U.S., Sept. 20 -- Brand USA , the destination marketing organization for the United States, joined the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, to host the 13th annual U.S. - China Tourism Leadership Summit in Seattle, Washington, from September 18-20. The summit is the marquee opportunity to build and strengthen relationships between U.S. and Chinese travel and tourism industry leadership and government officials. Participants emphasized the important contribution of travel and tourism to the world's two largest economies.

Summit participants included executives and officials at state, provincial, and city level destination marketing organizations, industry association heads, tour operators and online travel ag...