A Note from Ernie - April 2019

Dear Friends,

Next month, travel and hospitality professionals from across the nation will celebrate the power of tourism during National Travel & Tourism Week from May 5-11. Here in the Golden State, we’re joining our friends at Visit California to spotlight tourism’s role as a key economic driver all month long as May is officially California Tourism Month as declared by our state legislature. As such, Los Angeles Tourism is gearing up to announce our new visitor spend and economic impact data as generated by our record 50 million visitors last year.
 

Even more important, we’re getting ready to launch a new North Star goal for our hard-working industry to rally behind as we look ahead. National Travel & Tourism Week is a time when our tourism community unites to champion the value travel holds for the economy, businesses large and small, and our more than 550,000 destination ambassadors. How will you celebrate? 
 

I’m pleased to share Transient Occupancy Tax collections for the City’s General Fund totaled $22.5 million for February 2019, bringing our fiscal year-to-date total to $207.8 million. This is $14.2 million higher than last year’s to-date total, a year-over-year increase of 7.3%.
 

These are just a few of the many updates on our industry that we’re sharing with you in April’s newsletter. As always, we will continue to work diligently on behalf of all of our members to keep the world coming to Los Angeles.

Best wishes,
​​

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