Industry Home

OBAMA UNVEILS PLAN TO BOOST INTERNATIONAL TOURISM, BOLSTER US ECONOMY
President Obama is ramping up efforts to smooth the way for more foreign travelers to visit the United States in an effort to boost job creation and bolster the nation's economic growth. During a speech at Disney World on Thursday, the president will detail an executive order as part his "We Can’t Wait" jobs initiative to make the United States the world’s top travel and tourism destination, a move backed by retailers and travel, trade and business groups. (The Hill)
Back To Top | Read More >>

THE ONE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLAR MILESTONE
One hundred billion dollars – that’s what the travel and tourism industry means to California. And that’s a number for the record books. For the first time ever, travel spending will eclipse the $100 billion mark in 2011, according to projections by Tourism Economics. Visit California’s efforts to market California as the premier destination in the world continue to pay off in terms of dollars and by enhancing the unique California experience we hold so dear. (Fox & Hounds)
Back To Top | Read More >>

TRAVEL HIRING IS ON THE RISE
As the economy has begun to improve from its darkest days in late 2008 and 2009, hiring in the travel and tourism industry has become one of the bright spots. The industry — which includes hotels, rental cars, airlines and entertainment — shed jobs quickly as the economy spiraled downward. But in the last year or so, travel businesses have begun to hire again, albeit slowly and cautiously.  (The New York Times)
Back To Top | Read More >>

FINE DINING ON THE CHEAP: RESTAURANTS ON SALE COAST TO COAST
It’s easy to see why the start of the year is a slow time for restaurants. Diners tend to stay home and cook not only because the weather’s cold, but because they probably have yet to pay off the credit card debt accrued via holiday season splurges. To spur on business during the early year doldrums, restaurants resort to specially priced deals. These can be seen at the market’s low end, with cheap fast food promotions popping up every January, and at the high end as well—with cities all over North America hosting annual Restaurant Weeks. Or, in one case, it’s a full Restaurant Month. California is in the middle of its statewide Restaurant Month, with special prices on farm-to-table dinners and three-course gourmet meals for just $20.12 per person. Hundreds of restaurants are participating, and some extend the deals past January.  (TIME)
Back To Top | Read More >>

FASTEST FUN IN THE WEST
Apparently, people don't utter the words "hip" and "Bakersfield" in the same sentence. Whenever I tell an American that the decidedly unhip Californian agricultural city - it's to Los Angeles what Dubbo is to Sydney - boasts an incredibly hip hotel, they shake their heads as if they've never heard such hogwash. You know what? They should get out more.  (The Sydney Morning Herald)
Back To Top | Read More >>

10 GREAT PLACES TO CELEBRATE THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON
The Chinese Year of the Dragon starts today, but you don't need to cross the Pacific for the party. Throughout North America, Chinatowns will be sponsoring parades and festivals. "It's a celebration of culture. There's a lot of tradition and really wonderful activities," says Bonnie Tsui , author of American Chinatown: A People's History of Five Neighborhoods (Free Press, $15). She shares some favorite Chinese communities with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.  (USA Today) 
Back To Top | Read More >>

THE 45 PLACES TO GO IN 2012
The New York Times just published their list of top 45 places to go in 2012 and several California destinations are featured. Rivaling destinations as vast as space, inclusions is all the more impressive. The California destinations mentioned are: Oakland (5), San Diego (14) and Tahoe (30).  (The New York Times) 
Back To Top | Read More >>

IN CALIFORNIA’S NAPA VALLEY, WINTER IS A SEASON THAT REALLY CUTS THE MUSTARD
Convertible or no convertible? That was the critical question. I was booking a rental car for a January trip to California’s Napa Valley, while simultaneously checking the wine country weather online. Something I’d been doing for days. As if I could affect climate change by hitting “refresh.” (The Washington Post)           
Back To Top | Read More >>

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA NAMED TOP TOURIST DESTINATION
Somewhere between London and Havana, Cuba, Oakland, CA takes the number five spot on The New York Times 45 Places to Go in 2012.  (Fox News)       
Back To Top | Read More >>

CALIFORNIA TRAVEL: SAN FRANCISCO A HAVEN FOR FOODIES
…San Francisco is a gastronomic heaven — and it’s not just sourdough and seafood. Everything that’s worth growing seems to do so within a stone’s throw of the city. With an emphasis on organic, sustainable farming, the market products are the purest and finest. There are some 50 farmers markets in the San Francisco Bay area. “Because of the California climate, farmers markets are open year round,” Jacob pointed out.  (The Toronto Star)       
Back To Top | Read More >>

IT’S CHEESEBURGER WEEK: WERE THEY BORN IN CALIFORNIA?
I grew up in California and went to university in L.A. I love a good hamburger. And, until yesterday, I don’t remember ever hearing that the most famous food in all of the United States of America, the humble cheeseburger, was invented in Pasadena. But there it was on Wednesday; an email in my inbox from the folks at Visit California (the tourism department) telling me that this is Pasadena Cheeseburger Week. (The Toronto Star)       
Back To Top | Read More >>

