L.A. Tourism at Work - November 2017

2017 Nihao China Halloween Trade Show
L.A Tourism’s International Tourism team, in partnership with Warner Bros. Special Events, co-hosted the 2017 Annual Nihao China Halloween Trade Show at Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood on October 26, 2017. A total 180 local-Chinese receptive tour operators (RTO) and media attended the event which featured a tradeshow, presentation, luncheon and Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood’s Chinese-language tour experience. This year’s event provided L.A.-based RTOs with the opportunity to meet with 20 “Nihao China” members from L.A. Tourism to discuss future opportunities. American Airlines sponsored two round-trip tickets from LAX to Beijing as a grand prize in promotion of their new air service commencing November 2017.

L.A. Tourism would like to thank the following exhibitors: American Airlines, Beverly Center, Citadel Outlets, DFS Group Ltd., Leisure Pass Group, InterContinental Los Angeles Century City, The Langham Huntington Pasadena, LEVEL Furnished Living, The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills, Madame Tussauds Hollywood, Natural History Museum of L.A. County & La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, The Private Suites at LAX, Santa Monica Place, Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel, Sheraton Los Angeles San Gabriel, Starline Tours, The Getty Center, Universal Studios Hollywood, Warner Bros, Studio Tour Hollywood and Wilshire Limousine Services.  

This is the fourth year of L.A. Tourism’s “Nihao China” program, which now boasts more than 50 “Nihao China” members. For more information about the “Nihao China” program, please contact Rachel Che at rche@latourism.org.

Visit California Sales Mission – Canada
L.A. Tourism’s Tourism team participated in Visit California’s Canada sales mission held in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver October 16-20, 2017. The sales mission featured a series of trade events in each city including mini tradeshows, sales calls and B2B appointment sessions with leading wholesalers and tour operators from the Canada market. Staff shared product updates to more than 300 travel agents, highlighting new L.A. hotels, attractions and events, as well as LAX’s modernization and direct air service.

Qantas Best of USA Day – Australia
L.A. Tourism’s Australia office and Los Angeles World Airports were headline sponsors at the Qantas Best of the USA Day in Sydney, Australia on October 11. Staff educated 165 travel agents in a Hollywood-style movie theatre setting complete with a red carpet, popcorn, ushers. Agents received updates on new L.A. hotel developments, attractions, Metro, LAX Airport as well as pre-launch update on Qantas’ new Melbourne to LAX service via Dreamliner commencing December 15, 2017. As part of the training seminar, agents competed for promotion prizes as donated by L.A Tourism members including Ramada Plaza West Hollywood Hotel and Suites, Go LA Card, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood and Starline Tours. Qantas Best of the Day is an annual travel trade event held at the airline’s flight training center featuring a full-day of destination USA training.

MTA Training Seminars – Australia
L.A. Tourism Australia office hosted a training seminar for MTA – Mobile Travel Agents in Sydney on October 25, 2017. Travel Trade Manager Carolyn Nightingale educated the agents with ways to best see Los Angeles to their clientele and shared the latest L.A. hotel updates and developments at LAX Airport. A member of the Virtuoso network, MTA is one of the largest homebased member groups of travel agents in Australia with more than 220 agents nationwide.

Trade Sales Calls – New Zealand
L.A. Tourism’s Craig Gibbons conducted in-person sales visits to key trade partners including Flight Centre, House of Travel, GO Holidays and Air New Zealand in Auckland, New Zealand October 4 – 6, 2017. Craig also conducted destination training seminars for 45 travel agents at key wholesale tour operators on the latest L.A. happenings. New Zealand is target market within the region for Los Angeles and has seen significant growth in travel to the U.S. over the past year. For more information and trade contacts in the New Zealand market, please contact cgibbons@LAtourism.org.

Kanoo Travel Training – Middle East
L.A. Tourism’s Middle East office conducted an hour-long destination training seminar at Kanoo Travel headquarters in Dubai, UAE on October 5, 2017. Staff shared updates on the latest L.A. attractions, hotels, products, and direct air service from the region to LAX. Kanoo Travel is one of the largest and most established travel companies in the Middle East.

Swedish Travel Trade FAM
L.A. Tourism’s Scandinavia representative Johnny Gardsäter, in partnership with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), hosted an educational fam trip for six key decision makers from tour operators and travel agencies in Sweden. The travel trade reps flew nonstop from Stockholm to LAX via SAS, visited L.A. partner hotels and explored top attractions to better sell Los Angeles to their clientele.

Visit USA Roadshow 2017
L.A. Tourism’s Europe office participated in the annual Visit USA Roadshows with 31 other key destinations and airlines. Sales & Marketing Manager Hayley French promoted Los Angeles and the destination’s key offerings to 230 travel agents at three events in Edinburgh, Liverpool and Reading. Participating agents experienced a USA-themed evening with educational games and networking.

