Thomas Cook Group and Brand USA announced a major cooperative marketing agreement aimed at promoting the USA as the destination for European visitors. The multimillion dollar agreement is the biggest media and partnership deal Brand USA has made with a travel retailer in Europe, and is part of a fully integrated omni-channel campaign targeting travel-intenders across Thomas Cook's platforms from online through to in-store, direct and inflight. The partnership, which will initially last for three months from its launch in mid-January 2014 and run simultaneously across the UK, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, will see Thomas Cook and Brand USA embark on a high-profile, multi-media campaign that fully utilises all of the holiday company's consumer and trade touch-points.  It will include in-store promotions across Thomas Cook's retail estate, prominence in brochures, a variety of social media activities and dedicated sign up by Thomas Cook staff to Brand USA's new agent training tool – the USA Discovery Program; as well as innovative print and digital marketing activity.

With the goal to reinforce interest in traditional getaways, such as Florida, California and other gateway destinations, as well as stimulating further awareness of states – including Texas and Hawaii, and regions, such as the North East which takes in the cities of Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and New York. The objective of the ‘Discover America' campaign is to position the country as a diverse destination with near limitless experiences, highlighting the USA as a fresh and unexpected destination with welcoming and friendly locals. This major partnership follows the news that Thomas Cook has aligned its online media solutions and tour operator partnerships teams across Europe to create the Thomas Cook Media & Partnerships division.

The initiative will bring together media and travel partnerships expertise within the group to deliver best in class marketing and media programmes to partners, suppliers and third party brands.