LATCB AT WORK – JUNE 2014

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL TRADE FAMS, TRADE SHOWS & EVENTS
From May 1-31, the LATCB International Team hosted four FAM trips to allow travel trade professionals to tour L.A.’s attractions and our members and partners in person, with groups from Germany (12 guests), Australia (two groups, 17 guests), and the U.K. (15 guests).

 歴史あるBoyle HeightsにあるMariachi Plazaは、様々な行事が行われるイベントスポットとして利用されています。金曜日と日曜日にはオープンエア・マーケットが開かれ、ローカルのフード・トラックが集まり、ライブミュージシャンによるパフォーマンスが行われます。夏になるとJ&F Ice CreamがAguas frescasと呼ばれるおすすめのメキシカンドリンクをサーブするので、ぜひトライしてみてください。広場以外にはLibros Schmibros lending libraryやBoyle Hotelといった観光名所があります。The Metro Gold Lineの駅がすぐ近くにあるので足を運びやすいのも魅力です。

LATCB joined the Brand USA Pavilion with 11 of their partners, a record number of exhibitors, at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) May 5-8 in Dubai. ATM is the region’s leading travel tradeshow dedicated to the Gulf/Middle East, with over 2,000 exhibitors showcasing a diverse range of travel options, tourist attractions and new airline routes. LATCB exhibited for the first time primarily due to new and expanding air service from the Gulf region to LAX, and to work to source new incremental business from the Gulf region. LAWA management staff attended and met with several airilines and travel trade from the Gulf region. An estimated 16,500 travel trade professionals attended the four-day tradeshow.

LATCB Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board hosted a BrandUSA Lufthansa Germany Megafam from May 6-11. BrandUSA handpicked the nine Travel Trade Agents and two Lufthansa sales staff to participate in the FAM, based on their sales production into Los Angeles and knowledge of the city. The sightseeing itinerary was inspired by LATCB’s Car Free L.A. program, offering the FAM guests the opportunity to see L.A.’s hidden gems and unique neighborhoods from a different perspective, without driving. They experienced hotels, attractions, dining, shopping, and walking and cycling tours in Hollywood, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Downtown, including numerous LATCB members and partners. The group was encouraged to blog about their trip and share their L.A. story with fellow BrandUSA FAM participants that were also on sightseeing tours in other parts of the country.

More than 250 buyers, sellers and media outlets attended the 2014 International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) Global Convention’s closing reception hosted by LATCB and Visit West Hollywood in Madrid on May 10. The guests were delegates to the 2015 IGLTA Global Convention, which is taking place in Los Angeles for the first time. The 2015 Global Convention at the Los Angeles Convention Center (April 9-11) will bring together more than 600 buyers, suppliers and media outlets.

The LATCB International Team hosted the BrandUSA UK/Ireland “ West Coast Wonders” Megafam May 15-17. The 14 Travel Trade Agents qualified to participate in the FAM based on their sales production into Los Angeles and knowledge of the city. The West Coast Wonders FAM was one of seven FAMs going on simultaneously throughout the U.S. The group experienced hotels, attractions and dining in Hollywood, West Hollywood, Santa Monica and the Westside. They went on a Starline
Tours Hop-on, Hop-off Hollywood tour, a bicycle tour along the beach bike path with Perry’s
Rentals, and a tour of the Getty Center.

LATCB’s International Team hosted the Flight Centre State Team Leader Conference from Australia in Los Angeles, May 24-27. In conjunction with Visit West Hollywood, the 10 top-selling Flight Centre store managers from the Australian state of Queensland got to see the best of L.A. After their sales conference at the Andaz West Hollywood, the group experienced attractions, shopping, dining and entertainment, including Universal Studios Hollywood, Citadel Outlets, Bikes & Hikes LA, Sky Bar at The Mondrian, Saddle Ranch Chop House and the Sheraton Universal Hotel, as well as a Los Angeles Dodgers game at Dodger stadium. Flight Centre is the largest retail travel agency brand in Australia and with 65% of Australians still purchasing their international vacations via travel agents, Flight Centre is a vital partner for LATCB in the Australian market.

LATCB’s Australia Office partnered with Universal Studios Hollywood to exhibit at the Visit USA Australia Perth & Adelaide Travel Agent Expos in Australia, May 27-28. The events attracted over 200 Australian retail and wholesale travel agents who were provided information on what’s new in L.A., and an overview of the upgrades at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Educational seminars focused on promoting the new direct United Airlines service from Melbourne to LAX starting in October 2014, and offered travel agents the chance to win one of two holidays to Los Angeles provided by LATCB and its partners United Airlines, Fiji Airways, Universal Studios Hollywood, Starline Tours, Citadel Outlet & GO L.A. Card.

ASAE SPRINGTIME. WASHINGTON, D.C., MAY 15

LATCB exhibited in a 20x20 ft. premium booth together with 11 members and partners at the 2014 ASAE Springtime Expo in Washington, D.C. on May 15. The event attracted 1,475 attendees and generated 153 leads for Los Angeles. At the Springtime Expo, meeting professionals discover new products, services, destinations, properties, special event venues and technologies, strengthen their knowledge, network, and connect with respected industry leaders. If members are interested in joining LATCB at the ASAE Springtime Expo 2015, please contact Mikela Redd at mredd@latourism.org.

The LATCB Sales Team, General Managers from L.A. area hotels, and AEG/L.A. LIVE participated in a sales mission to Washington, D.C. and New York City. The Sales Team hosted signature events in each city targeting citywide convention and self-contained group customers. This was an ideal opportunity for hotels to showcase their product and engage directly with group, corporate and convention travel decision makers.

AA/BRAZIL FAM, MAY 28-JUNE 6

The LATCB PR Team partnered with American Airlines to host a FAM trip for international journalists from Brazil May 28-June 6, focusing on wellness and active, healthy travel activities in Los Angeles. The group stayed in L.A. area hotels and experienced shopping, dining, biking, hiking, a farmers' market, a guided bus tour, Griffith Park and the Holllywood Sign, Getty Villa, and Universal Studios Hollywood. The journalists represented Brazilian publications including Viajar Pelo Mundo Magazine (circulation: 55,000 monthly), Mercado & Evento (190,000 unique monthly visitors), freelance (for publications including Pelo Mundo, Viaje Aqui, Top Destinos, Dufry World Magazine), and O Estado de Sao Paulo (289,000).

The PR Team partnered with Delta Air Lines, Air China, Harper's Magazine and Chinese actress and internet sensation Kelly Cha to produce a series of destination videos about Los Angeles for the Chinese market. The group shot videos highlighting L.A.'s attractions, hotels, dining, shopping and wellness activities.