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News Items Archive

Seaworld Parks & Entertainment Acquires Knott's Soak City
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, the Orlando-based owner of 10 U.S. theme parks, has acquired Knott's Soak City - San Diego, a standalone Southern California waterpark, from Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. Read More...

World Class Speakers, Authors & Industry Leaders to Headline Expanded Sessions at 31st Annual CalTravel Summit
A team of nationally renowned travel and business industry speakers will headline the California Travel Association's 31st Annual 'California Travel Summit' (CTS), March 18-20, 2013 in San Diego, California. Read More...

Message From Caroline Beteta: Announcing Incoming President And CEO Chris Thompson
Today we officially announced that Chris Thompson will join Brand USA as president and CEO. This much anticipated announcement has been one of the industry's worst-kept secrets - which tells us that good news travels fast and it's simply impossible to keep great news a secret. Read More...

California Travel Association Expands 2013 Annual Summit
Newly announced programming additions to the California Travel Association's 31st Annual Travel Summit (CTS) will provide attendees with more inspired and dynamic opportunities than ever before. Read More...

Sonoma County Tourism, Vintners, and Winegrowers launch new Sonoma County brand mark and marketing campaign
Read More...

California Lodging Expo & Conference - September 25, 2012
Free California Lodging Expo & Conference on September 25, 2012 at the Hacienda Hotel at LAX in El Segundo, CA. Read More...

The Story Of California's State Parks Captured In Award-Winning Film 'California Forever'
SAN FRANCISCO (August 14, 2012) - Backcountry Pictures and KQED present California Forever, a two-part PBS television special that tells the story of California's magnificent state parks from Yosemite in 1864 to the present day. Together, the two one-hour programs remind viewers of the importance of California's state parks as well as their priceless legacy. California Forever is scheduled to air nationally on WORLD in fall 2012 (check local listings) and throughout California and Oregon in September. Read More...

Governor Brown: Use Money To Keep Parks Open
SACRAMENTO - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today pledged to work with the California State Legislature to direct millions of dollars in state funds to keep parks open, fix serious park maintenance problems and match donor contributions. He also thanked all Californians who have contributed time and money to save state parks. Read More...

State parks' reprieve is temporary
The news that many of our state parks were saved from closure appeared in countless headlines, but what Californians must understand is that this is simply a short-term fix. We are far from a true solution to the lack of long-term, reliable funding for our state parks. Read More...

Tourism Cares - An Appeal to California's Travel Industry
Tourism Cares, the national travel industry voluntourism group, is returning to California. On Sept. 27 and 28, Tourism Cares will be in Sacramento, to undertake restoration projects of highly visited historic structures in our state capital. Tourism Cares has asked that I help spread word of their need for additional volunteers. Read More...

Nearly all California state parks to avoid closure -- for now
Nearly all of the 70 California state parks originally slated for closure Sunday will remain open for now, despite a line-item veto of parks funding by Gov. Jerry Brown, state parks officials said today. Read More...

2012 CalTravel Summit Awards
Simpleview, together with Commotion Studios worked with CalTravel and the award winners to develop rich-media narratives about the award recipients and explain why their individual roles in the destination marketing field are vital. Read More...

Heal the Bay Receives Tourism Stewardship of the Year Award
June 6, 2012 - Heal the Bay, a Santa Monica based environmental advocacy non-profit, was recognized for its significant contributions to advance the state of California's travel industry at the California Travel Association's (Cal Travel) 30th Annual California Travel Summit yesterday evening. Read More...

U.S. Unveils National Tourism Strategy Seeking 100 Million Visitors by 2021
U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary John Bryson and U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar unveiled the Obama administration's National Tourism and Travel Strategy Read More...

National Travel & Tourism Week
There's still time to participate in next week's National Travel & Tourism Week activities and U.S. Travel Rally Day on May 8, and there are good reasons to make the effort. Read More...

GSA's lavish meeting brings congressional wrath
Meeting planners were afraid this would happen. And it did. The US Congress in the wake of the GSA (General Services Administration)'s much-condemned lavish meeting has voted to cut and freeze travel spending by government agencies for five years and other oversight measures. Read More...

WTTC Reports Travel & Tourism Now Larger Than Auto Manufacturing
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), at its 12th Global Summit in Tokyo, said new figures show that the global travel and tourism industry is now double the size of automotive manufacturing and roughly one-third larger than chemicals manufacturing. Read More...

Penguin Cam Goes Live
Following the success of Discovery Channel's Shark Cam and in anticipation of the U.S. premiere of FROZEN PLANET, Discovery Channel and SeaWorld have launched Penguin Cam - a live online experience from SeaWorld San Diego's Penguin Encounter attraction featuring more than 300 penguins representing five species, all of which are featured in the Discovery series. Read More...

