The Hong Kong-based travel book publisher Odyssey is celebrating its 20th anniversary by launching its own imprint in the U.S. Until this year, Odyssey had licensed its books to such U.S. houses as Rand McNally, Fodor's and St. Martin's.

Odyssey publishes both travel guides and fully illustrated coffee-table books. Mary Bisbee-Beek, director of the publicity and marketing firm Beeksbee Books in St. Paul, Minn., described Odyssey's travel books as a "cross between the practical and the literary." With such destinations as Beijing, Galapagos Islands, the Philippines and Cuba, the imprint prides itself on offering guides to "out-of-the-way places for enthusiastic travelers."

Books are due out in March; Odyssey plans to publish 20-28 titles per season and is hoping for $1 million in sales this year. Distribution will be by W.W. Norton. Odyssey's U.S. marketing director is Donna Leverenz, based in Calistoga, Calif. For more information, call (707) 942-0123.