L.A. Tourism at Work - December 2018

Thanksgiving Celebrations in Australia
L.A. Tourism’s Australia office partnered with Universal Studios Hollywood, West Hollywood Tourism, Virgin Australia and Delta Air Lines to celebrate the spirit of Thanksgiving by hosting top luxury travel agents at events in Sydney and Brisbane. 50 premium agents were invited to enjoy L.A. inspired cocktails and an exclusive 3 course meal by Australian celebrity chef and Virgin Australia’s onboard menu designer, Luke Mangan.

The L.A. Tourism team provided its guests with updates on Los Angeles’ luxury travel products and services and promoted the upcoming LAX Black Friday airfare sale in partnership with Delta and Virgin Australia, as well as the Delta One Suites product - coming soon to the Sydney-LAX service. The NoMad Los Angeles provided hotel stay prizes for the events.

Universal Studios Hollywood Grinch Screening
On November 28 in Sydney, Australia, L.A. Tourism’s Australia office partnered with Universal Studios Hollywood for a private screening of the new Universal Pictures movie “The Grinch.” 30 Flight Centre travel agents attended an L.A. destination training seminar hosted by Kathleen Finneran, Travel Trade Manager Australia. The seminar highlighted LAX stopovers as well as new hotels, attractions, and an update on Universal Studios and the L.A. Insider training program. The event was proceeded with an incentive to encourage the travel agents to sign up and complete L.A. Insider and refer their colleagues to the program to receive a prize pack from Universal Studios Hollywood.

Delta Air Lines and L.A. Tourism Grammy Awards Promotion
On November 29, L.A. Tourism’s Australia office joined Delta Airlines for a day of sales calls to top selling travel agencies in Sydney as part of their joint Grammy Awards-LAX airfare sales promotion. Travel Trade Manager Kathleen Finneran visited 8 stores across Sydney and provided travel agents with destination updates on Los Angeles and LAX Airport as well as details on the sales promotion with Delta Air Lines. Travel agents who completed the L.A. Insider training program entered a lucky draw for two tickets to Los Angeles to attend the Grammy Awards and stay at the newly renovated Hotel Figueroa.

India RTO FAM
L.A. Tourism hosted a travel trade FAM for five receptive tour operators from India from November 11-13. The FAM group experienced highlights of Downtown Los Angeles, Exposition Park and Venice Beach. L.A. Tourism also hosted a B2B networking session for the receptive tour operators and member hotels and attraction suppliers.

MTA Virtuoso Luxury FAM
L.A. Tourism hosted a health and wellness FAM consisting of all top virtuoso/luxury sellers from MTA Australia from Nov. 12-15, 2018. The group experienced the Private Suites at LAX and stayed at the Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills and LEVEL Furnished Living.  During their visit, the group visited a variety of luxury hotels, including: Hotel Bel-Air, Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, Dream Hollywood, NoMad Los Angeles, and Hotel Figueroa. They also participated in yoga sessions at Wanderlust Hollywood and LEVEL Furnished Living, and visited Petersen Automotive Museum, OUE Skyspace, The Getty Center and Westfield Century City.

Club California – Osaka
This year’s culinary tourism-themed Club California, Visit California Japan’s annual trade event, attracted 62 travel trade and media in Osaka on November 16. L.A. Tourism’s Japan representative, Emiko Morimoto spoke about the newest L.A. attractions and experiences, provided an LAX modernization update, and introduced the L.A. Insider program.

Brand USA ‘America Wild: National Parks Adventure’
L.A. Tourism's South Korea representatives Helen Mo and Michaela Lee participated in the ‘America Wild: National Parks Adventure’ roadshow held in Gwangju on November 26, Busan on December 4, and Seoul on December 6. Helen and Michaela held several seminar sessions for approximately 100 travel agents prior to the film screening, during which they introduced various hikes and beaches in L.A. and provided updates on LAX Airport. Attendees received L.A. maps, pocket guides, and other giveaway items.

World Travel Market – U.K.
L.A. Tourism’s U.K. office exhibited at World Travel Market (WTM) in London, a leading global event for the travel industry, with over 50,000 travel trade in attendance over three days. Throughout the tradeshow, L.A. Tourism staff met with key European tour operators and airlines to highlight L.A. product.  In addition, staff joined with Visit California and other cities and attractions from the state, to host key buyers at a VIP client networking event prior to WTM. 