Awards given for excellence in travel industry marketing.
SONOMA COUNTY, CALIF. - Sonoma County Tourism Bureau received two gold Adrian Awards from Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) for achievements in marketing and public relations. Read More...

Napolitano Proposes Making U.S. Global Entry Program Permanent
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano has published a rule that would make Global Entry a permanent program. Right now, Global Entry is a voluntary U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) initiative that lets pre-approved travelers expedite their trips through airport security. Read More...

STOCK Act passes Senate
Last night the United States Senate approved the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012 (better known as the STOCK Act) by a vote of 96-3. Read More...

Marriott, Disney and Best Western Make Multimillion Dollar "Investment in Job Creation and Economic Growth for America"
Brand USA, the national marketing entity charged with promoting the U.S. to international travelers, announced today that Marriott International, the Walt Disney Company and Best Western International have each committed to investing $1 million in cash - along with in-kind commitments. Read More...

Simple solution to US economic woes: more international tourists
International tourists are coming to the US in record numbers, prompting some observers to say they are the solution to the continuing economic crisis. Typical reaction is an Atlantic article headlined "How Tourism Can Help Save the US Economy." Read More...

Universal Studios Hollywood to Add Harry Potter Attraction
Universal Parks and Resorts has confirmed that it has signed a deal with Warner Brothers Studios to develop "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" at Universal Studios Hollywood (USH). Read More...

Universal Studios Hollywood Said to Develop Harry Potter Attraction
Universal Studios Hollywood has reportedly inked a deal with Warner Bros. films to develop a Harry Potter attraction much like the one Universal Orlando has operated at its theme park since 2010. Read More...

In California, Asking Voters to Raise Taxes
For 33 years, since the passage of Proposition 13 slashed property taxes in this state, California has been on the leading edge of the tax cut movement that has spread across the nation. But faced with the prospect of withering budget cuts and deficits that stretch through at least the middle of the decade, that may be about to change. Read More...

Made in America: Visa Process Slows Down Tourism
In the decade between 2000 and 2010, the number of foreign overseas tourists travelling the world grew by an astounding 60 million. You would think the numbers would grow in the United States as well, but they haven't. Ten years ago 26 million overseas visitors visited the U.S. In 2010, 26.4 million, according to the U.S. Travel Association, a trade group. That's hardly any growth at all. Read More...

DISCOVER HOLLYWOOD Magazine Celebrates 25 Years
Oscar and Nyla Arslanian, publisher and editor of DISCOVER HOLLYWOOD Magazine are to be honored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce with the 2011 Hollywood Star Award at the annual Entertainment Industry Luncheon on November 16. The Hollywood Star Award is presented to people in the entertainment industry who have made a real contribution to Hollywood and to the industry. The Arslanians have been active in the Hollywood business and arts community for 30 years. Read More...

Problem No.1 for Small Businesses: Uncle Sam
What's small business owners biggest problem right now? It's not the economy, consumer confidence or even access to capital. It's the government, a new survey reveals. Read More...

US and neighbor Canada looking to lure lucrative leisure travelers
Both the US and Canada finally have a national strategy for bringing in more tourists... finally, and "sort of" because of their newness and so far, at least, unproven efforts. Canada announced its inaugural Federal Tourism Strategy this month, which was called a "momentous and historic occasion for tourism development" in that country by Tony Pollard, president of the Hotel Association of Canada. He also called the organization's founding "unprecedented." Read More...

Labor Department Reports September Drop in Travel Industry Jobs
The U.S. economy added 103,000 jobs in September, according to the latest Labor Department report on... Read More...

Governor Signs Bill Modifying PBID Law
Sacramento, California - October 6, 2011 Governor Brown recently signed SB 194, updating key provisions of the Property and Business Improvement District Law of 1994. The Law has been used throughout the state to form hundreds of property, business, restaurant, and tourism improvement districts which provide funds for vital improvements and services. Read More...

TSA to test risk-based screening at 4 airports on passengers who volunteer more information
A select group of travelers soon might find it easier to get through security checkpoints at four major U.S. airports in return for voluntarily providing more personal information to the federal government as part of a new pilot program. The "PreCheck" program is the first big attempt by President Barack Obama's administration to move away from a one-size-fits-all security approach and toward a more risk-based, intelligence-driven model. Read More...

