L.A. Tourism at Work - February 2019

Visit California & Alitalia FAM
In partnership with Visit California and Alitalia, Los Angeles Tourism hosted a destination awareness visit for six Italian tour operators from January 13-16, 2019. The group’s itinerary showcased only-in-L.A. experiences including OUE Skyspace, Westfield Century City, Petersen Automotive Museum, and Madame Tussauds.  Accommodations were provided by the NoMad Hotel Los Angeles and the Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey.

Visit USA Trade Show, Switzerland – Europe
Los Angeles Tourism exhibited at the Visit USA Trade Show held in Zurich on January 30, 2019. Throughout the trade show, L.A. Tourism’s Germany rep met with key Swiss tour operators, travel agents and airlines to highlight LA product.

Reiseliv Travel Exhibition, Scandinavia – Europe
Los Angeles Tourism Scandinavia participated in the Reiseliv Travel Exhibition, Norway’s largest travel industry event, from January 11-13. Throughout the trade show, the team met with key Scandinavian tour operators, agencies and airlines to highlight LA product.

Discover America Seminar, Scandinavia – Europe
Los Angeles Tourism Scandinavia exhibited at the Discover America Seminar in Stockholm on January 15. The team presented an update on LA’s visitor offerings and product and showcased LAX Airport to an audience of agency staff, partners and airlines, including SAS Airlines.

Matka Travel Exhibition, Scandinavia – Europe
Ahead of Finnair’s new direct flight from Helsinki to LAX launching on March 31, 2019, Los Angeles Tourism Scandinavia exhibited at the Matka Travel Exhibition in Helsinki from January 17-20. Throughout the trade show, the team met with key Scandinavian tour operators, agencies, airlines and consumers to highlight new LA product.

California Pop Up Travel Store – Sydney
As part of a national sales campaign, Los Angeles Tourism’s Australia team partnered with Flight Centre, Air New Zealand and Visit California to create a one-day pop up at Sydney’s Central Station offering commuters the chance to sample LA-inspired food items. The activation was seen by over 300,000 commuters and encouraged visitors to book an LA vacation by offering discounted airfare to LAX Airport on Air New Zealand.

Delta Grammy Awards Winners
Los Angeles Tourism Australia Travel Trade Manager Kathleen Finneran visited top selling travel agencies in Sydney to reward the winners of a joint LAX sales incentive with Delta Air Lines.  The winners traveled to LA to attend the 2019 Grammy Awards and enjoy a luxurious stay at Hotel Figueroa. The promotion was also used to advertise the LA Insider online training program to Australian travel agents.

Kuoni Travel Agents, France – Europe
In partnership with tour operator KUONI, Los Angeles Tourism France hosted a training session for 14 travel agents in Paris on January 24, 2019.  During the session, the agents received updates on new LA product, updates on LAX, the LA Insider program and French-language website.

Agent Kai Annual Luncheon
Los Angeles Tourism hosted the annual Agent Kai New Year Luncheon at Porsche Experience Center on Jan. 18, 2019. The team provided L.A. product updates to several guests and Japanese agents as well as representatives from the Japanese Consulate in L.A.

KNT-CT Holdings Seminar
Los Angeles Tourism’s Japan rep Emiko Morimoto presented at KNT-CT Holdings’ headquarters prior to their participation in a FAM to LA. Emiko highlighted LAX Airport, the wide variety of destination offerings focusing on millennial travelers, and previewed upcoming venues such as the Academy Museum and Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. 

Club CA Nagoya
Club California, Visit California Japan's annual trade event, was held in Nagoya on January 25. L Los Angeles Tourism’s Japan rep Emiko Morimoto presented an update on LA products, LAX Airport, and the L.A. Insider program while spotlighting L.A.’s culinary scene, as culinary tourism was the event’s theme.

L.A. Tourism in China
Brand USA's In-house Trainings in Changsha and Wuhan
From January 8-11, Los Angeles Tourism Guangzhou and Shanghai joined six in-house trainings in Changsha and Wuhan, hosted by Brand USA, for key travel agents. Staff delivered presentations on modernization developments and shopping at LAX Airport as well as updates on LA product. L.A. Mini Products/ Packages were also introduced as an additional planning and development resource.

