Chicago, IL (February 19, 2015) –General Growth Properties (GGP) today marks its third year with Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States. Tourism has long been a strategic business driver for GGP, and the partnership provides an opportunity to expand its tourism initiatives through a variety of co-op marketing ingenuities targeting both travel trade and consumers in key international feeder destinations throughout the world. 

“Brand USA provides GGP the opportunity to leverage marketing dollars, enabling us to attend trade shows in top emerging international markets,” Sarah Alter, SVP, CMO, GGP.  “This allows us to capitalize on multi-channel consumer campaigns that promote shopping and dining at our properties in popular travel destinations, such as Las Vegas, Honolulu, Chicago and Miami.”

A leader in retail tourism for more than decade, GGP has long been at the forefront of recognizing the importance of retail and dining travel expenditures in key destinations where GGP has major retail centers. As a result, GGP branded a select collection of centers from its portfolio as   “America's Premier Shopping Places”   (APSP), which it markets to both domestic and international travelers who favor shopping as one of their top activities during both leisure and business travel excursions.

"GGP was Brand USA's first multi-property retail partner," said Karyn Gruenberg, Vice President of Partner Programs for Brand USA. "Although GGP was active in the international market long before Brand USA, it's a complement to our partnership they've expanded their global reach through our marketing efforts.”

In addition to the partnership with Brand USA, GGP partners with countless tour operators, online travel agencies and travel industry companies from around the world to provide special offers and discounts to domestic and international travelers. GGP APSP malls also offer a variety of customized group programs coordinated in conjunction with retailers and restaurants at the property to ensure international travelers are able to receive personalized experiences to ensure return visits.

Retail power-house Macy's has been working with GGP for years. According to Kristen Esposito, vice president of tourism marketing and development for Macy's Inc., “Macy's has a dedicated tourism marketing team offering exclusive visitor programs, many of which are available at participating APSP shopping centers. Macy's strives to welcome all international shoppers and works with various tourism groups to create personalized experiences including special in-store events, displays and merchandising at select destinations to ensure our international travelers feel at home,” stated Esposito. “GGP has been a tremendous partner to us – especially in the tourism division. We look forward to future successes and collaborations.”

General Growth Properties, Inc., an S&P 500 company focused exclusively on owning, managing, leasing, and redeveloping high-quality retail properties throughout the United States. GGP is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol GGP.

America's Premier Shopping Places cater to domestic and international leisure fly, drive and motor coach travelers, as well as student youth groups, convention and meeting attendees. All visitors to America's Premier Shopping Places are eligible to receive a Premier Passport filled with thousands of dollars in shopping and dining savings, special offers and amenities. Multi-lingual vouchers are provided to travel agents and tour operators, or may be downloaded and printed from America's Premier Shopping Places' website at www.AmericasShoppingPlaces.com. In addition, several centers offer travel trade professionals commissionable shopping packages, and assist group meeting planners with unique private events, pre-paid meal vouchers for food court cafes and pre-fixed group dining programs at a variety of full-service restaurants. For detailed information on centers listed below, please visit www.AmericasShoppingPlaces.com. Additional press releases and photography are available in downloadable, high-resolution formats.

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 organization's mission is to increase international visitation to the United States while working in partnership with the travel industry to maximize 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 www.TheBrandUSA.com. For information about travel to and around the United States, please visit Brand USA's consumer website at www.DiscoverAmerica.com.

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