October 2015 -Welcome to Brand USA's monthly media newsletter with all the top stateside news spanning the next few months. Please include the consumer website DiscoverAmerica.com to entice your readers with more USA adventures.

Great value holidays to the USA with British Airways until 20th October

In partnership with Brand USA and to coincide with the fifth anniversary of British Airway's joint venture with American Airlines, the airline is offering great holiday deals to a number of top U.S. destinations, until 20th October. Locations will include Austin, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. The airline will also be tipping a hat to Ol' Blue Eyes, Sinatra, ahead of his 100th birthday on 12th December, by launching a dedicated 'Swing' channel on its in-flight entertainment systems including his greatest hits and biopic Discovering Frank, tracing the New Jersey boy's rise to stardom. ba.com/america / DiscoverAmerica.com

The USA's scariest haunts this Halloween

Arguably the USA's most exciting holiday; preparations and some month long events for Halloween are starting now. From Salem to San Diego, visitors to the U.S. are in for a fright this month.

The historic Massachusetts seaport city of Salem, famed for the Witch Trials in 1692, is experiencing a month of 'Haunted Happenings' this October. Running from now until 31st October, the city expects 250,000 visitors in the spooky Salem surrounds with events including séances, terrifying candlelit tours and masquerade balls. The month will culminate in an After Hours rendition of the 'Texas Chainsaw Musical', a Halloween Boo's Cruise and Halloween Finale Fireworks. A host of activities are available for families, including free family films on Salem common, 'See the beasts' at Peabody Essex Museum and wand-making workshop 'Ask a witch, make a wand'. Hauntedhappenings.org / DiscoverAmerica.com/Massachusetts

Leading the scare in New York State is 'Sleepy Holloween'. Less than one hour from New York City by car or train, Sleepy Hollow (not just a Johnny Depp film) is known as one of the scariest places in the world, owing to the legend of its headless horseman, a pronounced figure in the town's Halloween festivities. Visitors can follow the Horseman's Hollow trail on a selection of evenings throughout October as the 300 year old Philipsburg Manor transforms into a fearsome landscape ruled by vampires, witches and undead soldiers serving the Headless Horseman himself. visitsleepyhollow.com / DiscoverAmerica.com/NewYork

For a child-friendly Halloween getaway, Legoland in San Diego, California is hosting a number of Brick-or-Treat party nights at weekends throughout October. The park will be open after 5pm with a ghost cruise, Brick-or-Treat trail and costume contests. california.legoland.com/BOT/ / DiscoverAmerica.com/SanDiego

Key West holds Intergalactic Fantasy Fest

Out of this world antics are encouraged in the Florida Keys later this month as the Intergalactic Fantasy Fest takes place from 23rd October until 1st November. Over the 10-day celebration, with theme 'All Hallows Intergalactic Freak Show', visitors can join masquerade balls, creative costume contests and design parade floats. From 23rd until 27th October, Key West Burlesque is set to unveil 'the sexy side of Star Wars', a parody providing a sassy spin on events in the fictional galaxy far, far, away, while a pet masquerade and parade take place on 28th October. The self-acclaimed 'freak show' is expected to attract thousands of spectators to cheer the finale parade on 31st October, including exotic marching groups, Carribean bands, costumed characters and lavishly decorated motorised floats. Fla-keys.co.uk / DiscoverAmerica.com/FloridaKeys

Indianapolis launches the USA's largest electrical car service

BlueIndy is bringing 500 electric vehicles and 200 charging stations to the city of Indianapolis, offering visitors an eco-friendly option for navigating the city. Already with 50 on the road, all 500 will be rolled out by January, which will run solely on Lithium Metal Polymer batteries, being able to travel up to 120 miles before recharging is required. Charging stations are now placed at key destinations across Indianapolis including numerous downtown locations and at Indianapolis International Airport, with pick-up and collection at any BlueIndy charging station. Users will need to subscribe to BlueIndy ahead of using the vehicles, allowing purchase of a vehicle for time periods ranging from one day up to a year! A BlueIndy app is available to locate available stations and make payment. VisitIndy.com / DiscoverAmerica.com/usa/states/indiana/

Utah open first ski resort in decades

With around 500 inches of snow each year, Utah has recently undergone over $100 million (approx. £65 million) of on-mountain enhancements, in addition to the state's first new ski resort in decades. Cherry Peak Resort is located near Logan, north Utah, accessible from Salt Lake City airport. Three triple chairlifts, a 1.25 mile long run and a three-storey day lodge hosting year-round events, with ice skating and snow tubing on offer besides skiing and snowboarding. Visitors can book now for the 2015/16 season. skicherrypeak.us / DiscoverAmerica.com/Utah

-ENDS-

Discover this land, like never before at DiscoverAmerica.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 DiscoverAmerica.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