US international visits are up across the board but Brand USA needs new fundsThe Department of Commerce announced that 5.4 million international visitors traveled to the United States in March of this year, a 14% increase over the same month last year. March registered the 12th straight month of increases in total US visits.
It’s good news for still young Brand USA, which continues its fundraising efforts with a new national tourist campaign that still needs $20 million in in-kind investments by Sept. 30 to quality for up to $100 million in matching federal funding.
To date, Brand USA has enlisted 300 partners who have provided cash or in-kind contributions at various levels, according to Brand USA’s CEO Jim Evans.
A group of founding Brand USA partners, including Walt Disney Co., Marriott Corp., Best Western International, Visit Florida, Universal Orlando, Visit California and NYC & Company, each made cash or in-kind contributions valued at $1 million.
Beyond those founding partners, Brand USA would not disclose the size of contributions from other entities.
Evans said Brand USA has exceeded its goal of raising $10 million in cash contributions, either received or in the pipeline, but it has only reached about half its goal of $40 million for in-kind investments, either received or in the pipeline.
By David Wilkening
