A Note from Ernie - June 2018

Dear Friends,

The summer travel season has arrived and there’s no doubt that Los Angeles will be a top choice among travelers from all over the world seeking some well-deserved time off. In fact, CheapOair, a flight-focused hybrid travel agency, just announced its top 10 domestic destinations for 2018’s Fourth of July holiday; and Los Angeles is named as this year’s second-most booked destination, behind Orlando.

Some more exciting news – I just returned from Cleveland where I had the pleasure to announce PCMA, the world’s largest network of meeting professionals and events strategists, has selected Los Angeles to host its Educational Conference in 2019. We will be able to showcase our destination to hundreds of key decision-makers to attract future meetings and events that drive economic impact.  

It’s great to see TOT collections are making a significant impact for the City of Los Angeles as highlighted in the proposed 2018-2019 budget. General fund revenues have increased by 5.8%, driven by increases in TOT as well as property and business taxes. Mayor Garcetti seeks to use these bolstered funds to repair and rebuild our city’s roads and sidewalks to make them safer for all.

Be sure to register for our sixth annual Market Outlook Forum on Wednesday, August 29 taking place at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel. Market Outlook Forum is an exclusive, members-only event highlighting our upcoming marketing plans and the latest tourism industry trends. Check your inboxes for the formal invitation with additional details.

These are just a few of the many updates on L.A. Tourism and our industry that we’re sharing with you in June’s newsletter. As always, we will be here, working on behalf of all of our members and partners to keep the world coming to Los Angeles.

Best wishes,

Ernest Wooden Jr.
President and CEO
Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board