Alfredo Gonzalez joins Brand USA as senior vice president, global partnership development

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Apr 01, 2013, 01:25 ET

WASHINGTON, April 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Brand USA, the public-private partnership responsible for launching the United States' first-ever nationally coordinated tourism marketing effort, today announced Alfredo Gonzalez has joined the organization as senior vice president, global partnership. Gonzalez is responsible for expanding Brand USA's international representation network and travel trade outreach, as well as developing co-operative partnership programs with international trade and media partners, in order to increase international visitation to the United States.

Gonzalez comes to Brand USA following 14 years with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). As vice president of tourism and international business, Gonzalez helped shepherd record visitation and spend to Florida from international markets and led the bureau's successful air-service development initiative, which enabled the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) to attract new carriers and an influx of international travelers from France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Colombia and Mexico. As a result of these and other efforts, he was presented the Routes Destination Marketing Award at the 2013 Route Americas conference in Cartagena, Colombia. The award recognizes the best destination marketing campaign by a tourism authority.

"Joining Brand USA is a dream come true," says Gonzalez. "I've spent my entire career in the travel industry and have been privileged to work for some of the industry's best brands. I'm honored to now have the opportunity to promote the United States—the world's best destination."

Gonzalez has been a member of the travel industry for nearly 30 years, beginning his career with the Orlando Airport Marriott in 1985. In 1989, he joined Concord Resorts as director of Latin American sales. In 1993, CFI Resorts Management asked him to establish the international sales program for its timeshare resorts. Gonzalez further honed his expertise in international marketing and development with Palace Resorts and Bancor Leaders in Travel, Inc., prior to joining the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB in 1999 as head of its international sales department. He was promoted to vice president in 2004.

An active member of the industry, Gonzalez is vice chair of VISIT FLORIDA's International Committee and a member of the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI). He sits on the board of the Miami chapter of SKAL and the advisory board of Routes International.

Gonzalez earned his Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Florida and is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and conversational in French.

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.