SPECIAL FEATURE: ITB
SPECIAL FEATURE: ITB ASIA SMARTreport commercial content HALL D / BOOTH R21 © Downtowngal MacArthur Park, Los Angeles, California Singing the Praises of Tourism in Los Angeles The city of the angels’ tourism and municipal officials say tourism increasingly powers the local economy As Frank Sinatra sang, “I brought her my wildest of dreams and she came up with the answer”. Proof that Los Angeles sets the world dreaming comes in the latest announcement from the LA Tourism and Convention Board, who’ve announced record-breaking visitation, visitor spending and tourism job growth last year. Los Angeles welcomed 44.2 million visitors in 2014 – an increase of 4.8% over 2013 levels. Total domestic visitation reached 37.7 million visitors and domestic overnight visitation achieved 23 million visitors. International visitation, an ever-important segment of the market, reached new levels at 6.5 million visitors, a 5.6% percent increase over 2013. International visitors, who tend to stay longer and spend more during their visit, accounted for nearly 33% of all visitor spending. Tourism generated .3 billion in state and local tax revenues in 2014. “A shining star of our local economy, the tourism industry continues to thrive, supporting good-paying jobs for our families and generating significant revenue for our city’s vital public services,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. L.A.'s hotel occupancy and hotel room nights sold both set all-time highs in 2014. In less than a decade, China has surged to become L.A.’s number one overseas tourism market, with Chinese visitation to L.A. up 523%. Hotel occupancy for the year reached 78.9%, surpassing the previous 2013 high of 76.8%. L.A. County’s hotels sold a record 28.1 million room nights in 2014, an increase of 3.2% percent over 2013. “Our hospitality community should be very proud of these stellar results since hoteliers play an important role in achieving these economic impacts as our city’s ambassadors,” said Javier Cano, chairman of Los Angeles Tourism Marketing District Board; vice president and market general manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles and JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE. “It’s their everyday passion and dedication for the guest experience that contributes to making L.A. such a welcoming, inspiring destination for our visitors.” CHINESE VISITORS LEAD GROWTH In less than a decade, China has surged to become L.A.’s number one overseas tourism market, with Chinese visitation to L.A. up 523%. L.A. has seen five consecutive years of double digit growth in Chinese visitation – outpacing every other international market by a large margin. In 2014, L.A. saw a 20 percent increase in visitation from China over 2013, welcoming nearly 700,000 Chinese visitors. 2015 research statistics has forecasted that Chinese visitation will continue to experience double-digit growth for at least the next three years. Los Angeles skyline and San Gabriel mountains © Nserrano 16 Hotel & Tourism SMARTreport / Worldwide Edition N°27 / September - November 2015
HALL D / BOOTH R21 SPECIAL FEATURE: ITB ASIA SMARTreport commercial content Miami Gets Personal The GMCVB launches new ideas to facilitate visits to the city and region Miami Beach shoreline - aerial view Ocean Drive Surfside Lifeguard House The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, in collaboration with Brand USA, has produced a series of 12 videos in different languages to promote greater Miami and its beaches. These 12 YouTube videos help for potential visitors to discover the different facets of the city: top of the shops for their holidays, shows not to be missed, unforgettable nightlife, family ideas, different neighborhoods and architecture... Each addresses a theme that showcases the wealth of Miami. And to go further, GMCVB has launched its 'People & Places' campaign, a series of videos in English to promote the various districts of the city. Ideas include: NORTH BEACH: Head north – that’s what DJ Laura says. Follow this local radio show producer’s lead and you’ll find it is different here. Sure, wide open beaches, spectacular turquoise waters, and waving palms are almost a given on our coastline, but ours are less crowded, more perfect. Our pace is more casual, our vibe more mellow. As Laura will attest, it’s soothing, restorative, and thanks to the bow ties and cheese holes of MiMo (Miami Modern) architecture, blessed with just the right amount of funk. AVENTURA: Diego eats, lives, loves, and breathes Aventura. Run into him in Aventura Mall’s Art of Shaving and you’ll agree. One minute he’s touting the cocktails at Grand Luxe, next he’s recounting a date at Turnberry Isle’s Bourbon Steak Restaurant. And if you are craving for the ultimate in high-end shopping adventures, Diego can certainly spare a few tips. An advocate of all things Aventura, just ask him and he’ll point you toward the best pools, spas, and maybe even how to find yourself adrift on a lazy river. COCONUT GROVE: If you’re not laid back on arrival, you will be soon. Meet local musician Ominé and she’ll tell you Miami’s oldest neighbourhood has been carving its own free-thinking path since the Bahamians arrived in the late 1800s. She’ll have you believing quirky and bohemian are normal, and introduce you to our resident peacocks, parrots, and artists. Of course, if you prefer to wander aimlessly through the galleries, banyan-shaded bistros, waterfront parks, and unique-tous boutiques, we’re cool with that – we’ll be doing the same thing. What better advice could you get than from a local to enrich your experience in Miami? Discover more at: www.miamiandbeaches.com/things-todo/travel-guides/ Our pace is more casual, our vibe more mellow. www.cleverhotel.org Hotel & Tourism SMARTreport / Worldwide Edition N°27 / September - November 2015 17
