Visit California

In response to the January Los Angeles wildfires, #VisitCalifornia launched a national satellite media tour featuring travel expert and Southern California local Gabe Saglie. The tour, filmed live at Santa Monica’s newest luxury hotel, Regent Santa Monica Beach, aired across 12 key domestic markets, including New York City, Chicago, Dallas and Las Vegas, as well as major California cities such as Sacramento and San Francisco. 🎡 Visit Sacramento, San Francisco Travel Association https://lnkd.in/gj47K3ty

#HotelNews: Congratulations to the Shore Hotel in #SantaMonica for taking the top spot on Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best ranking! 👏 Santa Monica Travel & Tourism https://lnkd.in/gZh3c9uh

#TransportationNews: STARLUX Airlines' new direct flights between #Ontario and Taipei, launching in June, will boost Southern California’s global connectivity, bringing more international travelers to the region. This increased access is set to drive tourism, support local businesses and strengthen the economy. 🛬 GOCAL - Greater Ontario California https://lnkd.in/gCr364ad

#VisitCalifornia unveiled its latest road trips campaign, “Playful Journeys”, with a global debut during the Academy Awards on March 2. Visit California aired key spots during the Oscars Live and Encore broadcast on KABC, delivering 1.81 million impressions. 📺 https://lnkd.in/gVGsFtEX

#HotelNews: Sonesta Hotels has opened Signature Inn Berkeley, a 29-room upper-economy hotel in the Bay Area. This marks the 14th Signature Inn location in the U.S., offering guests a retro-modern atmosphere and amenities. 🏨 Visit Berkeley https://lnkd.in/gr_FKqQT

Last week, #VisitCalifornia revised its 2025 travel forecast to $160 billion in visitor spending — a 2.3% year-over-year increase, though below earlier projections. Global economic conditions and a slower international recovery continue to affect the outlook. This revision underscores the need for continued focus on long-term growth and global competitiveness. Thanks to California's strong brand equity, travelers continue to show a deep affinity for the Golden State. Read the full CEO Update and subscribe to future newsletters. ✈️ https://lnkd.in/gaCnSeTN

After two years of development, #VisitCalifornia has announced the first-phase release of its draft Regional Strategic Tourism Plans, a comprehensive initiative designed to help businesses and communities navigate challenges, seize opportunities and build long-term resilience. 📊 https://lnkd.in/g8dZ5GdJ

San Diego International Airport set a passenger record in 2024, serving over 25.2M passengers. International travel to and from the airport grew by more than 10%. ✈️ San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, San Diego Tourism Authority https://lnkd.in/gdGa8hMe

For the first time ever, Christmas with Delta, the annual Australian holiday special hosted by musician and actress Delta Goodrem, was filmed in California, bringing the Golden State’s festive charm to over a million Australian households. This year’s edition continued its legacy by transporting audiences to #Hollywood and showcasing the best of #WestHollywood and #Anaheim. 🚌 Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, West Hollywood Travel + Tourism Board, Visit Anaheim https://lnkd.in/gUCCj96p

January’s Australia CEO Mission, featuring 12 senior tourism leaders, reinforced California’s position as a top destination for Australian and New Zealand travelers. In 2024, 470,000 Australian visitors spent $1.5 billion in California, accounting for 6% of the state’s international travelers spending. One the heels of the recent Los Angeles wildfires, the mission highlighted California’s readiness, resilience and unique value propositions to key partners in the region while emphasizing the state’s "open for business" message. 🌏 https://lnkd.in/gReVFs8D