ADVOCACY WORK
CalTravel works to increase the travel and tourism industry’s visibility at the state level and generate support for policies that protect and advance the interests of our members. Through advocacy to the California Legislature, we address a host of issues that directly and indirectly affect our state’s travel and tourism industry.
We keep our members informed about the bills that matter to our industry and engage on measures of most significance.
LEGISLATIVE TOOLKIT
CalTravel’s Legislative Toolkit allows members to connect, collaborate, and educate state officials to guide and protect the interests of our industry. Use the toolkit to participate in active advocacy campaigns; connect with your elected officials; track the status of bills that we’ve taken positions on; and find other advocacy information.
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE
The Government Relations Committee (GRC) promotes the mission of CalTravel through engagement in the public policy development process on behalf of CalTravel’s entire membership. The commitment is a monthly meeting and occasional emails to vote on policy positions. If you are interested in joining the GRC waitlist, please contact Emellia Zamani at emellia@caltravel.org.
ADVOCACY PRIORITIES
Support legislation that would:
increase California’s competitiveness as a tourism destination
protect the travel and tourism industry from unnecessary costs of doing business
promote an equal playing field for fair competition in a rapidly changing industry
Oppose legislation that would:
impede visitation
negatively impact visitor spending
unfairly burden tourism related businesses
2023 ADVOCACY HIGHLIGHTS
Helped secure $15 million allocation in the state budget for Visit California’s marketing efforts, following $95 million in 2022
Attended 19 meet-and-greets with newly elected legislators
Brought back in-person Tourism Advocacy Day where 95 members met with 62 legislators and staff
Screened and/or read 2,600+ bills to determine impacts on industry; tracked 125 bills, and positioned on 30 bills
Served as lead witness on several bills and gave expert testimony in multiple committees
Successfully put a stop to SB 584 (Limon): Short-Term Rental Tax in 2023 by executing opposition strategy, coordinating grassroots outreach, and facilitating webinar on impacts to the industry
Successfully negotiated amendments on several bills:
AB 1382 (Quirk-Silva): State-designated cultural districts
AB 537 (Berman): Short-term lodging: advertising: rates & SB 683 (Glazer): Hotels and short-term rentals: advertised rates: mandatory fees
SB 447 (Atkins): GO-Biz
SB 478 (Dodd): Consumers Legal Remedies Act
SB 644 (Glazer): Hotels and Short-Term Rentals
SB 723 (Durazo): Employment: rehiring and retention: displaced workers
TOURISM ADVOCACY DAY
Tourism Advocacy Day allows us to talk to legislators in small groups about the importance of travel and tourism and our most pressing issues. This event is vital to raising our visibility and helping us advance and promote California tourism in Sacramento.
All members are welcome—and encouraged—to attend this annual event. Together our voices are stronger and louder!
