January 2016 -Welcome to Brand USA's monthly media newsletter with all the top stateside news spanning the next few months. Please include the new URL www.VisitTheUSA.comto entice your readers with more USA adventures.

New Year – New Rooms

Whether visitors are seeking the quaint towns of New England, or southern hospitality, a number of hotels across the USA are opening their doors in 2016.

-       New Openings - Vermont

Located in the picture perfect Vermont town of Stowe, the stylish new Field Guide Hotel (pictured) offers 30 bright, modern rooms, suites and cottages, a spacious designer guest lounge and a seasonal heated pool and hot tub.

The Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants group is celebrating the opening of their first Vermont property The Taconic Hotel. In typical Kimpton style, this boutique property is set to have a distinctive design and luxurious facilities – reflecting the beauty, history and authenticity of the Manchester Village in which it resides.

-       New Opening - Texas

Once a 19th century Brewhouse, Hotel Emma in San Antonio, Texas, has re-opened its doors as a boutique hotel. Named after Emma Koehler, former CEO of the brewery who ensured its survival through the Prohibition era, the interior of the hotel equally provides a nod to history of the building. A number of rooms situated in the original Brewhouse tower have a historic industrial design ethos throughout – and for luxurious stays, there is a handful of penthouse suites with private balconies for guests to relax and enjoy the Southern hospitality. A culinary concierge can arrange culinary experiences and cultural trips for guests whilst a 3,700-volume library and rooftop pool ensure guests can relax.

-       New Openings scheduled for Aloft

The design-led, modern hotel brand, Aloft, is due to open a number of properties across the USA in 2016. Leading the openings in February is Dallas Love Field, Texas; Boston Seaport, Massachusetts and Sarasota, Florida, with bookings now being taken.

For further information on each of the locations see VisitTheUSA.com / Vermontvacation.com / Traveltex.com / Massvacation.com / VisitFlorida.com

Norwegian announces new flights for 2016

 Low cost airline Norwegian has announced a new route from London Gatwick to San Francisco Oakland starting from £199 one way, with fares on sale now. Commencing on 12th May 2016, the three-times-weekly route to Oakland International Airport will become the closest international airport for wine lovers to access Napa Valley, while having a connection to the SF BART mass transit system offering passengers a 30-minute connection to downtown San Francisco. In addition to the new route, Norwegian has brought forward the launch of its four-times-weekly route to Boston from May 2016 to 27th March 2016. An additional flight to Los Angeles will also commence from 10th May between London Gatwick and Los Angeles, increasing to five flights per week. VisitTheUSA.com / Norwegian.com

Arizona introduces new shopping destination

Following a recent report by The Post Office, U.S. shop prices stateside are far cheaper than in Dubai, Barcelona and Paris, with prices in the U.S. being up to 63 percent lower than in London. As research shows that shopping is the favourite holiday pastime for almost nine-in-10 (88 percent) of UK visitors to the USA, the opening of Tucson Premium Outlets, part of the Simon property group, is a gem for savvy shoppers visiting Arizona. The centre, located less than a 30-minute drive from Tucson International Airport, offers every day savings of 25 to 65 percent on over 90 popular designer and name brands stores including Calvin Klein, Michael Kors and Nike Factory Store. More exciting stores are set to be added in the coming months, including Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th and The Disney Store Outlet. VisitTheUSA.com / premiumoutlets.com/outlets / VisitArizona.com

Say Aloha to new Hawaii Big Island Tour

Starting in April 2016, TrekAmerica will hit all 50 states for the first time, as they introduce their Hawaii Big Island Tour. The eight day tour includes ocean side camping under the stars, snorkelling with turtles and visiting one of the most active volcanoes in the world at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and exploring the inside of a lava tube at Thurston Lava Tube. The action packed tour includes equipment and transportation at £859 (not including flights).

VisitTheUSA.com / Trekamerica.co.uk/tours / GoHawaii.com/uk

Snow conditions make Jackson 50th season memorable

Coined 'Deepcember', the first month of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort's 50th season saw over 11 foot  of snowfall, with a depth of almost six foot by Christmas on the upper mountain. New for this winter, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has added the Teton lift, with a capacity of 2,223 people per hour, commemorating the milestone anniversary with an improved service on the mountain for guests. Opened in late December, intermediate and expert skiers can now take the four-minute ride to the north side of the resort between the already existent Casper and Apres Vous lifts.

VisitTheUSA.com / Jacksonhole.com / Wyomingtourism.org

The Best of Western

With Tarantino's 'Hateful Eight' on cinema screens in December and DiCaprio starring in 'The Revenant' this month, western films are undergoing a revival lately. For a taste of western life (minus the violence that characterises the film genre), a ranch holiday in the USA can put visitors in touch with their inner-cowboy while enjoying the great outdoors. Riding holiday specialist, Ranch Rider, has just launched its 2016 brochure as the company enters its 20th year simultaneously to the National Park Service centenary, including a number of ranch holidays in Arizona, Colorado, Montana and Oklahoma. Several ranches are in close proximity to national parks, includingMontana's Lone Mountain Ranch with riding and hiking within Yellowstone's boundaries and Colorado's Zapata Ranch hosting a photography holiday focused on the spring migration of the Sandhill Cranes, next to the Great Sand Dunes National Park where horseback can be interchanged with sand boards for a unique adventure holiday.

VisitTheUSA.com / Ranchrider.com / VisitMT.com / Colorado.com

Hollywood welcomes Harry Potter

Universal Studios has announced that a new Harry Potter themed park will reside in Universal Studios Hollywood from 7th April 2016. Muggles paying a visit to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be able to explore the mysteries of Hogwarts Castle, listen to the Frog Choir, peruse the shops of Hogsmeade – including Ollivanders, makers of fine wands since 382BC – and swoop past Hagrid's hut on new coaster, Flight of the Hippogriff.

VisitTheUSA.com / Universalstudioshollywood.com/harrypotter / VisitCalifornia.com  

-ENDS-

Discover this land, like never before VisitTheUSA.com

Brand USA is the public-private partnership responsible for promoting the United States as a premier travel destination and communicating U.S. entry/exit policies and procedures. Established by the Travel Promotion Act in 2010, the organisation's mission is to increase international visitation to the United States while working in partnership with the travel industry to maximise the economic and social benefits of travel. These benefits include creating jobs essential to the economy and fostering understanding between people and cultures. For industry or partner information about Brand USA, visit TheBrandUSA.com.

For information about travel to and around the United States, please visit Brand USA's consumer website at VisitTheUSA.com.

For further Brand USA, UK/Ireland press information, contact:

Polly Beech / Sarah Barnett / Allie Williams

pbeech@thebrandusa.co.uk/ sbarnett@thebrandusa.co.uk / awilliams@thebrandusa.co.uk

020 7845 6359 / 020 7845 6378 / 020 7845 6384