American Airlines UK&I Sales Team
L.A. Tourism’s Europe office sponsored the quarterly American Airlines Account Manager sales team meeting. Staff shared an educational Los Angeles presentation with the eight key American Airlines account managers from across the U.K. and Ireland, providing updates on LAX and ways to increase direct booking from London Heathrow to LAX.

LA Rams Client Event – London
L.A. Tourism’s Europe office hosted a client event at the Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals football game at Twickenham Stadium in London on October 22, 2017. A total 17 key U.K. trade representatives were invited to enjoy L.A.’s hospitality in a private suite as staff promoted the destination, highlighting L.A.’s new and existing product offerings.  

Travel Trade Meetings – Frankfurt
L.A. Tourism’s Europe Regional Director Francine Sheridan and Senior Tourism Director Ashlee Ciora traveled to Frankfurt to conduct meetings with the region’s key travel trade operators and agencies including CANUSA, Thomas Cook, Lufthansa City Centre, DERTOUR, DERTOUR Deluxe, ADAC and Meiers Weltreisen. Staff shared educational L.A. presentations highlighting the latest L.A. product and developments at LAX in an effort to increase bookings from Germany to LAX. While in Frankfurt, the team also met with airline partners Lufthansa and United Airlines to discuss future direct air service opportunities to LAX.

Asiana Airlines FAM – Japan
L.A. Tourism hosted five travel agents from Osaka, Japan on an educational FAM trip to Los Angeles October 12-14, 2017 in support of Asiana Airline’s KIX-ICN-LAX route and LAX Airport. The group’s itinerary highlighted only-in-L.A. attractions and neighborhoods including Angels Flight, OUE Skyspace LA, The Broad, Universal Studios Hollywood, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, La Brea Tar Pits & Museum, the Arts District and Venice Beach. Accommodations were provided by LEVEL Furnished Living.

Le Ponant – France
L.A. Tourism’s France representative Jean-Benoît, in partnership with Visit California, met with 30 luxury travel agents from Paris at an Oct. 12 event organized by Le Ponant and shared the latest L.A. luxury happenings and updates. Le Ponant will launch a California cruise with a full-day stop in Los Angeles beginning in 2018.

Club Med Training – France
L.A. Tourism’s France representatives met with 26 Club Med travel agents during their annual seminar in Paris on Oct. 17 and 19 and shared the latest L.A. updates and developments in promotion of the destination.

Club California Event - Chengdu
L.A. Tourism’s Chengdu office joined a Club California training in Chengdu organized by Visit California Oct. 12-13, 2017. Staff shared an educational destination presentation about Los Angeles and the latest developments including LAX Airport, new hotels and upcoming events to ten key Chengdu travel agencies.

Shanghai Mei Yin Int'l Travel Service Co. Training – Shanghai
L.A. Tourism’s Shanghai office conducted an in-house training at Shanghai Mei Yin Int'l Travel Service Co., Ltd., a leading receptive tour operator (also known as Galaxy Tour), on Oct. 13, 2017. Staff shared the latest L.A. developments and happenings to 14 agents including LAX Airport, TMD hotels, attractions and dineL.A.

Training at Guilin Wowoyoo Info Technology Co., Ltd. – China
L.A. Tourism’s China office conducted an in-house training at Guilin Wowoyoo Information Technology Co., Ltd., an online outbound travel service provider specializing in tailor-made tours and high-end tours on Oct. 13, 2017. Regional Director Kate Chang and Guangzhou Director Selin Lin shared an educational presentation to 40 product managers and operators highlighting new direct air service between China and LAX (Air China’s SZX route; Hong Kong Airlines’ HKG route), LAX’s modernization, the latest L.A. attractions and TMD hotels.

Mioji Travel Launch – Beijing
L.A. Tourism’s China office, in partnership with Mioji Travel, launched L.A. tailor-made tour products to more than 40 high-end tailor-made travel planners and media in Beijing on Oct. 16, 2017. A travel-technology company providing AI-powered itineraries, Mioji Travel offers operators customized in-depth L.A. travel products and packages within minutes. Information about L.A. Tourism member hotels, attractions, shopping centers, transportation and LAX has been fully integrated into the system. More than 40 wholesalers including leaders such as CITS, CYTS, U-Tour and Jinjiang Tours are using this new system.  

Chongqing Training - Chengdu
L.A. Tourism’s Chengdu office organized an in-house training for ten key MICE companies and travel agencies in Chongqing October 19-20, 2017. Staff shared information with the group of agents highlighting direct air service between Chongqing/Chengdu and LAX, the Private Suite at LAX, new L.A. attractions and hotels.

Air China Press Conference – Shenzhen
L.A. Tourism’s China office co-hosted a press conference with Air China to promote the airline’s upcoming direct air service from Shenzhen to Los Angeles, launching Dec. 7, 2017 with three weekly flights. China Regional Director Kate Chang and Guangzhou Director Selin Lin shared the latest destination information about L.A. highlighting LAX Airport, Private Suite at LAX, OUE Skyspace LA, Universal Studios Hollywood, Petersen Automotive Museum and new area hotels including InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown, Hotel Indigo and Dream Hollywood with 150 travel trade partners and media from South China.

