Los Angeles Tourism at Work - November 2019

United Airlines Visit CA China California Advisory Board FAM
In partnership with United Airlines and Visit California, Los Angeles Tourism hosted a luxury travel trade familiarization trip for six luxury travel company executives who are members of the California Advisory Board for China. From October 29 – November 1, they enjoyed an educational itinerary that showcased personalized, interactive experiences throughout Los Angeles including Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood (with emphasis on their Mandarin studio tour), the VIP Ice Box at an L.A. Kings game and activities at Terranea Resort such as Mandala Painting. The executives also networked with representatives from SLS Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Beverly Hills, who hosted their accommodations.

American Express Brighton UK FAM
In partnership with the London West Hollywood Hotel and American Airlines, Los Angeles Tourism hosted a familiarization trip for eight luxury travel advisors from the American Express office in Brighton, UK, from October 1-3.  The group’s itinerary highlighted visitor must-sees including Universal Studios Hollywood, OUE Skyspace and The Broad.

AeroMexico Halloween FAM
From October 2-5, Los Angeles Tourism hosted a familiarization trip in partnership with AeroMexico for nine travel advisors, four journalists and four influencers from Mexico. The group’s educational itinerary highlighted the destination’s famed neighborhoods such as Hollywood, Downtown L.A., Venice in addition to various Halloween activities.

Visit California UK SuperFAM

In partnership with Visit California and British Airways, Los Angeles Tourism hosted a familiarization trip from October 3-5 for nine travel advisors from the UK. The group experienced highlights of Downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood, including the Griffith Observatory, The Broad, LA Cycle Tours and Downtown LA Walking Tours. Accommodations were provided by the Kimpton Everly Hotel.

Visit California Japan – Club California, Tokyo
On October 4, Los Angeles Tourism’s Japan rep participated in Visit California’s Club California event in Tokyo which attracted a total of 118 travel trade professionals and media. In addition to a networking hour, the program featured an educational seminar themed around Visit California’s Road Trip Republic initiative where Los Angeles was highlighted as a premier destination for road trip itineraries.

Latin America Travel Forum
Los Angeles Tourism hosted the inaugural Latin America Travel Forum from October 21-26 at Convene. The multi-day forum featured a group of 20 travel industry experts from Argentina, Brazil and Mexico who shared market intelligence and industry updates from their respective countries. The delegations also explored Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood and beach cities regions to grow their destination knowledge first-hand.

Signature Travel Network Travel Agent Day FAM
On October 9, Los Angeles Tourism hosted a Signature Travel Network familiarization trip for 12 domestic travel agents and two Signature Travel staff members. The group experienced a private tour of the Getty Villa followed by a site visit and reception at Viceroy Santa Monica, a Signature Travel property. During the group’s visit, staff shared an overview of the destination, highlighting new hotel developments, the LAX modernization program and its highly-anticipated Automated People Mover.

LA Insider Club Seminar – Sydney
In partnership with Air New Zealand and Viva Holidays, Los Angeles Tourism’s Australia office hosted a beachside cocktail event in Sydney for 40 travel agents. The agents received in-depth training on the exciting developments in L.A. and at LAX in addition to updates from Visit West Hollywood, Universal Studios Hollywood, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood and Six Flags Magic Mountain.

Singapore Client Event
Los Angeles Tourism celebrated its expansion to the Southeast Asia market with a client event hosted by Craig Gibbons, regional director Oceania & Southeast Asia, at Raffles Place in Singapore on October 15. Attendees included 65 travel agents from Singapore and Malaysia along with local trade media and US Commercial Services staff who were treated to destination updates on L.A.’s newest attractions, LAX’s modernization and the launch of the LA Insider trade online training program in Southeast Asia. Sponsorship for this event was provided by Singapore Airlines, Universal Studios Hollywood, The London West Hollywood and Citadel Outlets.

Kuala Lumpur Client Event
In partnership with Citadel Outlets and Tour America, Los Angeles Tourism’s International Tourism and MICE teams co-hosted a client luncheon for leading MICE & Travel Agents partners in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Representatives from Singapore Airlines and US Commercial Service as well as 40 travel agents were in attendance. Attendees received L.A. destination training and information on the LA Insider Online Training Program. Sponsorship was provided by Marriott Hotels, The Beverly Center and Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills.

Specialist Training, Germany – Europe
Los Angeles Tourism Germany hosted training for 17 sales agents in three German cities: Cologne on October 17; Munich on October 23; and Stuttgart on October 24. The trainings highlighted destination updates with a focus on the L.A. Insider online Training program.

IFTM Top Résa Trade Show, France – Europe
From October 1-4, Los Angeles Tourism France exhibited at IFTM Top Résa in Paris. More than 34,000 travel professionals attended the 2019 show, which is the biggest travel industry event in France. The team met with key French tour operators, travel agencies, airlines, media and trade partners to highlight L.A. product and discuss future partnership opportunities.

Jet Set Training, France - Europe 
On October 15, Los Angeles Tourism France hosted the Jet Set Training lunch-and-learn for 11 travel agents specializing in B2B US travel. Attendees received updates on the L.A. destination and the L.A. Insider online training program.

Discover America Seminar, Scandinavia – Europe
On October 7, Los Angeles Tourism Scandinavia exhibited at the Discover America Seminar in Gothenburg, Sweden. Discover America Seminar is the biggest US travel industry event in West Sweden, attracting more than 100 travel professionals annually. The team highlighted L.A. to key Scandinavian tour operators, tour agencies and airlines.