LAKE TAHOE: SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
The many chances for fun on Lake Tahoe’s south shore have everything to do with the duality of the region’s character. Separated by the California/Nevada border, South Lake Tahoe gets casino gaming, big hotels, headliner shows, and part of Heavenly Ski Resort on the Nevada side, and broad sand beaches, historical sites, and the other half of Heavenly on the California side. Both sides offer an array of mountain recreation, eclectic dining, and—the best feature of all—access to the sparkling blue lake. (Via Magazine)       
Back To Top | Read More >>

SAN FRANCISCO CLAIMS MANY A HEART, WITH GOOD REASON
I'm a contrarian at heart. Often, when someone or something is the subject of constant glowing praise, I can't help myself but I begin to look for tiny flaws or chinks in the armor. That goes for destinations as well. Sure, Chicago and New Orleans are fascinating cities, but have you ever spent a winter in the former and a summer in the latter? Rio de Janeiro might be the sexiest city on the planet, but it would be a lot sexier minus the soaring crime rate. True, New York has a lot going for it, and that includes incessant jackhammer drilling and cabbies whose hands appear to be permanently glued to their vehicles' horns. San Francisco is — wait, I've got nothing. (Kentucky.com)       
Back To Top | Read More >>

PALM SPRINGS AREA TOURISM ON RISE AMID NATIONAL PUSH
Coachella Valley tourism leaders hailed a new travel industry report that shows yet another month of double-digit occupancy and revenue growth. The Smith Travel Research report for December says the Palm Springs area increased its hotel occupancy levels 13.3 percent compared to the same month in 2010, and enjoyed a 19 percent gain in revenue per room. (The Desert Sun)
Back To Top | Read More >>

NAMM SHOW OPENS AT ANAHEIM CONVENTION CENTER
Known as one of the largest music product trade shows in the world, the NAMM Show, hosted by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), opened yesterday at the Anaheim Convention Center. The show’s economic impact is expected to reach $80 million and is likely to draw a crowd of more than 90,000 musical instrument retailers, manufacturers, business partners and their invited guests to the industry’s yearly event. The 110th anniversary of the trade show is themed “Make It Count” and it will focus on creativity and innovation in the music products industry, in which retailers and manufacturers have established original and inventive ways to uphold a thriving business in the face of economic adversity.  (OC Metro)       
Back To Top | Read More >>

STAY INSIDE A WILDLIFE PRESERVE
Northern California has so much to offer especially their animal experiences. I drove around three hours from the San Francisco airport to Point Arena to see the B. Bryan Preserve Wildlife Foundation. They are dedicated to the conservation of African hoof animals. Dr. Frank Mello, the founder, explained, “This is not a zoo but a private breeding conservation center where we focus on three species of zebra and three species of antelopes which are rare and endangered.  (Discover the Ultimate Travel)       
Back To Top | Read More >>

TEMECULA: LOCAL CATERING BUSINESS OWNER WINS ON ‘CUPCAKE WARS’
Andrea Maue, a 42-year-old Murrieta resident, said she hoped her two-plus decades working for restaurants and catering businesses would pay off when she competed on Food Network's reality show "Cupcake Wars." It did ---- to the tune of $10,000 and a high-profile dessert catering gig. Maue won the episode she competed in, besting three other bakers for the top prize. That episode debuted Jan. 8 on the popular cable network channel and will continue to air throughout mid-January. (The Californian)        
Back To Top | Read More >>

NAPA VALLEY WINE TASTING GUIDE
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: baby boomer travelers love wine tasting. In fact, according to the American Association of Wineries, an estimated 27 million winery visits currently take place annually, and the US Wine Market Council states that Americans consumed a per capita 3.04 gallons of wine in 2010. That’s a lot of vino! (The Roaming Boomers)       
Back To Top | Read More >>

SOUTHERN NAPA VALLEY TRAVEL GUIDE
California’s Napa Valley is consistently atop annual travel award lists as one of the best food and wine destinations in the world. This small patch of land produces world-renowned wines. It has also attracted some of the world’s best chefs which has thereby made Napa Valley also legendary for its phenomenal cuisine. The Napa Valley, 30 miles long and five miles wide, is favored with over 400 wineries with 95% of them family-owned. With such an overabundance of choices, we feel that Napa Valley is best experienced in tasty morsels. (The Roaming Boomers)       
Back To Top | Read More >>

AUBURN, PLACER COUNTY HOPE TO STRIKE GOLD WITH LONELY PLANET TOP 10 LISTING
Auburn is basking in the glow of a newly minted top ranking for California’s Gold Country as a prime tourist destination by travel guide Lonely Planet. The editors in the popular travel guide’s U.S. office put their heads together to list what’s new, interesting and perhaps overlooked. The result was a No. 6 ranking in the Lonely Planet Top 10 for the Gold Country, which takes in Auburn and other communities in the foothills and Sierra stretching from Sierra to Mariposa counties. (Auburn Journal)        
Back To Top | Read More >>

HONDA CENTER TO UNDERGO EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS
Anaheim’s Honda Center, home of the Ducks, is getting a series of major upgrades and improvements throughout the venue. The multimillion-dollar renovations include dining, entertainment and retail spaces and are expected to add to the venue’s franchise marketability. (OC METRO)       
Back To Top | Read More >>