By Greg Hazley
The public-private agency that promotes travel to the Unites States has tapped a group of WPP agencies including JWT and Hill & Knowlton for its $200M global marketing account.
The Corporation for Travel Promotion, set up in 2011 by Congress, woos international visitors to the U.S. through marketing and PR efforts.
JWT will take the lead on the account, which will include work by sister firms Medicom, The Brand Union and H&K.
The WPP group beat teams from sister unit Ogilvy as well as Omnicom’s DDB in the final pitch. The Talent Business handled the search for the CTP.
“America is a uniquely compelling and diverse travel destination, and the CTP, for the first time in our nation’s history, will be creating “Brand USA,” to help bring more international visitors to every corner of our wonderful country,” said Jim Evans, the former Best Western and Jenny Craig CEO who took the reins as the first CEO of the CTP in May.
CTP’s board includes executives from around the travel sector, including Sabre Holdings, Diamond Resorts, NYC &Co. and United Airlines. The group expects to name an executive team, including a chief marketing officer and VP of stakeholder engagement, in the coming days.
Washington, D.C.-based High Lantern Group has worked with CTP since last fall to help the group get off the ground and promote itself.
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