Tom Garzilli named vice president, partnership programs for Brand USA

WASHINGTON, March 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Brand USA, the public-private partnership responsible for launching the United States' first-ever nationally coordinated tourism marketing effort, today announced industry veteran Tom Garzilli has joined Brand USA as vice president, partnership programs. Garzilli is responsible for developing and directing the execution of cooperative marketing platforms and programs that add and create value for U.S. destinations, travel brands and other organizations that promote the United States as a premier travel destination.  These efforts are designed to work in concert with Brand USA's worldwide marketing campaign to increase inbound travel to the United States, resulting in increased U.S. exports and increased employment.

Prior to joining Brand USA in March 2013, Garzilli was managing partner of Custom Marketing Group (CMG), an award-winning destination marketing and custom publishing company he co-founded more than two decades ago.  Established in 1992, CMG developed and implemented a number of "first to market" solutions for leading destination marketing organizations (DMOs) and convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs).  The company maintained offices in Atlanta and Los Angeles until it was acquired in October 2012 by Tucson-based Madden Media, also a leader in travel and tourism marketing and custom publishing solutions. The merger of the two organizations created the largest cooperative marketing company in the United States for travel destinations.

CMG also has implemented effective international marketing campaigns targeting the United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico, Latin America, and Canada.  Among CMG's custom publishing partners is the prestigious American Express group of publications, which includes Travel + Leisure magazine. In addition, working with digital publishing and tech companies Texterity, Sojern and Vertical Acuity, CMG developed and implemented a number of "first to market" solutions for destination marketers.

A veteran of 35 years in the travel industry, Garzilli first worked in his family's wholesale travel business, Flyfaire Vacations based in New York, from 1978 to 1989. While at Flyfaire, Garzilli developed cooperative marketing programs with Eastern Airlines, Walt Disney World and key destinations in the USA, Mexico and Caribbean.

He subsequently joined senior management with American Express Vacations in Norcross, Georgia. As Vice President of Marketing for the wholesale travel division of American Express from 1989 to 1992, Garzilli successfully managed an international marketing and sales team developed a global travel products line, and implemented cooperatively funded marketing campaigns in partnership with various divisions of the company and global destinations. As part of his leadership responsibilities in this position, Garzilli also managed American Express Vacation's national trade show strategies and created a variety of training programs and seminars for retail travel agents and internal customers.

An active member of the Destination Marketing Association (DMAI), Garzilli earned his BBA in Marketing from Pace University, Lubin School of Business. He and his wife, Natalie, have three children — Tom, Cristina, and Annalee.

About Brand USA
Brand USA was established by the Travel Promotion Act to spearhead the nation's first global marketing effort to promote the United States as a premier travel destination and to communicate U.S. entry/exit policies and procedures to worldwide travelers.  Formed as the Corporation for Travel Promotion in 2010, the public-private entity began operations in May 2011 and does business as Brand USA.   Brand USA works in close partnership with the travel industry to maximize the economic and social benefits of travel.  These benefits include fostering understanding between people and cultures. creating jobs essential to the economy. The program's activities are funded at no cost to U.S. taxpayers through a combination of private-sector investment and matching funds collected by the U.S. Government from international visitors who come to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program.

Through its call-to-action — Discover America — Brand USA inspires travelers to explore the United States of America's boundless possibilities. For industry or partner information about Brand USA, visit www.TheBrandUSA.com. For information about exceptional and unexpected travel experiences in the United States, please visit Brand USA's consumer website at www.DiscoverAmerica.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:     
Anne Madison
Brand USA
301-385-8296
[email protected]

SOURCE Brand USA