Los Angeles Tourism at Work
Around the world, in town and online, Los Angeles Tourism is working to help grow tourism, support its members and keep the world coming to Los Angeles. Take a look at some of our key activities over the past month:
Reuniting the World at IPW
Los Angeles Tourism traveled to Las Vegas to meet with buyers and media at the U.S. Travel Association’s IPW. Held for the first time in person since the start of the pandemic, the event brought more than 2,600 attendees from 52 countries together for our industry’s premier international marketplace. Our global communications team also conducted 40 desk side appointments with journalists at the media marketplace. Our team was joined by two corporate partners from The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and the Muhammad Ali Experience.
Building Global Partnerships
In a step working towards creating a regular nonstop flight between Los Angeles and Vietnam, Los Angeles World Airports, the Office of LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, Bamboo Airways and Los Angeles Tourism signed a letter of cooperation. Bamboo Airways recently received regulatory authority to fly a limited number of charter flights between L.A. and Ho Chi Minh City while the airline works to set up regular scheduled service. LA Tourism has pledged to work toward supporting the new international service. As one of our largest unserved international markets, Vietnam has been a priority for some time. We’ve long recognized the potential of direct air service between L.A. and Vietnam and have participated in multiple delegations to the county to meet with carriers over the years.
Committing Focus to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
L.A.’s diversity is one of our greatest strengths. To ensure Los Angeles Tourism is strategically working to advance diversity, equity and inclusion, we recently convened all members of our DEI Advisory Board for critical virtual conversations. The group discussed priorities for the next six months including the need to proactively develop a pipeline of diverse talent and partnerships, furthering diversity goals for our Board of Director membership and integrating new voices into our marketing efforts. We’re thrilled to have the following dynamic group of thought leaders serving on the Advisory Board across four subcommittees:
Black & African American Subcommittee: Vaughn Davis – General Manager, Dream Hollywood, Sol & Gloria Herbert – Owners, Black Meetings & Tourism, Glyn Milburn – Director Of Government Affairs, Ygrene Energy Fund, Debbie Pattillo – Principial, DP Consulting Group LLC, Renata Simril – President & CEO, LA84 Foundation
LGBTQ+ Subcommittee: Sharon-Franklin Brown – Chief Human Resources Officer, Los Angeles LGBT Center, Susan Feniger – Chef/Owner at Border Grill, Socalo, and BBQ Mexicana, Niki Nakayama – Chef/Owner at n/naka, Craig Robinson – EVP & Chief Diversity Officer, NBCUniversal, John Tanzella – President & CEO, IGLTA
Latino/Latina/Latinx Subcommittee: Leticia Rhi Buckley – Senior Civic Strategist, The Music Center, John Echeveste – CEO, LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, Maria Evans – General Manager, Doubletree by Hilton San Pedro, Christopher Henry – CEO, Majestic Hospitality Group, Lilly Rocha – CEO & Executive Director, Latino Restaurant Association
Asian American & Pacific Islander Subcommittee: Stephen Cheung – President, World Trade Center Los Angeles & Chief Operating Officer, Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, Yoomee Ha – Executive Director, Sister Cities of Los Angeles, Peter Kwong – Board Chair, Best Western International Hotels and Resorts, Dina (Pepito) Samson – Owner, Rossoblu and Superfine, Connie Wang – Managing Director, Hotel Figueroa
Los Angeles Tourism in the News
Recent press coverage secured by our Global Communications team includes:
Los Angeles has a vibrant new logo, inspired by everything from sunsets to car culture, Fast Company
Do Call it a Comeback: LA Tourism's Video Message for Irish & UK Travel Partners, Ireland's Travel Trade Network
Los Angeles is Open for Group Business, California Meetings + Events