Brand USA: 10+ Years of Fighting for Funding

Ever since its creation in 2010 to be the country's destination marketing organization, Brand USA has faced potential cuts and even threats of elimination.

The White House fired five of Brand USA's 11 board members on Friday, including the board Chair Elliott Ferguson, who is also CEO of Destination DC.

As of Monday, it was still unclear why they were fired, and what the plan is for installing new members. The board is appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce with input from the U.S. Secretaries of State and Homeland Security.

Ever since its creation in 2010 to be the country's destination marketing organization, Brand USA has faced potential cuts and even threats of elimination. Brand USA's funding comes from private sector contributions, including from state and local destination marketing organizations, and the federal government matches up to $100 million per year. The matching funds come from U.S. visa application fees.

President Obama signed the 2009 Travel Promotion Act in March 2010, which created the Corporation for Travel Promotion — a public-private partnership geared toward marketing the U.S. as a tourism destination to international visitors. It began operating as Brand USA in May 2011.

Jim Evans, a former CEO of Best Western International, was the first CEO of Brand USA. He stepped down in June 2012. Caroline Beteta then served as Brand USA's interim CEO. Brand USA named Christopher L. Thompson its president and CEO in late 2012. Thompson had previously held those