L.A. Tourism Market Outlook Forum
L.A. Tourism shared new visitation forecasts and tourism data with local hospitality partners and business leaders at the organization’s fourth annual Market Outlook Forum last month. Among the highlights, visitation to Los Angeles is expected to set a new record in 2016 with more than 46.5 million total visitors, an increase of 2.4% from the previous record-setting year. Domestic overnight visitation to Los Angeles is expected to grow 2.1% to almost 24 million this year while international visitation is estimated to grow 3.9% to more than seven million. Total visitor spend in 2016 is projected to eclipse $21.5 billion, an increase of 4.4% from last year.
Special guest speakers included Kevin Demoff, EVP and COO of the Los Angeles Rams, who shared details on L.A.’s new NFL team and world-class sports and entertainment venue as well as Gene Sykes, CEO of LA2024, who presented the bid committee’s mission to bring the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games to Los Angeles. L.A. Tourism also highlighted its global sales and marketing plans at the conference, highlighted by plans to extend a new version of its successful “Get Lost In L.A.” campaign to Australia, China and the U.K., L.A.’s top international markets.
L.A. Tourism thanks the host venue, Loews Hotel Hollywood, our partners SO Events and Wolfgang Puck Catering as well as all our sponsors, American Express, American Airlines and Expedia, for helping us put on a wonderful event.
China Ready Seminar: Attracting Chinese Millennial Travelers - Sept. 28
Chinese millennials now account for 50% of Chinese outbound travelers according to a recent report by GfK. Like their counterparts in the West, Chinese millennials prefer to be “inspired” rather than “persuaded.” They highly value authenticity in experiences and content, and are more likely to trust peer-generated recommendations and content than traditional media channels.
On September 28, China Luxury Advisors will present a webinar providing an overview of the Chinese Millennial Traveler opportunity, Chinese Millennial Traveler Characteristics and practical recommendations for how Los Angeles Tourism Members can effectively attract Chinese Millennial Travelers. The webinar will feature recent proprietary research from L.A. Tourism's focus groups in China with millennial travelers
Date: Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Cost: $25 per person for each webinar
Click here to register.
Visit California to Host Crisis Communications Workshop on Sept. 28
In recent years, California has been affected by numerous crises from wildfires and earthquakes to government shutdowns and public health scares. California's tourism industry is regularly confronted with local, regional and statewide issues. What is the best way for a tourism business to respond?
Join Visit California for its first Crisis Communications Workshop at the LA Hotel Downtown on Sept. 28, as they bring in top crisis communications experts to help our industry develop strategies to effectively manage a crisis. The workshop will provide a unique forum for industry representatives to gain insights on current media trends, understand the essentials of a crisis plan, learn strategies for working with regional and statewide representatives, and optimize social media in a time of crisis.
Sessions will include:
• Crisis Planning 101: Understand essential components of a robust, cross-functional crisis-readiness plan.
• A New Era of Crisis, Lessons Learned and Industry Best Practices: Experience how the new world of social media can drive a crisis for better or worse, and how there is little room for error.
• Managing the Media During a Crisis: Learn insights on how to effectively manage the media during a crisis, controlling both the organization’s reputation and the story.
• Coordinating with CalOES: Kelly Huston, Deputy Director of Crisis Communications and Media Relations for the California Office of Emergency Services, will lead a session on how to collaborate with CalOES, as well as how to use public information in an emergency and translate it into a response strategy.
• Operating as a Crisis Management Team: Simulation Workshop: Dive into a hands-on crisis scenario simulation that will challenge attendees to rapidly assess information, make key decisions, and evaluate both short- and long-term reputation management considerations.
Registration
The cost of this event is $400. Registration for the event is now open.
For any questions, contact Public Affairs Manager Kayla Woods at kwoods@visitcalifornia.com or 916.233.0257.
L.A. Tourism - Australia Staff Update
Carolyn Nightingale joined the L.A. Tourism Australia team in August as the new full time Travel Trade Manager for Australia & New Zealand, in the Sydney office. Carolyn joins L.A. Tourism with more than 20 years of experience in working within the aviation industry, most recently serving as a Delta Air Line Business Development Manager for the Australian market. Carolyn will be managing all trade relations across Australia & NZ and will visit L.A. in the near future.
INDUSTRY NEWS & NOTES
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) officials forecasted a record 817,000 travelers will pass through the airport this past Labor Day holiday weekend, an increase of 7.2 percent over last year’s 762,000 passengers.
Virgin Australia announced it will launch service between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Melbourne, Australia, on April 4, 2017. The nonstop flights will operate five times a week using Boeing 777-300ER (Extended Range) aircraft, with fares available for sale starting September 21, 2016. The new route allows Virgin Australia to serve Los Angeles from the three busiest gateways in Australia: Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. In partnership with Delta Air Lines, Virgin Australia will offer 25 flights weekly between Australia and Los Angeles, remaining the only trans-Pacific airline alliance to offer business- class guests lie-flat beds with direct aisle access on all routes.
In its inaugural year, The Broad attracted more than 820,000 visitors, nearly triple its pre-opening projections and the largest first-year attendance of a new art institution in the U.S. in recent years, the museum announced.