INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL TRADE FAMS, TRADE SHOWS & EVENTS
Volaris Airlines - Dream Vacation Builders FAM
L.A. Tourism hosted a familiarization tour Nov. 4-7, 2015 in partnership with Volaris Airlines and receptive tour operator Dream Vacation Builders. The group of 15 agents from Mexico City experienced an educational itinerary featuring a Segway tour with ‘A Day in LA Tours’, Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood, ifly indoor Skydiving, Universal Studios Hollywood and a visit to the Original Farmer’s Market, among others. Accommodations were provided by the Sheraton Universal Hotel.
DERtour Academy FAMs
In partnership with Visit California, L.A. Tourism hosted three DERtour Academy familiarization tours Nov. 15-23, 2015 to promote Los Angeles as a premier destination for international travelers. The group’s participants included agents from Germany and Austria. Their educational itinerary highlighted must-see L.A. attractions including shopping at Hollywood & Highland, biking the Santa Monica boardwalk with Perry’s Biking Tours, and a five-star dinner and nightlife in West Hollywood, among others. Accommodations for all three DERtour groups were provided by Mondrian West Hollywood, Loews Hollywood and Hilton Garden Inn Hollywood.
LA Auto Show Preview Event
In partnership with the LA Auto Show, L.A. Tourism hosted a group of local tour operators and industry influencers Nov. 19, 2015 for a special preview event of the show before it opened to the public. The annual preview party benefits The GRAMMY Museum's K-12 music education programs. Local tour operators serving the Chinese, Japanese and Latin American market were given a private tour of the convention halls and received an up-close look at the newest vehicles that will debut in 2016.
Volaris Airlines - Dream Vacation Builders FAM
L.A. Tourism hosted a second fam tour Nov. 9-11, 2015 in partnership with Volaris Airlines and receptive tour operator Dream Vacation Builders. The group consisted of 14 agents from Guadalajara, Mexico. Their educational itinerary highlighted L.A.’s diverse tourism offerings including a Segway tour with ‘A Day in LA Tours,’ Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, ifly indoor Skydiving, Universal Studios Hollywood, lunch at Rusty’s Surf Ranch and shopping at Santa Monica Place, among others. Accommodations were provided by the Sheraton Universal Hotel.
Helloworld Culinary FAM
L.A. Tourism, in partnership with Visit California, hosted an incentive FAM tour Nov. 10-12, 2015 for a group of top Helloworld agents from Australia. Helloworld is an integrated travel company with businesses in retail, corporate and wholesale travel markets through the Harvey World Travel, Jetset Travel, Travelworld, Travelscene American Express, Best Flights and Best Cruises brands. Their educational itinerary focused on L.A.’s culinary attractions. Highlights included a food tour with Urban Adventures, dinner at Commissary at the Line Hotel and a visit to Grand Central Market. Accommodations were provided by the Line Hotel.
Travel Shop Mexico FAM
L.A. Tourism hosted a FAM Nov. 15-17, 2015 for one of Latin America’s largest travel groups, Mundo Joven. The group’s participants included agents from Mundo Joven’s B2B Travel Company – Travel Shop Operadora. The agents experienced travel products that make Los Angeles a premier leisure destination. Their educational itinerary included a food tour with Six Tastes, a visit to Universal Studios Hollywood, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, and shopping at Santa Monica Place. Accommodations were provided by Hilton Universal.
Travel Corporation Mega FAM
L.A. Tourism hosted a cocktail welcome reception Nov. 21, 2015 for a group of 112 top selling agents from the Travel Corporation. The Travel Corporation is one of the largest travel companies in Australia consisting of leading brands such as Contiki, Trafalgar Tours, Insight Vacations and Creative Holidays. The reception was kicked off a three-day FAM tour of Los Angeles. Their educational itinerary included Universal Studios Hollywood, Hard Rock Café CityWalk, Go Los Angeles Cards, Starline Sightseeing Hop-on/Hop-off city tour passes, and shopping at the Citadel Outlets Transportation was provided by Karmel Shuttle. Accommodations were provided by The Grafton on Sunset, Hilton Garden Inn and Loews Hollywood Hotel.