Researrangörerna Training and Client Event, Scandinavia – Europe
Los Angeles Tourism Scandinavia hosted a day of training at Researrangörerna, the leading long-haul luxury tour operator in in Helsingborg, Sweden on October 14. Following the destination training, the team participated in two client events in Helsingborg and Stockholm for 160 VIP clients. The events focused on the destination’s hotels and L.A.’s newest product offerings.

KLM 100 years celebration event, Scandinavia – Europe
Los Angeles Tourism Scandinavia participated in KLM’s 100-year celebration in Stockholm on October 8. The team’s representatives networked with nearly 350 VIP tour operators and travel agents in attendance, sharing knowledge on L.A.’s newest product offerings.

Discover America Halloween, Scandinavia – Europe
On October 29, Los Angeles Tourism Scandinavia participated in the first ever Discover America Halloween event at the Hard Rock Café in Stockholm. Over 70 travel professionals were in attendance, and throughout the event the team met with key Scandinavian tour operators, agencies and airlines to highlight L.A.’s visitor offerings.

Spain Travel Trade Event – Europe
Los Angeles Tourism hosted a reception in Madrid to formally announce AviaReps as the organization’s travel trade representation in Spain. Over 30 tour operators and tour agencies in the region were in attendance. The evening included a presentation on the Los Angeles product, and a special prize giveaway of a trip to L.A. courtesy of Spain’s national airline Iberia (who offers direct service between Madrid and LAX). The team also held individual meetings and training sessions with Iberia, Madrid’s leading tour operators and travel agencies during the two-day sales mission.

Italy Travel Trade Event – Europe
Los Angeles Tourism hosted 25 top travel trade at a reception in Milan to celebrate AviaReps becoming the organization’s official trade representation in Italy. The evening featured a presentation on L.A. product, highlighting direct air service from Milan to LAX. During the 2-day sales mission, the team held individual meetings and training sessions with leading tour operators and travel agencies, and conducted travel trade interviews on the top reasons to visit L.A. The team met with key in-market airlines including Air Italy, Alitalia, American Airlines, Air Canada, Norwegian and United Airlines to discuss flight growth from the region and market intelligence. All airlines in attendance offer service to LAX from Milan or Rome and received an informative presentation on LAX’s modernization program.  

Training at China Young Trip International Travel Service 
On October 10, Los Angeles Tourism’s Beijing office conducted an in-house training at China Young Trip International Travel Service. The training focused on direct air service from China to LAX, the new digital program L.A. Travel Knowledge Bank and Mini Products 2.0, and the newly updated Los Angeles Tourism trade WeChat account.

Club California in Hangzhou
Los Angeles Tourism’s Shanghai office attended Visit California’s Club California Event in Hangzhou, China from October 25-26. The team hosted 10 one-on-one appointments with travel agents, wholesalers, OTAs and receptive tour operators from the region. The trade participants received updates on L.A. Travel Knowledge Bank and Mini Products 2.0, LAX terminal offerings and current air services between LAX and China.

 Guangzhou Trainings
Los Angeles Tourism’s Guangzhou office conducted six in-house trainings at key travel agencies in Guangzhou, China for DISTA Travel, DTA, Nanhu Travel, GZL, CTS Guangdong and Hyde. A total of 75 operators and sales managers received destination updates on the LAX modernization, non-stop air service between China and LAX, and terminal shopping and dining offerings. The team also highlighted members Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood and Universal Studios Hollywood’s newest offerings.

Chengdu Trainings
Los Angeles Tourism’s Chengdu office conducted three in-house trainings at X-Travel, DTA and Toursforfun in October to 49 travel agents and tour operators. The team delivered a presentation on non-stop air services from China to LAX with emphasis on CTU/CKG-LAX by Hainan Airlines as well as the new L.A. Travel Knowledge Bank and Mini Products 2.0.

US Consul General Meeting
On October 17, Los Angeles Tourism’s Chengdu Office attended a round table meeting with US Consul General in Chengdu, China alongside BrandUSA and Visit California. The team shared the continued efforts Los Angeles Tourism is making to help travel trade with in-depth itineraries and extended stays, through the Mini Product 1.0 and 2.0 itinerary series, Travel Trade Knowledge Bank and L.A. Angels’ Friends-Quality Partner Program.

ITB Asia
From October 16-18, Los Angeles Tourism’s International Tourism and MICE teams attended ITB Asia, the leading B2B leisure travel and MICE trade show for the Asia region, at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Craig Gibbons, regional director Southeast Asia, and Sheena Yu, destination sales director Asia MICE, conducted over 50 one-on-one appointment with buyers from across Asia, providing updates on L.A.’s newest hotels, event venues and attractions.

In October, the Communications team hosted a Halloween-themed familiarization trip for future editorial coverage that included outlets from US, UK and New Zealand. The group experienced the city’s spookiest attractions such as Two Bit Circus, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood and a Downtown LA Walking Tour. Accommodations were hosted by Ace Hotel Downtown.

The team also hosted five individual press visits for future editorial coverage in outlets from the U.S., South Korea, Australia and Canada. Their itineraries highlighted only-in-L.A. experiences outlets such as  Downtown LA Walking Tours, ROW DTLA and Universal Studios Hollywood and Cartwheel Art Tours. Accommodations were provided by Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, Hotel Figueroa and The Garland.

At the end of October, the team co-hosted a familiarization trip for future editorial coverage with the newly opened Hoxton, LA. Four U.K. journalists enjoyed an in-depth itinerary themed to the local Angeleno experience. Members highlighted on their itinerary include Rossoblu, Bottega Louie, The Broad, Bikes and Hikes LA and The Getty Center. The Hoxton, LA provided accommodations and meals at their restaurant Sibling Rival.