Program Overview

Geobranding Center

Global knowledge center dedicated to the marketing of countries, destinations, places of origin, attractions, venues and locations worldwide

The GeoBranding center is a global knowledge center dedicated to the marketing of countries, destinations, places of origin, attractions, venues and locations worldwide. A series of research initiatives explore the impact, value and outcomes of GeoBranding campaigns.

The GeoBranding center explores the world of marketing through the lens of individual countries and cultures. Through the exploration of topics such as economic development and its impact on tourism; the branding of places of origin as it relates to the promotion of individual products, global events that draw diverse crowds from around the world, and the impacts and ramifications of travel restrictions, trends and cultural shifts, the GeoBranding center serves to celebrate and bring awareness to efforts of marketing, tourism, trade and development around the world.

Research: Survey & Reports

Surf boards made in Hawaii Hawaii is a hub for surfing and surf art and has produced several of the world's most popular surfboard artists. Among them is Eduardo Bolioli, who is recognized for his innovative and distinctive surfboard art style.

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Curated Facts & Stats

The financial benefits from the World Cup soccer tournament are likely to be split unevenly among cities, hotels, restaurants and other tourism-dependent businesses.

Source: CNBC

44% of U.S. consumers plan to engage with World Cup matches or related events, with 30% of consumers planning to follow the games primarily through TV and streaming. The combination of increased advertising inventory, favorable time zones for European and American viewers, rising sponsorship demand and improved streaming monetization could result in a more robust revenue opportunity across a broad set of public equities

Source: Morgan Stanley

Travel bans, visa denials, safety fears, and record-high ticket prices are suppressing World Cup attendance—and threatening both FIFA’s promised $40 billion windfall and a U.S. tourism industry that was already struggling before the opening whistle.

Source: CFR

World Cup attendances are on track for record highs despite daunting ticket prices and Trump administration travel restrictions. Experts say it is less a reflection of America's fondness for soccer, and more a measure of its love of spectacle. Through 44 matches, total attendance topped 2.85 million, with the average stadium about 99.6% full.

Source: Reuters

The FIFA World Cup 2026 has only just started, but the tournament is already gaining traction among the U.S. public. Based on data from YouGov SportsIndex, both Buzz and Word of Mouth (WOM) Exposure have risen steadily in the first five days of the 39-day event.

Source: You Gov

Visa costs and travel warnings are keeping overseas fans home, raising questions about the cachet brands like Adidas and McDonald's pay billions for.

Source: Adweek

Independent economists have long warned that mega-event projections routinely outpace reality by 30 to 40 percent, and as kickoff approaches, several FIFA World Cup host cities are already grappling with cost overruns, infrastructure pressure, and questions about who truly benefits.

Source: FTN News

The war in Iran is not just disrupting travel, it is changing how the world travels. From fewer long-haul trips to a rise in domestic tourism, global travel patterns are rapidly shifting.

Source: WION

The Iran war has exposed major economic vulnerabilities across the Gulf region, shaking countries once seen as global safe havens for business, tourism and energy trade.

Source: The Financial Express

With an upcoming FIFA World Cup being staged across the nation, 2026 was supposed to be a bumper year for tourism to the United States, driven in part by hordes of arriving soccer fans. And yet, the U.S. tourism industry is worried. While the rest of the world saw a travel bump in 2025, with global international arrivals up 4%, the U.S. saw a downturn.

Source: WLRN
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Program Themes

  • Business Intelligence
  • Segmentation
  • Global Trends
  • North America
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • Asia Pacific
  • Africa
  • Middle East
  • India
  • Emerging Markets
  • Region Economic Statistics

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