North American Product Launch Conference Training - Shenzhen
L.A. Tourism’s Guangzhou office attended the North American Product Launch Conference in Shenzhen on Oct. 24, 2017. Organized by Shenzhen Overseas International Travel Service Co., Ltd., an outbound travel agency focusing on quality tours, the event attracted 60 product managers and operators. Staff shared educational destination information with the agents highlighting LAX Airport, L.A. attractions such as The Original Farmers Market, Petersen Automotive Museum, The Broad, The Getty Center, Westfield Century City Shopping Center, and new hotels like InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown, Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown.

IMEX America 2017
L.A. Tourism’s Sales team exhibited at IMEX America, one of the meetings industry’s largest and most important tradeshows, in Las Vegas October 10-12, 2017. The team and L.A. Tourism’s partners held 235-plus individual appointments along with a dozen group presentations to more than 125 hosted buyers at the show. Los Angeles also hosted several exclusive customer events for one-on-one engagement with hosted buyers and meeting professionals. More than 3,330 exhibiting companies representing 150 countries and 3,200 hosted buyers took part in this year’s IMEX America. L.A. Tourism thanks its partner hotels and venues: Dream Hollywood, Four Points by Sheraton Los Angeles International Airport, Hilton Los Angeles Airport, JW Marriott Los Angeles, L.A. LIVE / Ritz Carlton Los Angeles, L.A. LIVE (AEG), Levy Dining & Destinations, Paramount Pictures Studios, Patina Restaurant Group, Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles, Sheraton Grand Los Angeles, Universal Studios Hollywood, Warner Bros Studios, Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, Wolfgang Puck Catering.

National Taco Day Event in Toronto
In celebration of National Taco Day (Oct. 4), L.A. Tourism hosted a one-night taco-inspired dining event in true L.A. style by teaming with famed L.A. taco guru Chef Wes Avila of Guerrilla Tacos and Toronto’s Matt Basile at Lisa Marie restaurant in Toronto. The dining space was transformed to bring a quintessential L.A. rooftop at sunset to life complete with a Hollywood Sign backdrop, Downtown L.A. skyline, palm trees, succulents, sunset ambiance lighting, colorful décor accents and a DJ spinning West Coast-inspired tracks for the vibe. Media were invited to an exclusive preview during lunch with 40 attendees while dinner was a ticketed event open to the public, selling-out within 10 days. Media coverage from this event and L.A. Tourism’s partnership with Chef Wes Avila garnered 82 pieces of coverage across broadcast, print and online Canadian outlets such as Etalk, Toronto Sun and CBC Life.

‘Nihao China’
L.A. Tourism’s Communications team hosted 10 U.S.-based Chinese journalists at the third annual Receptive Tour Operator tradeshow featuring L.A. Tourism’s ‘Nihao China’ members held at Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood on Oct. 26, 2017. Staff shared information about the success of the ‘Nihao China’ program as well as highlighted the latest L.A. happenings and updates with the journalists, producing nearly 20 articles of coverage.

Singapore FAM Trip
In support of United Airlines inaugural flight from Singapore to LAX Airport, L.A. Tourism’s Communications team hosted four journalists from Singapore representing lifestyle, travel and business publications for future editorial destination coverage. The group’s itinerary highlighted only-in-L.A. experiences including OUE Skyspace LA, The Grove, The Broad, Hollywood & Highland, The Original Farmers Market, The Getty center and Angel City Brewery. Accommodations were hosted by Sportsmen’s Lodge Hotel.

2017 World Series
With the Los Angeles Dodgers playing in the 2017 World Series, the Communications team collected related specials from L.A. Tourism’s hotel members and restaurant partners to share with top-tier media. Online coverage was secured in several domestic outlets including USA Today, Mercury News as well as local publications. The team also secured World Series coverage internationally, particularly in South Korea. In addition, the team secured coverage about the friendly wager between Discover Los Angeles and Visit Houston made on Twitter with the winning city’s team taking over the losing city’s coveted social media accounts for a day. Stories about this fun competition appeared online in the Houston Chronicle, TravelPulse and Successful Meetings.

IMEX Media Breakfast
L.A. Tourism Communications hosted an exclusive breakfast for media at IMEX America, one of the meetings industry’s largest tradeshows, in Las Vegas on October 10, 2017. L.A. Tourism President & CEO Ernest Wooden Jr. and Senior Vice President of Sales Darren K. Green shared an informative presentation with the group highlighting the City of L.A.’s transformation ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games, which was followed by a Q&A session related to L.A.’s meetings industry. Attending media outlets included Meetings Today, Prevue, Smart Meetings, California Meetings + Events and BizBash. The communications team also conducted separate one-on-one appointments with each outlet during the tradeshow to discuss future editorial opportunities.