Leading global online travel company Orbitz Worldwide has launched a partnership with Brand USA.

Brand USA was launched in 2011 in support of the United States’ first global marketing effort to promote itself as a premier travel destination.

As part of this collaboration, ebookers – a member of the Orbitz Worldwide portfolio of consumer travel brands – has launched an updated version of the award-winning ebookers Explorer app for iPad that prominently features Brand USA sponsorship for all US destinations and introduces new features designed specifically for the iOS 6 mobile operating system.

Through the partnership, Orbitz Worldwide will provide significant in-kind media support to Brand USA—directly supporting Brand USA’s marketing strategies to incrementally increase international visitation to the United States in order to support economic growth and job creation.

The US tourism and travel industry is a substantial component of US GDP and employment, with international travel to the United States supporting 1.2 million jobs alone.

The travel and tourism industry projects that more than 1 million American jobs could be created within ten years if the US increases its share of the international travel market.

In addition to supporting the US economy, US travel brands and destinations partnering with Brand USA maximize their international marketing reach when they choose to advertise on leading Orbitz Worldwide sites including Orbitz.com, CheapTickets, ebookers and HotelClub – which are accessed by millions of customers outside the US each year.

“Advertising on Orbitz Worldwide sites provides a valuable opportunity for US destinations and travel brands to extend their reach in the international marketplace and exponentially increase their exposure,” said Josh Winkler, vice president of partner marketing for Orbitz Worldwide.

“Orbitz Worldwide maximises the marketing spend of Brand USA’s industry partners looking to attract international travellers, and we look forward to providing US advertising partners with even greater return on their investment – as well as the potential for greatly increased travel to their regions.”

“To encourage increased international visitation to the United States and to grow America’s share of the global travel market, Brand USA sought an innovative marketing partner that could leverage new cross-platform media programs,” said Jiri Marousek, director of digital media for Brand USA. 

“We found that partner in Orbitz Worldwide and look forward to integrating their innovations into our promotion of the U.S. as a premier travel destination.”