Virgin Atlantic Global Sales, Marketing and Loyalty Conference – U.K.
L.A. Tourism’s U.K. office was a key sponsor at the Virgin Atlantic Annual Global Sales, Marketing and Loyalty Conference, held in Manchester.  The conference highlighted Virgin Atlantic’s inaugural Manchester to LAX route, launching on May 26, 2019. The two-day conference attracted 300 attendees from the sales, marketing and loyalty teams across the Virgin Atlantic network, including senior level board representatives for both Virgin Atlantic and partner Delta Air Lines. L.A Tourism’s U.K. office networked with conference attendees, promoting all that Los Angeles has to offer.

Visit California Quiz Evenings in Scotland – U.K.
L.A. Tourism’s U.K. office partnered with Visit California to host quiz evening events in two major cities in Scotland - Aberdeen and Glasgow. Key travel agencies and tour operators went head to head to test their California and L.A. knowledge for a chance to win various prizes. In advance of the quiz, the agents were encouraged to complete the L.A. Insider online training program to enhance their LA knowledge.

Travel Trade Trainings – U.K.
L.A. Tourism’s U.K. office conducted destination trainings at multiple North America Travel Service (NATS) retail stores in the northern region. NATS is an established agency specializing in selling US travel and the training provided a platform to share the latest LA products and promote the L.A. Insider online training program. 

Visit California Sales Days - Germany
L.A. Tourism’s Germany office participated in the Visit California sales days in Frankfurt.  Staff shared the latest L.A. product news and introduced the L.A. Insider online education program to 90 travel agents. They also attended the VIP networking event to meet with eight product managers of the leading tour operators for North America.

Travel News Market - Scandinavia
L.A. Tourism’s Scandinavia office exhibited at Travel News Market, the biggest travel industry event in Sweden with over 1,300 attending travel professionals in Stockholm on November 8. Throughout the tradeshow, the team met with key Scandinavian tour operators, agencies and airlines to highlight L.A. product and visitor offerings.

Swanson´s Travel Training - Scandinavia
L.A. Tourism’s Scandinavia office organized a Los Angeles focused training day at Swanson’s, the biggest tour operator to the U.S., on November 14 in Osby. Sales agents had previously completed the L.A. Insider training program, therefore focused on featured hotels and information on all the exciting things Los Angeles has to offer.

Visiteurs Workshop Training - France
In partnership with Visiteurs, L.A. Tourism’s France office organized a training for 27 travel agents in Southern France. The training covered L.A.’s newest attractions and experiences with a focus on the L.A. Insider online training program.

L.A. Tourism in China

Celebrating AA's 1st Anniversary of the new Service PEK-LAX
On November 6, 2018, American Airlines hosted VIP dinner for trade representative to celebrate the first anniversary of the new service to LAX from Beijing. More than 60 VIP clients from business and travel services, as well as key distribution channels, attended the event. L.A. Tourism’s China regional director, Kate Chang, attended the event, where she met and networked with key trade partners. L.A. Tourism also provided 60 giveaways to trade participants on behalf of LAWA.

BUSA Roadshow in Chongqing and Kunming
L.A. Tourism’s Chengdu office joined Brand USA’s roadshow in Chongqing and Kunming from November 21-23, 2018. A total of 350 local trade partners and media participated across the three days. Staff delivered presentations on direct flights from Chengdu and Chongqing to LAX, provided updates on LAX's modernization and the Private Suite at LAX, as well as LAX's continued contributions toward environmental protection and the arts. L.A. Mini Products/Packages and L.A. Angels' Academy 2.0 were also covered at the events.

Chengdu Champion Holiday Xi’an Promotion Event
L.A. Tourism’s Chengdu office joined Champion’s holiday promotion event in Xi’an on November 15, 2018. A total of 400 local trade representatives attended the training while more than 8,000 viewed the live photo stream. Staff delivered a presentation on direct flights from China to LAX, LAX's latest modernization project, shopping and the Private Suite service at LAX, LAX's newest world airport ranking and its contribution towards environmental protection. L.A.’s mini product packages and L.A. Angels Academy 2.0, a mobile training program, were also introduced to the participants.

In-house trainings at Shanghai Meiyin International Travel Service Co., Ltd.
L.A. Tourism’s Shanghai office conducted two in-house trainings for Shanghai Meiyin International Travel Service Co., Ltd. on November 7 and 20, 2018. Shanghai Meiyin is the wholesale travel operation of L.A. Tourism’s receptive tour operator Galaxy Tour in China. 24 product and sales staff attended these two trainings to learn about nonstop flight routes between China and LAX, shopping and dining at LAX, the Private Suite at LAX and the newest attractions and experiences in L.A. Mini product packages, L.A. Angels Academy online training courses and L.A. Angels Quality Partners programs were also introduced at the event.

