INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL TRADE FAMS, TRADE SHOWS & EVENTS
Virtuoso Travel Week
L.A. Tourism attended Virtuoso Travel Week, the annual travel industry summit exclusive to the worldwide Virtuoso network in Las Vegas August 8-13, 2015. L.A. Tourism held 330 one-on-one pre-scheduled meetings with Virtuoso agency owners, managers, consultants and travel specialists. L.A. Tourism also hosted a table during the Destination Showcase and Dinner Reception, where key Virtuoso agents were invited to attend. Travel Week attendance for the show hit a record number of attendees: 4,842 influential travel professionals from 90 countries.
L.A. Tourism – Australia
L.A. Tourism’s Sydney office exhibited at Travel Industry Exhibition (TIE) July 15-16, 2015 in Sydney. This new trade show targets key FIT and group leisure travel buyers from the Australian travel trade. L.A. Tourism met with more than 100 buyers and provided updates on L.A.’s new hotel developments, LAX’s modernization program as well as key attractions such as “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” at Universal Studios Hollywood.
L.A. Tourism’s Sydney office also exhibited at Flight Centre Australia – the annual consumer travel expos in Melbourne and Sydney in August. In partnership with Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, L.A. Tourism promoted LAX’s modernization program and key LAX gateway messaging to more than 30,000 consumers.
United Airlines held key training seminars in Sydney, Melbourne & Auckland and L.A Tourism’s Sydney office was the seminar’s key sponsor. L.A. Tourism provided updates on LAX’s modernization and the overall destination to more than 400 top-selling travel agents at the seminar, while promoting United’s services from Australia to LAX.
L.A. Tourism – Japan
L.A. Tourism’s Japan office held a training seminar at Kansai International Airport (KIX) August 30, 2015 focusing on leisure travelers. The seminar promoted Japan Airlines’ new service from KIX to LAX, which began service this past March. More than 60 attendees received updates about Los Angeles, attractions, dining, museums as well as the new service from L.A. Tourism representative Masa Andachi.
L.A. Tourism – China
L.A. Tourism’s China office attended China Incentive Business Travel Meetings (CIBTM) in Beijing and provided presentations on LAX, L.A. Tourism’s member hotels and receptive companies, L.A.-themed tours, fly-drive packages and FIT resources. CIBTM is China’s leading meetings, incentives and business travel exhibition and is the only trade show officially endorsed by the Chinese Government. Held over three days at the China National Convention Centre, CIBTM offers unrivalled networking and an impressive education program; the show generated nine leads for MICE groups.
As invited by Brand USA, Angela Li, Marketing Manager at L.A. Tourism’s Beijing office attended the organization’s American product training to CITS, CYTS and Shijiebang. More than 25 attendees from MICE, sales, OP department were at each training. Angela presented updates on LAX, L.A. Tourism member hotels and new products to the trade partners.
As a part of 2015 GTA Hotel Sales Campaign, Selin Lin, Marketing Manager at L.A. Tourism’s China office, organized a hotel training at L.A. Tourism’s tentative Guangzhou office. At the event, presentations focused on LAX, L.A. Tourism member hotels, FIT packages and new L.A. attractions to 16 travel agencies from regions in South China.
In partnership with China Eastern Airlines, L.A. Tourism’s Shanghai office held a training at Wuxi Intercontinental Hotel for Wuxi local operators, promoting the airline’s new flight from Nanjing to LAX August 27. More than 40 Wuxi local operators attended the training session where L.A. Tourism representative Austin Lin provided updates on new L.A. attractions, LAX and other tourism resources.
L.A. Tourism’s Shanghai office, in partnership with GTA Shanghai and China Eastern Airlines, held a training session at Crowne Plaza Chengdu City Center as part of the 2015 GTA Hotel Sales Campaign. Attendees consisted of more than 50 major local travel operators including YTS (Chengdu), CITS (Chengdu), Galaxy tour (Chengdu Branch), and more. L.A. Tourism representative Austin Lin presented updated on L.A. Tourism member hotels, FIT packages and new L.A. attractions.
SALES
L.A. Tourism hosted 10 self-contained and citywide meeting planners from across the country for the “Los Angeles Music Experience” August 28-31, 2015. The educational itinerary included Warner Bros. Studios Tour Hollywood, personalized DJ lessons at Scratch Academy, the Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival and culminating at the MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater. Other unique experiences took place at off-site venues and hotel properties across the region. Additionally, an educational presentation was held at The London West Hollywood to communicate the benefits of working with L.A. Tourism, which also provided feedback in bringing more business to Los Angeles. Accommodations were provided by InterContinental Los Angeles Century City at Beverly Hills.
COMMUNICATIONS
L.A. Tourism's Public Relations team hosted newly hired Australian PR Agency, Adhesive PR, in-market in August to educate the agency and showcase L.A.’s product so they’re better able to position and market the destination to Australian media. While in L.A., the agency toured hotels including The Line, The Garland and ACE Hotel. Furthermore, they sampled some of the city’s unique cuisine at Grand Central Market and Gjelina, among others, as well as visited popular attractions such as Universal Studios Hollywood, LACMA and The Grammy Museum.
The PR team also hosted journalist Camila Balthazar and photographer from Avianca Inflight Magazine (Brazil market) and showcased iconic L.A. for an upcoming print feature. The educational itinerary featured a number of signature L.A. experiences including LACMA, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood and paddle boarding in Marina Del Rey.