Promotion Event with DISTA

On January 9, Los Angeles Tourism Chengdu joined a promotion event with DISTA in Guiyang.

Staff delivered a presentation on direct air service from Western China to LAX Airport, highlighting the newest airport shopping and dining facilities. L.A. Mini Products/Packages and L.A. Angels Academy 2.0, were introduced to support LAX as the gateway to the U.S.

In-house Trainings in Chengdu
Los Angeles Tourism Chengdu conducted three in-house training sessions in Chengdu for top tour operators. L.A. Tourism staff delivered presentations on direct air service from China to LAX, LAX's latest modernization efforts, and shopping at LAX. L.A. Mini Products/Packages and L.A. Angels Academy 2.0, a mobile training program, were reintroduced to support LAX as the gateway to the U.S.

L.A. Angels Academy Awards Events

From Nov. to Dec. 2018, a campaign was organized for the staff of Tongcheng International, a group of online travel agencies, to complete LA destination training. Within 33 days of mobilization, more than 1,100 staff completed all four courses on Los Angeles, including L.A. Angels Academy 1.0 & 2.0. In recognition of their great efforts, four award events were organized throughout January in Suzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou where attendees received an overview of the destination and the direct air service between China and LAX Airport.  

Travel Trade Training with China Southern Airlines
On January 25, Los Angeles Tourism Beijing co-hosted a travel trade training session with China Southern Airlines and Yong An Travel. Over 60 attendees learned about LAX's modernization developments, current facilities and services, and nonstop flights from China to LAX, furthering LAX Airport as a major gateway to the U.S.

PCMA Convening Leaders
As the host destination for the upcoming PCMA Education Conference in June, Los Angeles made an impact at the trade show in Pittsburgh utilizing hologram technology. Los Angeles Tourism’s booth featured a life-size Kobe Bryant hologram that attendees could take a selfie with, generating excitement among 200 participants across the show floor. Additionally, the Sales team hosted a “Sports Capital of the World” themed event at Ace Hotel’s historic gym. Nearly 70 clients networked with sales staff, partners from J.W. Marriott LA Live, AEG and Wolfgang Puck Catering.  

In January, the domestic communications team attended TravMedia’s International Media Marketplace in New York City, where PR Director Denise Lengyeltoti met with more than 25 travel journalists, sharing the latest destination updates and compelling story ideas for future editorial coverage. Denise also scouted New York venues for an upcoming media and influencer event to be held in April.
 

In partnership with Visit West Hollywood, the team hosted a group of five domestic journalists for an awards season-themed press trip, showcasing only-in-L.A. experiences and red-carpet inspired packages such as being fitted in designer threads at Bloomingdales at Westfield Century City. The group’s educational itinerary highlighted experiences at Pizzana, Baltaire, Hotel Figueroa and tours of the Grammy Museum and forthcoming Academy Museum. The group watched the SAG Awards at the London Hotel after receiving hair and makeup services.
 

From January 25-28, the international communications team hosted a group of three media from New Zealand on a family-friendly themed press trip for future editorial coverage. The group’s itinerary highlighted only-in-L.A. experiences including dining at Broken Spanish and The Fields LA; cocktails at Exchange and Broken Shaker; a surfing lesson with Aquasurf; and visits to Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, Griffith Observatory, and Natural History Museum. Accommodations were hosted by Beach House Hermosa Hotel and Freehand Los Angeles.
 

In addition, the international team supported an influencer visit from India the week of January 16. Celebrity influencers Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja visited LA as part of Los Angeles Tourism’s ongoing efforts to attract Indian visitors. During their visit, the couple basked in LA’s famous glam lifestyle where they explored the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, LACMA, the Last Bookstore, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, Salazar, and a Lakers game at Staples Center. Content from the trip was promoted across Los Angeles Tourism’s social channels as well as on their owned accounts.