Sunset and Coastal Living to sponsor Brand USA's giant-screen celebration of the U.S. National Park Service

IMAX® film premieres globally next month

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Jan 21, 2016, 03:24 ET

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Brand USA – the destination-marketing organization for the United States – announces that Time Inc.'s Sunset and Coastal Living brands have signed on as "Proud Sponsors" of its new, 3D giant-screen film, "National Parks Adventure," which will be released in IMAX^® theaters and other giant-screen venues in the United States and around the globe beginning in February.

The film is a tribute to the National Park Service's centennial anniversary this year. Narrated by Robert Redford, it features footage from 30 national parks. Brand USA collaborated with independent filmmaker MacGillivray Freeman Films to produce "National Parks Adventure." (MacGillivray Freeman has 35 giant-screen productions among its credits, including nine of the top-20 IMAX^® box-office hits.)

"Sunset and Coastal Living – both highly regarded, successful media brands that reach millions of consumers– bring a vital dimension of support to the roll-out of this film," said Chris Thompson, Brand USA's president and CEO. "These are brands that frequently showcase America's natural treasures and depict the local lifestyles associated with those destinations."

With 5 million readers, Sunset covers the West's best flavors, destinations, design trends, and innovations. Coastal Living celebrates life along the coast featuring extensive coverage of U.S. destinations and beyond and reaches an audience of more than five million. The two Time Inc. media brands will provide advertising, editorial, online and promotional support for "National Parks Adventure."

During 2015, Brand USA announced global film-sponsorship agreements with Expedia Media Solutions, the advertising unit for Expedia, Inc. and Subaru of America, Inc. Sunset and Coastal Living join REI as domestic sponsors. The film additionally received financial support from the Giant Dome Theater Consortium, which also lent their giant screen expertise to the production.

"National Parks Adventure" makes its public debut Feb. 12 at science centers and museums in more than 50 cities across the United States. The film will also be shown at international venues, starting Feb. 12. Locations include theaters in Canada, Mexico, Europe, Australia, China, India and Japan.

"National Parks continue to be major draws for global visitors considering trips to the USA. Each year, approximately 300 million visitors experience the more than 400 National Park Service properties," Thompson said. "We hope our film inspires even more international visitors to these national treasures."

About Brand USA

Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, 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 travellers. Formed as the Corporation for Travel Promotion in 2010, the public-private entity began operations in May 2011 and does business as Brand USA. With a mission of increasing incremental visitation, spend and market share of international travelers to the United States, Brand USA works in close partnership with more than 500 partners to maximize the economic and social benefits of travel. These benefits include fueling the nation's economy and fostering understanding between people and cultures.

Brand USA is governed by an 11-member Board of Directors appointed for a maximum of two consecutive three-year terms by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security. As required by the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 2014, all members of the board are United States citizens and are either current or former chief executive officers, chief financial offers, or chief marketing officers, or have held equivalent management positions. Designated members have leadership expertise in specific sectors of the travel industry including: hotel accommodations; restaurants; retail or a related association; travel distribution; attractions or recreations; state-level tourism office; city-level convention and visitors bureau; passenger air; land or sea transportation; and immigration law and policy. At least two members of the board are audit committee financial experts. In addition, at least five members of the board have expertise in international travel promotion or marketing broadly representing various regions of the United States.

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.VisitTheUSA.com.

About Sunset

Sunset (www.sunset.com) is the leading lifestyle brand in the West. Through magazines and books, events and experiences, and digital and social media, Sunset covers the West's best flavors, destinations, design trends, and innovations. Sunset engages and inspires an audience of over five million educated, active and affluent consumers every month through its five regional print editions—Pacific Northwest, Northern California, Southern California, Southwest and Mountain—as well as via all tablet devices and its website. In addition to its print and digital publications, Sunset showcases the region's unique lifestyle and noteworthy destinations through its flagship events, established home programs, licensing partnerships, books and International Wine Competition.

