The wildfires have been quelled and recovery in Los Angeles has begun. That’s where you come in. In the midst of putting neighborhoods, businesses and lives back together, LA is counting on the meetings and events industry to keep people coming to the City of Angels, which in turn will help keep the economy going.
While onscreen images and footage made it seem as though the entire city was swallowed by flames, in reality the vast majority of LA County was unscathed, as a recent media statement made by Visit California’s President & CEO Caroline Beteta explained.
“Los Angeles is open for business. With 98 percent of the county not directly impacted by the fires, the iconic event venues, world-class hotels, thrilling attractions and diverse neighborhoods the world knows and loves are ready to welcome groups of all sizes,” Beteta said. “Hosting a meeting, conference or event in the region supports thousands of local businesses. Keeping, and expanding, business in Los Angeles will give the city the tourism boost it needs, helping to avert an economic crisis,” she added. “The economic impacts of these wildfires are already becoming increasingly evident, but the meetings and events industry can help support the city’s recovery by continuing to bring business [here].”
With one out of five of all California tourism-related jobs located in LA County, the importance of meetings and events to the region’s recovery efforts cannot be overstated.
“Events help fuel LA’s economy, keep businesses open and support the livelihoods of over 540,000 Angelenos who work in the tourism and hospitality industry,” Adam Burke, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board tells Prevue. “Hosting an event in Los Angeles is the best way for meeting planners to support the city’s recovery.”
According to Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board’s wildfire updates, the vast majority of the county’s attractions and tourism-related businesses remain open, including the bureau’s 250 member hotels—though occupancy may be higher than usual in some cases, as a number of hotels are still sheltering wildfire evacuees.
In addition, Visit California and the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (Discover Los Angeles) are working alongside other regional destination marketing organizations to support recovery efforts, provide real-time updates and make sure visitors and businesses have access to critical resources so they can plan accordingly.
“The City of Angels continues to be…a destination that embraces visitors and events, providing an ideal setting for collaboration and unmissable ‘only in LA’ moments,” Burke said.
As both residents and retailers rebuild their homes and businesses—and the affected areas undergo massive clean-ups—Beteta stresses that “now is the time for action. Don’t cancel your plans. Now is the time to host your event, support our communities and help show the world the enduring spirit of Los Angeles.”—Lisa Simundson
discoverlosangeles.com; visitcalifornia.com