American Travel Marketers Aren't prepared for the flood of affluent Chinese tourists
Global hotel chains, airlines and luxury retailers can expect tens of millions of new customers from China in the coming years, but few Western companies are prepared for this influx or have a clear understanding of exactly what Chinese tourists require and expect for their yuan. In the United States, where one million Chinese tourists will arrive in 2011 to visit the country for leisure trips (and with an average of $6,000 in their pockets ready to be injected in the Nation's economy), very few travel marketers are ready for that. Read More...

The California Academy of Sciences Receives Second Leed Platinum Rating From U.S. Green Building Council
SAN FRANCISCO (September 27, 2011) - On September 27, 2008, the California Academy of Sciences unveiled the world's greenest museum - an eco-friendly new home featuring a hilly living roof, recycled denim insulation, and many other green innovations. Three years and more than five million visitors later, the museum celebrates another symbolic color: platinum. Read More...

US travelers singing the post-vacation blues
NEWTON, Mass. - The results of the post-vacation blues survey of more than 1,400 U.S. respondents who took leisure trips this summer, have been announced today. They reveal that 34 percent often struggle with feelings of melancholy following their return from vacation, while 20 percent always do. Read More...

San Diego Tourist Destinations Back in Business After Power Outage
San Diego's operations, including its tourism operations, have resumed today, after a 12-hour power outage that struck that city and other parts of southern California and other Southwestern states on Thursday night. Read More...

E-tourism summit set for tourism marketers
Major e-commerce travel suppliers will be on hand for e-tourism summit planned for San Francisco where topics willl include advanced use of social media Read More...

Simpleview Named To Inc. 5000 List For Fifth Consecutive Year
For the fifth year in a row, simpleview has been named to the Inc. 5000 list, a ranking of the fastest-growing privately held companies in 2011 by Inc. magazine, simpleview is ranked #20 in the travel industry category this year and #2650 overall. The ranking also landed simpleview on Inc.'s Honor Roll - a select group of 514 companies that have made the Inc. 5000 list every year since its creation in 2007. Read More...

U.S. Travel: Overseas visitor spending driving growth
The travel industry accounted for more than one in nine jobs created in the U.S. economy through the first seven months of the year... Read More...

Travel and Tour World - Global News
08/16/2011 - Weekly newsletter of travel news Read More...

Hectic week on Wall Street has little effect on travel bookings
As stocks tumbled last week and economic analysts warned of a possible repeat of the financial crisis of 2008, the travel industry braced itself for a slowdown. Yet, as the tumultuous week came to a close, the bookings were still coming in, and few in the industry were seeing any immediate cause for alarm. Read More...

12th Annual California Tourism Safety & Security Conference
On September 15th, California law enforcement officers, hoteliers, security professionals, attraction operators, tourism officials, tour operators, convention managers, travel agents, sales & marketing professionals, come together in Orange County for the 12th Annual California Tourism Safety & Security Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Orange County. Read More...

Corporation for Travel Promotion on "YOUCUT" Website
Every week, proposals for "cuts" are posted on the You Cut Website. Citizens are able to vote for which government program to end and The Corporation for Travel Promotion is listed on this site. Read More...

TI News: July 20, 2011
TI News: An information service from Office of Travel & Tourism Industries (OTTI) July 20, 2011 International Visitor Spending Data Revised: 1999-2010 Read More...

Govt to test risk-based airport screening
WASHINGTON -- The Transportation Security Administration said Thursday it will test a program to pre-screen a small group of select air travelers who volunteer more personal information about themselves so they can be vetted to get faster screening at airport checkpoints. Read More...

Business travel remains on a steady pace
Rising costs are not slowing business travel in the US, according to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA). The industry body revealed that business travel spend remained steady during the second quarter of 2011, reaching US$62.2 billion. Read More...

COMMUNITY EFFORT HELPS LURE INDYCAR'S
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif. (July 19, 2011) - When presented with the opportunity to provide the region with millions of dollars in economic benefits, officials within the Inland Empire and surrounding areas rose to the occasion. For the first time in seven years, the thrill, excitement, speed and most importantly, the economic impact, of the IZOD IndyCar Series will return to Auto Club Speedway thanks to a concerted area "team effort." Read More...

PATA Members Report Visitor Increases for 2011
PATA released arrival results for several of its members that show 2011 to be a strong year. During the first five months of 2011, China welcomed a total of 55.3 million international arrivals, a gain of 1.2 percent in growth terms, which equates to some 637,500 additional international visits. Foreign overnighters increased by 1.6 percent over this period to reach an inbound volume of 8.54 million. Read More...

