Garcetti proclaims initiatives to assist LA’s tourism recuperate

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office on Wednesday outlined steps to help the local tourism industry recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, including a $ 5 million investment in the national marketing campaign ” LA Tourism and Convention Board’s Comeback Story to bring travelers back to Los Angeles.

What you need to know

• Funding for the Tourism and Convention Board’s marketing campaign comes from the American Rescue Plan’s $ 1.3 billion allocation to Los Angeles
• Garcetti’s office said LA will be the first US city to launch national promotions to attract travelers
• The $ 5 million investment is expected to generate more than $ 12 million in hotel tax revenue for Los Angeles, according to city officials
• Garcetti said he plans to speak to US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo about his recommendations on restoring consumer confidence and increasing the demand for travel

The mayor also announced the establishment of a tourism cabinet in Los Angeles as well as federal lobbying calling for more funding for tourism and guidelines for international visits.

“Tourism and hospitality have been decimated by the pandemic – and if we want the LA economy to recover sustainably, we need to get this industry back on its feet, get workers back to work and visitors back into the doors of our hotels to return.” Companies and main attractions, “said Garcetti.

The Mayor hosted a panel discussion on Tuesday with hotel managers and executives from the Hotel Association of Los Angeles, the LA Tourism and Convention Board, and the LA Tourism Marketing District.

Employment in the local hospitality and leisure sectors fell 46% as public health guidelines forced hotels and other tourism-related businesses to close, according to the mayor’s office. A third of all LA County’s jobs lost since February 2020 have been in this sector.

“Our city is a global travel destination and as more people are vaccinated and more rooms reopened, we will do all we can to revitalize this sector and welcome people back to Los Angeles from all over the country and around the world,” said Garcetti.

Funding for the Tourism and Convention Board’s marketing campaign comes from the American Rescue Plan’s $ 1.3 billion allocation to Los Angeles. Garcetti’s office said LA will be the first US city to launch national promotions to attract travelers. The $ 5 million investment is expected to generate more than $ 12 million in hotel tax revenue for Los Angeles, according to city officials.

“As we see promising signs of recovery, it is now critical that the leisure and hospitality industries get the help and pressure to hire staff and bring back visitors,” said Heather Rozman, executive director of the Hotel Association of Los Angeles. “Hotels, restaurants and attractions have prepared for this moment and taken important steps to ensure that their spaces are safe for guests from around the world.”

The Los Angeles Tourism Cabinet will consist of directors-general from LA’s urban departments who will play a role in developing guidelines for destination management, the mayor’s office said. The cabinet will be responsible for developing strategies to ensure LA maintains its position as the premier international travel destination and find a way for sustainable tourism growth that benefits the community.

The booth is directed by Doane Liu, Executive Director of the Convention and Tourism Development Department. He said he was “grateful for the opportunity to work with the mayor and the Cabinet of Tourism to review what infrastructure would be required to handle the huge surge.” expected in visit in the coming years. “

“The prospects for the future of Los Angeles tourism are extraordinary, and there are so many opportunities to enhance the experience for both our residents and our visitors by building relationships between the public and private sectors,” he said.

Garcetti said he plans to speak to US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo about his recommendations on restoring consumer confidence and increasing the demand for travel. He also plans to ask the business development agency to allow the use of federal grants for advertising and promotional campaigns for tourist destinations.