR will apply their market expertise and industry knowledge to increase travel and generate awareness of the U.S. as a destination of choice in Brazil. 

"Brazil continues to show steady growth in both visitation and spend for inbound travel to the U.S." said Alfredo Gonzalez, Senior Vice President of Global Market Development for Brand USA. "We set out to find a partner in market that has a deep understanding of the changing trade and media landscape to help us create and execute an innovative campaign that can effectively communicate the narrative of Brand USA. We were impressed by the breadth and depth of the Ogilvy PR network of global media strategists as well as digital communications and branding experts around the world."

Brand USA is focused on markets that supply international travel to the United States and according to the Department of Commerce, Brazil posted a double digit-growth rate in 2012 with 1.79 million travelers visiting the U.S., up 19%; resulting in $9.3 billion in visitor spending.  This performance marks the ninth consecutive year of increased spending and the third consecutive record for arrivals.

"We are excited to officially launch Brand USA in the Brazilian market.  Brazil is an exciting and emerging market that will be a key driver for U.S. tourism as Brand USA aims to reach 100 million tourists by 2021," said Jennifer Risi, Executive Vice President of Ogilvy PR's Media Influence Group.  "We are proud to partner with Brand USA and look forward to leveraging our nation branding experience on their behalf."

About 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.

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.

About Ogilvy Public Relations

­­­­­­­­­­­Ogilvy Public Relations (Ogilvy PR) is a global, multi-disciplinary communications leader operating in more than 85 offices across six continents. In 2013, for the second consecutive year, Ogilvy was named Cannes Lions Network of the Year and Most Effective Agency Network by the Effie Global Effectiveness Index. Ogilvy was also named Best Digital Consultancy in the World, Most Creative Agency and Best South-East Agency by the Holmes Report. Ogilvy PR integrates deeply with all Ogilvy & Mather disciplines (advertising, direct marketing, activation, promotional, digital and entertainment) through the proprietary Ogilvy Fusion™ approach to delivering comprehensive, business solutions through content creation, community building, and communications with measurable results. Ogilvy PR is a unit of Ogilvy & Mather, a WPP company (NASDAQ: WPPGY), and one of the largest marketing communications companies in the world.  For more information, visit our website at www.ogilvypr.com or follow us on Twitter at @ogilvypr.

SOURCE Brand USA