L.A. Tourism – Japan
L.A. Tourism’s Japan representative Masa Andachi participated in the 2015 Mode Tour International Travel Show in Korea Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2015. The event featured a B2B day for Mode Tour network members and employees as well as a consumer day with more than 71,000 visitors. L.A. Tourism shared its booth with Visit California and San Francisco Tourism, distributing visitor’s guides, maps and additional collateral.
Masa executed an L.A. Seminar, in partnership with Japan Airlines, in Osaka Nov. 17-19, 2015. More than 60 travel consultants from various travel agencies participated in the seminar and were provided pertinent information on L.A. including neighborhoods, attractions, culture, dining and shopping experiences. Japan Airlines also promoted their new flight from Osaka to LAX, which launched in March 2015.
L.A. Tourism’s Asia-Pacific office participated in the L.A.-Nagoya Sister City event organized by Ayanari, a marketing company which assists and supports Japanese companies investing in Los Angeles. More than 100 owners of small/medium sized companies and entrepreneurs from the Nagoya area attended the event, where L.A. Tourism presented information about Los Angeles.
L.A. Tourism – Australia & New Zealand
L.A. Tourism Australia office attended the trade launch event for American Airlines/Qantas’ Sydney to LAX Nov. 13, 2015 at Qantas headquarters in Sydney. More than 130 top-selling travel agents from across Australia were flown to Sydney for a day of intensive training about the new American Airlines/Qantas code share partnership for the Sydney-LAX route, commencing Dec. 19, 2015. L.A. Tourism, in partnership with Universal Studios Hollywood, conducted an interactive training seminar showcasing L.A.’s unique neighborhoods and their unique hotels. L.A. Tourism and Qantas also presented updated trainings on the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX and Qantas’ One World Lounge. In conjunction with Brand USA, L.A. Tourism launched a trade sales incentive to drives LAX airfare sales for the holiday season.
L.A. Tourism’s Australia representative Craig Gibbons attended an American Airlines/Qantas press conference in New Zealand Nov. 11, 2015 announcing the launch of a new service from Auckland to LAX on June 23, 2016. The new AA service will utilize a 787-8 Boeing Dreamliner aircraft, operating daily from Auckland to LAX code-sharing with Qantas. The new service will provide additional and much needed lift for the New Zealand market.
L.A. Tourism exhibited at Pacific Area Incentives & Conferences Expo (PAICE) in Auckland, New Zealand Nov. 18, 2015. PAICE is the leading annual MICE trade show for the New Zealand market. L.A Tourism conducted 25 B2B appointments with buyers from across New Zealand and provided updates on hotel development, educational and sports group tours and updated information on LAX Airport.
L.A. Tourism – China
L.A. Tourism’s China representative Austin Yin organized and executed a training at Yangzhou Jingjiang Hotel Nov. 18, 2015 to promote China Eastern Airlines’ new flight (NKG-LAX). The training offered local Yangzhou operators a session focusing on L.A.’s tourism resources, new attractions, and LAX updates. More than 35 local tour operators from Yangzhou and nearby cities attended the training.
A second training session to promote the China Eastern Airlines’ new service (NKG-LAX) was held at Wuhu Crown Plaza Nov. 26, 2015. Austin delivered a presentation on L.A.’s tourism resources, new attractions, and LAX updates. More than 40 local tour operators from Wuhu and nearby cities attended the training, which was co-organized by China Eastern Airlines Jiangsu Branch.
L.A. Tourism’s Shanghai Office attended the BrandUSA Roadshow in Hangzhou and Nanjing on Nov. 18 and Nov. 20, 2015, respectively. More than 120 participants, many of which were from key outbound travel agencies in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province and Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, attended the half-day educational seminar in each city. In Nanjing, LATCB Shanghai Office had a total of 15 one-on-one meeting appointments with local outbound travel agents and media. L.A Tourism representatives provided collateral and showcased L.A.’s tourism products to travel agents and key local media.
