INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL TRADE FAMS, TRADE SHOWS & EVENTS
From June 1-30, the LATCB International Team hosted five fam trips to allow travel trade professionals to tour L.A.’s attractions and LATCB’s members and partners in person, with groups from Brazil (10 guests), Mexico (seven guests), Australia (12 guests), a combined fam from numerous markets (nine guests), and India (five guests).
VISIT USA BRAZIL, SÃO PAULO, MAY 19-23
LATCB attended a series of travel trade seminars organized by the U.S. Commercial Service to promote American destinations to the Brazilian market. The seminars were held May 19 in Rio De Janeiro, and May 22 and 23 in São Paulo. The event offered a valuable opportunity for Imaginadora, LATCB's new in-market Brazil representative, to promote the destination to the more than 1,500 Brazilian tour operators and travel agents in attendnce.
AMERICAN AIRLINES BRAZIL TOP 10 FAM, JUNE 2-5
LATCB hosted a fam trip for the top-selling agents from American Airlines Brazil. The fam tour was held May 2-5 and included visits to L.A.’s top attractions and restaurants, and a special awards dinner.
MEXICO CITY-VIRTUOSO GROUP FAM, JUNE 11-12
LATCB’s international team partnered with Visit California to host representatives from the Virtuoso Group, the travel industry’s leading luxury network. The itinerary showcased L.A.’s newest products and services to help them expand their product knowledge of Los Angeles and assist with developing new tour packages. The group also learned about all of Los Angeles International Airport’s (LAX) worldwide flight connections. The group toured some of the top attractions in Hollywood.
VISIT CALIFORNIA INTERNATIONAL STAFF FAM, JUNE 20-22
The LATCB International Team hosted a fam trip for Visit California’s global staff, June 20-22. Visit California brought the newest members of their international team to California to train and experience Los Angeles’ unique attractions and products first hand so they could be as equipped as possible to promote Los Angeles. The attendees represented a many of L.A.’s largest and emerging international market countries, including Brazil, China, India, Japan and South Korea, and focused on travel trade, PR and media. They visited some of L.A.’s top attractions, and shopping and dining destinations, toured hotels, and went on a guided bike tour of Santa Monica and Venice Beach.
VISIT CALIFORNIA INDIA PRODUCT MANAGER FAM, JUNE 22-24
LATCB partnered with Visit California CA hosted a FAM for a group of India’s product managers June 22-24 with the goal of expanding destination product knowledge to foster development of new itineraries from this market. The group experienced top attractions, dining and shopping in Downtown L.A. and Beverly Hills and went on a guided bus tour.
VISIT CALIFORNIA 2014 CALIFORNIA CUP GOLF INVITATIONAL. YOSEMITE, MAY 31-JUNE 3
LATCB co-sponsored the 11th annual California Cup Golf Invitational, May 31-June 3 in Yosemite, CA. The event drew 57 participants including senior management from international airlines, tour operators, receptive tour operators and international travel trade partners Brand USA & Visit California. Guests attended from all key international markets including Canada, U.K., France, Germany, Korea, Japan and Australia. The four-day event provided valuable opportunities to promote LATCB members and partners directly to travel buyers.
SALES
MPI “TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME,” ST. PAUL, MINN., JUNE 18
LATCB was the Grand Slam Sponsor of the Annual Meetings Professionals International (MPI) “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” June 18 at the historic Midway Stadium, home of the St. Paul Saints in Minneapolis/St. Paul. LATCB presented a destination video and shared the latest updates from Los Angeles with over 50 planners and suppliers from the Minneapolis MPI Chapter. Los Angeles messaging was also featured on the scoreboard between innings.
PCMA EDUCATION CONFERENCE, TORONTO, JUNE 22-25
LATCB attended the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Education Conference June 22-25 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Canada. The educational and networking event offered opportunities to promote the destination and LATCB members and partners to the 600 association and corporate meeting planners as well as suppliers from around North America.