In-house Training at Yuemei Holidays

L.A. Tourism’s Shanghai office held an in-house training at Yuemei Holidays on November 28, 2018. Yuemei was founded in 2002 and is one of the leading wholesalers in Shanghai serving nearly 5,000 Chinese travelers annually on U.S. West Coast tours. A total of 12 sales, product and operation managers attended the training where they learned about the latest developments at LAX and current air service from China to LAX. L.A. Mini Product/Packages and available trade resources were also introduced.

In-house Training for Hyde - Hyde OP Classes
L.A. Tourism’s Shanghai and Chengdu offices attended the Hyde OP Class in Shanghai and Chongqing on November 7 and 21, respectively. Hyde Holidays is one of L.A. Tourism’s key receptive tour operators in China. Approximately 140 agents attended the training. L.A. Tourism staff provided an overview of flight routes between China and LAX, and an update on LAX developments L.A. Mini Products/Packages & L.A. Angels Academy online training courses were highlighted as a resource for agents to optimize their current and future L.A. product knowledge.

In-house Training at Chongqing New Asia International & Chongqing Comfort Travel
L.A. Tourism’s Chengdu office conducted two in-house training sessions for New Asia International Travel & Chongqing Comfort Travel on November 8, 2018. A total of 23 trade representatives attended the sessions. Staff delivered presentations on direct air service from China to LAX, provided an update on LAX's modernization project, shopping and the Private Suite at LAX. L.A. Mini Products/Packages and L.A. Angels Academy 2.0 were highlighted to encourage learning and development as well as product innovation.

In-house training at Ctour Holiday LLC
On November 6, L.A. Tourism’s China office conducted an in-house presentation at Ctour Holiday on LAX's modernization and direct air service from China to LAX, particularly from major cities such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong.  L.A.’s newest attractions and experiences as well as L.A. Mini Products/ Packages, and the WeChat based training program Angel Academy 2.0 were highlighted during the presentation.

In-house trainings at with Hong Kong Airlines
L.A. Tourism’s Guangzhou office partnered with Hong Kong Airlines to launch a series of in-house trainings and roadshows in Guangzhou, Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Shenzhen throughout the month of November. A total of 96 people attended these 4 events. Staff presentations provided an update on LAX’s modernization as well as L.A.’s newest attractions. L.A. Mini Products/ Packages and the WeChat based training program, Angel Academy 2.0 were also presented to trade partners as additional resources for product knowledge.

Launch event with Sweetour.com and China Southern Airlines
L.A. Tourism’s Beijing office cooperated with Sweetour.com and China Southern Airlines to launch an L.A.-themed tour product in Shenyang on November 3, 2018 for 200 attendees. L.A. Tourism staff delivered a presentation on the new nonstop route between Shenyang and LAX, offerings at LAX terminals, LAX's modernization and the L.A. Mini Products/Packages initiative.

SHE/LAX New Service Training
As part of a continued effort to support the new China Southern Airlines route between Shenyang and LA, L.A. Tourism’s Beijing office held a trade training event for 100 attendees on November 21, 2018 in partnership with China Southern Airlines, the U.S. Consulate General in Shenyang, Visit California, and Macy’s.  The event aimed to promote the new nonstop route as well as product upgrades that will accompany the new service. L.A. Tourism China regional director, Kate Chang, spoke during a panel discussion about the China team’s efforts to establish more direct air service routes from China as well as promote LAX as a key point of entry to the U.S. Trade manager, Angela Li, also conducted a presentation covering LAX's modernization developments, new air service to LAX, and L.A.’s newest attractions and experiences.

On November 28, 2018, L.A. Tourism's Communications team partnered with Canucks Sports & Entertainment to celebrate a shared love of hockey with Canadians and bring 'Hollywood Night' to Rogers Arena.  Before entering the arena, fans walked the Toyota Plaza’s red carpet, complete with a Hollywood sign. Once in the arena, fans were able to pose for photos with their favorite Hollywood backdrop.  Ten lucky fans went home with a trip (for two) to Los Angeles to watch the Canucks play the L.A. Kings in February 2019.  Following the game, Rogers Arena’s Sports Bar was transformed into a “sunny” L.A. rooftop experience for a VIP event to host Canadian trade partners and media outlets, complete with L.A.-inspired food and cocktails.