L.A. Tourism’s Shanghai office attended a sales promotion activity in Nanjing Nov. 21, 2015 organized by Tuniu, one of the leading OTAs in China. About 100 high-end consumers targeted by Tuniu attended the event. L.A. Tourism representatives briefed attendees on L.A.’s tourism products, resources and flight services between LAX and Nanjing.
L.A. Tourism’s Beijing office attended China International Travel Mart (CITM) in Kunming Nov. 13-15 2015. L.A. Tourism shared a booth with Universal Studios Hollywood and JAB America and highlighted LAX, LATCB membership hotels and receptive companies, L.A. tours and FIT resources. Representatives conducted meetings with regional tourism officials from Shandong, Beijing, Ningxia, Hebei, etc. and discussed cooperation opportunities for 2016.
L.A. Tourism – France
L.A. Tourism’s France representatives conducted the second series of trainings for 2015-2016 at Air Tahiti Nui Nov. 17, 2015 at ATN’s headquarters in Paris. Several travel agents participated in the training where updates and news about Los Angeles was shared. The third training session was held December 1, 2015.
Organized by Visit USA Committee France, a full day workshop about “The West” was held at the Air France offices and was attended by 88 travel agents and product managers. L.A. Tourism representative Murielle Nouchy provided a presentation with updates on Los Angeles.
L.A. Tourism – Germany
L.A. Tourism’s Germany office participated in the DERTOUR Summer Lights 2016 program in Hamburg, Germany Nov. 6-8, 2015. The two-day trade event hosted 1,500 invite travel agents, agency managers and owners. L.A. representatives educated attendees about Los Angeles, highlighting LAX and the destination’s tourism products.
L.A. Tourism’s Germany office, in partnership with Thomas Cook and Starwood Hotels, hosted 45 volume-producing travel agents from the Berlin vicinity at the Westin Grand Hotel Berlin Nov. 3, 2015, for a reception focused on travel to North America and specifically Los Angeles.
SALES
L.A. Tourism hosted a group of meeting & event professionals for the LA Music Experience customer familiarization event Nov. 20-23, 2015. The FAM focused on meetings and events in Hollywood and Downtown Los Angeles, showcasing 15 member-partners, hotels and venues to meeting professionals from Dignity Health, Americans for the Arts, Hyundai Capital America, American Express Meetings and Events -Intel Corporation, Volkswagen Group of America, In-N-Out Burger, Accela, Inc., California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) and National League of Cities. Highlights from the experience included a sneak peek of the Petersen Automotive Museum and private tour of Capitol Studios at the Capitol Records Building. The music-themed experience culminated with guests attending the American Music Awards and after-party on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015 at Microsoft Theater.
COMMUNICATIONS
L.A. Tourism Public Relations, in partnership with Copa Airlines, hosted Caras Magazine Brazil Nov. 12 -16, 2015. Caras documented Brazilian actress Nanda Costa and musician Lan as they explored Los Angeles, visiting Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, The Grove and The Original Farmer’s Market. Accommodations were provided by the The Redbury.
L.A. Tourism PR showcased the Arts District to a group of Brazilian journalists Nov. 17, 2015 as they experienced the Cartwheel Art Tour. Outlets on the educational trip were hosted by the Beverly Wilshire Hotel and included Vogue, O Globo and Revista I.
L.A. Tourism PR, in partnership with The Beverly Hills Hotel, showcased the destination to a group of UK media Nov. 7, 2015. Outlets on the educational trip such as Hello! Online, Press Association and City AM. The educational itinerary highlighted The Grove and The Original Farmer’s Market.
L.A. Tourism PR hosted Postcards, an Australian travel show Nov. 16-24, 2015 to film segments for their 30-minute episode highlighting L.A.’s distinct neighborhoods. The show will feature Olvera Street, Marina del Rey, Arts District, The Broad and Grand Central Market.
CS TV, Tabi Channel in Japan were also in Los Angeles Nov. 16-19, 2015 to film a music history/travel feature. While in L.A., they filmed at The GRAMMY Museum, L.A. LIVE and The Echo.