SAN FRANCISCO TRAVEL ASSOCIATION SELECTS PARTNERSHIP OF BRANDSTORY / WORLD IDEA MART TO REPRESENT THE CITY AND THE BAY AREA

BrandStory / World Idea Mart’s contract will commence on 1 July 2016

June 9, 2016

SHANGHAI, 12 May 2016 – The San Francisco Travel Association (San Francisco Travel) today announced that it has selected a new marketing contractor, a partnership of BRANDSTORY and WORLD IDEA MART (WIM), to provide destination representation services in China. San Francisco Travel is the private non-profit organization that is officially responsible for marketing the City of San Francisco as a travel destination for meetings, conventions and leisure travel for over 100 years,

Based in Shanghai, BRANDSTORY, the award-winning travel representation company together with World Idea Mart, will employ a strategic mix of airline and travel trade partnerships as well as consumer marketing via partnership advertising, PR and social media programs.

The partnership of the two firms will enjoy the presence of BrandStory’s offices based in the key gateway cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong. With more China gateways offering direct air access than any other city in the USA, San Francisco Travel’s new China team will also support the primary international gateway to North America, San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

“The diversity, convenience and unique experiences of San Francisco resonates with the growing FIT segment from China, boosted by the 10-year multiple entry visa and increased air capacity from multiple Chinese gateways directly into the city. said Tom Kiely, San Francisco Travel’s executive vice president and chief tourism officer. “We look forward to working with this creative, charismatic and passionate partnership to tap into the opportunities that the China market provides.”

WIM Principal Karen Lo, who spent half her life in the Bay Area, said, “We are extremely honored to be appointed by San Francisco Travel. We bring our relationships, experience and knowledge on the fastest growing outbound source market.”

“The city and the surrounding area is just waiting to be discovered by the Chinese visitor, and we’re here to help them find just that” added the Account Director-designate.

BrandStory counts amongst their USA clients, famous destinations and attractions such as Hawaii, Las Vegas, the Capital Region of USA, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Brand USA (for Taiwan and Hong Kong).

BRANDSTORY Executive Director Peter Phang said, “With more than 400,000 visitors per year in 2015, China is the top overseas market for San Francisco and is set to keep on growing”.

“With the most gateways from China connecting to over 77 cities in the U.S., San Francisco will be start of so many Chinese travelers’ visits to America. We will help tell the story to inspire journeys of discovery to this fantastic destination.” added  Phang.

“We would like to thank East West Marketing Corporation China who has served as our in-market representative for 19 years” said Tom Kiely, San Francisco Travel’s executive vice president and chief tourism officer. “Their professional support has helped San Francisco Travel establish a solid footprint in the Chinese travel market. We look forward to our new partnership with BRANDSTORY, the innovative and exciting programs we are jointly working on to educate and encourage more visitors and new customer segments to enjoy our great city.”