National Travel and Tourism Week 2016
Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board President & CEO Ernest Wooden Jr. presented L.A. Tourism's final 2015 visitation figures, new visitor spending and economic impact data for Los Angeles County to the Los Angeles City Council in celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week on May 3, 2016. Los Angeles County’s record-breaking 45.6 million visitors injected a record $20.6 billion in the local economy last year. This result is a year-over-year increase of 4.9%, generating $31.6 billion in total economic impact including the induced and indirect benefits. More than $2.5 billion in state and local tax revenues were generated by tourism in 2015. Los Angeles is the state’s largest contributor of tourism revenue, representing 20% of all state tax revenue collected from tourism in California. More than 488,000 jobs within L.A. County’s Leisure & Hospitality sector are supported by L.A.'s tourism industry, which last year contributed to the addition of 21,500 new jobs for L.A. County, a year-over year increase of 4.6%.
L.A. Tourism in the Middle East
L.A. Tourism announced agency representation by Four Communications for all travel trade outreach in the Middle East region. Based in the UAE with offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Four Communications will report directly to Francine Sheridan, regional director of Europe & Middle East in L.A. Tourism’s London office. This region’s outbound travel market has seen remarkable growth over the last few years, with 38 million trips made across the world in 2014.
China-Ready Webinar: Engaging Independent Chinese Tourists
As we gear up for the peak summer season for Chinese tourists, L.A. Tourism expects to see changes in tourism patterns and habits, as more Chinese tourists begin to travel independently. To help L.A. Tourism members prepare for this summer rush, L.A. Tourism and China Luxury Advisors will host a webinar to provide an in-depth look into these free & independent tourists highlighting their goals, booking patterns, influences and habits, both prior to and during travel. China Luxury Advisors will provide recommendations on how members can reach these tourists, adapt their services to better serve independent tourists, maintain a dialogue with FIT tourists and incentivize repeat visits with positive word of mouth. The discussion will also provide a deep dive into ways in which members can engage these tourists from a digital perspective - covering Chinese social media, travel forums and online/offline booking agents.
Date: Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Cost: $25 per person for each webinar
To register, please click here.
Collins College of Hospitality Management, Cal Poly Pomona
L.A. Tourism representative Sacha Tani shared key insights of the meeting planning industry with future meeting planners of tomorrow from the Collins College of Hospitality Management, Cal Poly Pomona. The student’s educational itinerary showcased member-partners such as Eventworks Event Production, Classic Party Rentals, Wilshire Limousine, City Club, Wolfgang Puck Catering, AEG/L.A. LIVE and CR&A Customs Event Graphics. The students learned the supplier side of event planning and also toured several event venues in Los Angeles.
2016 Breeders' Cup World Championships
Thirty-two years ago, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships began as a single-day, seven-race event. Since then, it has grown into a two-day, $26 million extravaganza serving as the culminating event of the Thoroughbred racing season. The best horses, trainers, jockeys, breeders and owners from across the globe converge for 13 championship races, highlighted by the $5 million-dollar Breeders’ Cup Classic, which is often the deciding factor for the Horse of the Year award.
Every year, movie stars, athletes, musicians and some of the most influential people in the world come to witness the richest two days in racing. And while these two days have seen legends born, history made and fortunes won, the greatest part is that the best is still yet to come.
The Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be held at magnificent Santa Anita Park on Friday, November 4 and Saturday, November 5, 2016. Invite your friends, family and colleagues to join us in celebrating the best of the best as they compete for their place in history.
For more information, please visit http://www.breederscup.com/groups
INDUSTRY NEWS & NOTES
More than $169.4 million in Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) has been collected in total by the end of March for the City’s General Fund. This total is a YOY increase of 12.5% and 5.7% above the FY15-16 adopted budget.
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), international tourism around the world grew by 3.6% year-over-year in 2015 to total $1.4 trillion. International spending in teh Americas grew by 4% YOY. The U.S., China, Spain, and France continue to be the top destinations both in international tourism spend and arrivals. Spending by Chinese travelers, the world’s largest outbound travel market, increased 25% YOY in 2015 to $292 billion as total outbound travelers increased by 10 percent to 128 million.
According to Visit California, visitor spending to the state broke records for the sixth consecutive year as total direct spend in California hit $122.5 billion in 2015, a 3.4% increase over the previous year.
Thomas Cook Group Airlines launched nonstop air service between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Manchester, United Kingdom, on May 2, 2016. The service is the first ever between Los Angeles and Manchester in the northwest of the U.K. The start of this new route will help meet the growing demand of travelers between these two cities that share strong cultural, economic and leisure ties that benefit both destinations.
Metro’s Expo line, which will extend from Culver City to Santa Monica will officially this Friday, May 20. The extension includes seven new stations and riders will be able to get from Downtown to Santa Monica in 45 minutes.