Brand USA Announces Marriott International Partnership

Image: One of Brand USA's new mobile content creation labs. (Courtesy Brand USA)
Image: One of Brand USA's new mobile content creation labs. (Courtesy Brand USA)
Mia Taylor
by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 2:51 PM ET, Thu April 18, 2019

Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, has just inked a deal with Marriott International to have the hotel giant sponsoring a recently launched destination promotion effort known as United Stories.

The new partnership between Brand USA and Marriott will help the destination marketing organization expand the reach of its United Stories campaign, which uses visual storytelling, (often created by influencers) to inspire international travelers to visit the USA.

Launched earlier this year, United Stories utilizes roving mobile content creation labs to track and share relatable, human stories with the goal of inspiring lasting emotional connections between international travelers and people and places across the United States.

Throughout the year, content creators, storytellers, and influencers are being tapped travel to various points of interest across the country in eye-catching, buzz-worthy vehicles branded with #UnitedStories.

"We are thrilled to collaborate with Marriott International on United Stories. Marriott's strong international brand recognition and ongoing dedication to their customers makes them an ideal partner to expand the reach of this campaign," said Tom Garzilli, chief marketing officer of Brand USA.

"We believe in the power of storytelling to engage global audiences and highlight the diversity of real travel experiences in the USA. Our partnership will help deliver these inspiring stories to an even larger population of international travelers, extending the United Stories campaign to millions of people around the world."

Marriott Bonvoy will be integrated within the United Stories campaign to generate awareness and create connectivity with the hotel company's newly launched travel program. This effort will include branding the unique mobile content creation labs and hosting influencers and content creators at hotels across the USA.

"The United Stories mission aligns with our passion for travel, said Kieran Donahue, vice president, marketing, The Americas. "Our sponsorship of United Stories is a great extension of our ongoing partnership with Brand USA. The mobile content labs allow us to show the breadth, depth, and variety of our brands, destinations, and hotels throughout the U.S., and most importantly, connect with our members and guests in a way that showcases how good travel can enrich and unite the world."

Launched in January, the United Stories mobile content lab has traveled to nine U.S. states and territories thus far including Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Hawai'i, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Vermont.

At each destination, United Stories content creators spotlight first-person perspectives of American culture via locals, influencers, and travelers.

To view the unique stories captured at each destination, or to learn more about the mobile lab's next stop, follow along on Facebook, #UnitedStories on Instagram, or VisitTheUSA.com/UnitedStories.


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Mia Taylor

Mia Taylor

Senior Editor

Mia Taylor is an award-winning journalist who has two decades of experience. Most recently she worked as a staff writer for America's largest digital publisher DotdashMeredith, where she contributed stories on a daily basis to four of the company's most iconic brands - Parents,Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, and Health. Her work has also appeared in Travel + Leisure, The Boston Globe, The San Diego UnionTribune, Westways Magazine, Fortune, and more.

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