Coastal Living

A brand that celebrates life along the coast, Coastal Living (http://www.coastalliving.com/) is the source of inspiration and information for people who live or dream of living a coastal lifestyle. Coastal Living launched in 1997 and serves a total brand audience of more than 5 million. Coastal Living is available on all tablets and is published by Time Inc., the largest magazine media company in the United States.

About REI

REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle. The nation's largest consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of 5.5 million active members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips, and outstanding customer service. REI has 140 stores in 33 states. If you can't visit a store, you can shop at REI.com, REI.com/outlet or the free REI shopping app. REI isn't just about gear. You can take the trip of a lifetime with REI Adventures, a global leader in active adventure travel that runs 150 custom-designed itineraries on every continent. REI's Outdoor School is run by professionally-trained, expert-instructors who teach beginner- to advanced-level courses about a wide range of activities. To build on the infrastructure that makes life outside possible, REI invests millions annually in hundreds of local and national nonprofits that create access to–and steward–the outdoor places that inspire us.

About Expedia, Inc.

Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE) is one of the world's largest travel companies, with an extensive brand portfolio that includes leading online travel brands, such as:

Expedia.com®, a leading full service online travel agency with localized sites in 31 countries
Hotels.com®, the hotel specialist with localized sites in more than 60 countries
Hotwire®, a leading discount travel site that offers opaque deals in 12 countries throughout North America, Europe and Asia
Travelocity®, a pioneer in online travel and a leading online travel agency in the US and Canada
Egencia®, a leading corporate travel management company
Venere.com™, an online hotel reservation specialist in Europe
trivago®, a leading online hotel metasearch company with sites in 51 countries
Wotif Group, a leading operator of travel brands in the Asia-Pacific region, including Wotif.com ®, lastminute.com.au®, travel.com.au, Asia Web Direct®, LateStays.com and GoDo.com.au
Expedia Local Expert®, a provider of online and in-market concierge services, activities, experiences and ground transportation in hundreds of destinations worldwide
Classic Vacations®, a top luxury travel specialist
Expedia® CruiseShipCenters®, a provider of exceptional value and expert advice for travelers booking cruises and vacations through its network of 180 franchise locations across North America
CarRentals.com^™, the premier car rental booking company on the web

The company delivers consumers value in leisure and business travel, drives incremental demand and direct bookings to travel suppliers, and provides advertisers the opportunity to reach a highly valuable audience of in-market consumers through Expedia® Media Solutions. Expedia also powers bookings for some of the world's leading airlines and hotels, top consumer brands, high traffic websites, and thousands of active affiliates through Expedia Affiliate Network. For corporate and industry news and views, visit us at www.expediainc.com or follow us on Twitter @expediainc.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of more than 620 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants, and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. For additional information, visit media.subaru.com.

About MacGillivray Freeman Films

MacGillivray Freeman Films is the world's foremost independent producer and distributor of giant-screen 70mm films with 38 films for IMAX and other giant-screen theatres to its credit. Throughout the company's 50-year history, its films have won numerous international awards including two Academy Award® nominations and three films inducted into the IMAX Hall of Fame. MacGillivray Freeman's films are known for their artistry and celebration of science and the natural world. It is the first documentary film company to reach the one billion dollar benchmark in worldwide ticket sales. For more information about the company, visit www.macgillivrayfreemanfilms.com

About The Giant Dome Theater Consortium

The Giant Dome Theater Consortium (GDTC) incorporated in 2010 to foster educational film production for the most unique theaters in the world. The GDTC facilitates film production through financial support, and encourages the use of technical standards that maximize the experiential impact of the giant dome screen. Member institutions of the GDTC are Cincinnati Museum Center; Discovery Place, Inc., Charlotte; Museum of Science, Boston; Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago; Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, San Diego; Science Museum of Minnesota and the St. Louis Science Center.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Anne Madison
Brand USA
301.385.8296
[email protected]

SOURCE Brand USA