COMMUNICATIONS
VISIT CALIFORNIA TORONTO MISSION, JUNE 2-4
The PR Team attended the 2014 Visit California Toronto Media Mission on June 3. The event included more than 20 California delegates and 52 media from leading outlets and publications such as the Globe and Mail (circulation: 291,571 weekdays; 354,850 Saturdays), Toronto Star (circulation: 381,310 weekdays; 546,819 Saturdays), Huffington Post Canada (unique monthly visitors: 173,801), and Today’s Parent (circulation: 165,548).
ETIHAD MIDDLE EAST FAM, JUNE 8-12
The LATCB PR Team organized a fam trip with eight journalists from prominent middle eastern publications, including WAM, Al Khaleej (circulation: 60,000), Al Bayan (circulation: 35,000), Al Roya, (circulation: 15,000) Arabian Business (circulation: 24,140), Business Traveler, Gulf Business (circulation: 22,845), Gulf News (circulation: 111,637 Saturday – Thursday; 113,006 Fridays), and The National (circulation: 100,000). The group experienced dining, shopping, and toured hotels in Century City and Beverly Hills, and went on a guided bus tour of Hollywood, visiting numerous LATCB members and partners.
EUROPE MISSION, JUNE 9-13
The PR Team participated in the Visit California Europe Sales & Media Mission, June 9-13 in Paris, France; London and Manchester, U.K.; and Dublin, Ireland. The team met with top media outlets from each country to promote the destination and highlight new hotels and venues, and the latest trends in activities, dining, and shopping that Los Angeles has to offer.
QANTAS FAM, JUNE 16-19
The LATCB PR Team partnered with Qantas Airways, Visit California, Santa Monica CVB, Visit West Hollywood, and Beverly Hills CVB for a fam trip with six journalists from leading Australian publications including Sky News, Sky News Fairfax, Australian Business Traveler, Escape News Limited, and Fairfax Radio. The group experienced shopping, dining and hotels in Koreatown, downtown, Santa Monica and West Hollywood; had a tour and cocktail tasting at L.A.'s only spirits distillery; went horseback riding in Griffith Park to see the Griffith observatory and the Hollywood Sign; went on a tour and tasting at a winery in Malibu; toured the Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Park Amusement Park; and toured the shops and restaurants at the new Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
shopL.A./CHINA FAM, JUNE 17-21
The PR Team organized a fam trip with four journalists from prominent Chinese publications, including Voyage Magazine, Lifestyle Magazine, and Air China’s in-flight magazine Wings of China as well as an influential fashion blogger and radio host. The trip highlighted Los Angeles as a leading global shopping destination and promoted LATCB's new shopL.A. program. The group experienced some of L.A.'s leading shopping destinations, trend-setting restaurants, and top attractions and museums. They toured neighborhoods including Venice Beach, Downtown L.A., Santa Monica, and Beverly Hills. The group also toured the new Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX.
VOLARIS FAM, JUNE 18-21
LATCB's PR Team organized a fam in partnership with Volaris Airlines for six journalists from some of Mexico's leading publications, including Radio Formula: En Viaje y Vidal Turismo; El Economista; El Informador; El Occidental; La Cronica Jalisco; and Mural. The group experienced some of L.A.'s top attractions, restaurants, and shopping centers in Hollywood, Downtown L.A., Santa Monica, Venice Beach, and Ontario, including studio VIP tours, and a guided bike tour. The trip also promoted Volaris’ new Guadalajara-Ontario international air route.
GLAMOUR BRAZIL FAM, JUNE 24-27
The PR Team partnered with American Airlines to organize a trip with Glamour Brazil (print circulation: 103,576. Online: 1,657,000 unique monthly visitors) that included a fashion shoot with an American celebrity at a luxury hotel in Los Angeles, promoted American Airlines’ new Sao Paolo/Los Angeles route, and produced a destination article for the Brazilian edition of Glamour magazine. The trip highlighted L.A.’s unexpectedly hip hidden gems, including hotels, dining and shopping in Koreatown and Silverlake. The team from Glamour Brazil, which has the largest Instagram following of any Brazilian publication (236,109 followers), documented their entire trip with social media postings mentioning LATCB members.