No Matter How Debt Debate Ends, Governors See More Cuts for States
SALT LAKE CITY - The rancorous debate in Washington over whether to raise the federal debt ceiling is alarming many of the nation's governors from both parties, who fear that whatever the outcome, much-needed money will almost certainly be drained from their states. Read More...

Register Now for U.S. Travel's Grassroots Boot Camp
The U.S. Travel Association and Power of Travel Coalition are pleased to announce our inaugural Grassroots Boot Camp. The Boot Camp will be held in Washington, D.C. on September 13 and 14, 2011, and will empower participants to better recruit, educate, and activate fellow members of the travel industry to promote policies that increase travel. Read More...

TI News: July 12, 2011
TI News: An information service from Office of Travel & Tourism Industries (OTTI) July 12, 2011 INTERNATIONAL VISITATION UP 13 PERCENT IN APRIL 2011 Read More...

Salt Lake City August ESTO still available and great venue for Ca DMO's!
Breakthrough Results...Now! August 28 - 30, 2011 Read More...

A Tourism Office Falls Victim to Hard Times
SEATTLE - An alluring billboard beckoned to motorists on a busy industrial corridor here this spring. It displayed just one image, a panoramic view of a valley and mountains and sunshine, and one word, "Montana." Read More...

Travel Job Growth Outpaces Other Industries
Of the 57,000 private-sector jobs created in June 2011 - or more than one in five - were added in the travel industry. The fact that travel has outperformed other employers is nothing new in this recovery, David Huether, senior vice president of economics and research at the U.S. Travel Association, said in his analysis of today's Labor Department report on June 2011 employment numbers. Read More...

Projected 2011 Budgets for Tourism Promotion
Tourism budgets for: CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, MICHIGAN, MONTANA, and WASHINGTON STATE Read More...

Survey Shows Bed & Breakfasts Appeal to More Travelers
Results of the new Ypartnership/Harrison Group 2011 Portrait of American Travelers show that one out... Read More...

TI News: June 30, 2011 UK and Germany to U.S.
TI News: An information service from Office of Travel & Tourism Industries (OTTI) June 30, 2011 PROJECTED BOOKINGS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM AND GERMANY TO THE UNITED STATES Read More...

TI News: June 30, 2011 Domestic
TI News: An information service from Office of Travel & Tourism Industries (OTTI) June 30, 2011 NORTH AMERICA PROJECTED BOOKINGS TO THE UNITED STATES Read More...

California's outdoor economy is thriving
The state's surf, snow and scenery aren't just breathtaking. They mean big bucks for tourism and other enterprises selling the great outdoors. Read More...

CSPF awards CalTravel 2011 Advocacy Award
California State Parks Foundation Holds Ninth Annual Park Advocacy Day in Sacramento Read More...

CalTravel Award Pics
Images from Park Advocacy Day, 2011 Read More...

Los Angeles Forms Tourism Marketing District
Two Years in the Making, California's 59th TBID Approved. Yesterday, Los Angeles became the 59th City in California to create a tourism improvement district. Read More...

Santa Monica Hosts 2nd Annual Travel and Tourism Summit in Conjunction
Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau (SMCVB) kicked off National Tourism Week by hosting the 2nd Annual Travel & Tourism Summit on May 10, 2011 at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows. The event underscored the economic impact of tourism and the future outlook for the city's travel and tourism landscape. Key speakers included Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of the California Travel & Tourism Commission and Vice Chair of the Corporation for Travel Promotion, Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom and Santa Monica City Manager Rod Gould. Read More...

Tourism Improvement District.com Launched
A new website providing resources and information on a new source of funding for tourism marketing has been launched. Read More...

Ventura Sizzles with Summertime Festivals
With sunny skies and comfortable temperatures lasting through fall, Ventura in summer comes alive with fun seaside festivals for locals and visitors to enjoy. Read More...

Valley to get double-deck Amtrak trains
Amtrak California will add double-deck coach cars on two of its passenger train lines, including the San Joaquin line that runs through the Valley, with a $100 million federal grant announced Wednesday. Read More...

Hilmar Cheese planning new building, solar plant
Hilmar Cheese Co. plans to erect an administration building and two renewable energy projects near its massive Lander Avenue plant. Read More...

Laguna Beach to Celebrate Milestone Birthdays during National Travel & Tourism Week
(Laguna Beach, CA) National Travel & Tourism Week, May 8-13, celebrates the importance of travel; and, locally the Laguna Beach Visitors & Conference Bureau's 25th anniversary. In addition three other iconic organizations, servicing visitors and residents alike for as much as 90 years, are celebrating their milestone anniversaries. Read More...

Mike Gallagher Receives Hall of Fame Lifetime Contribution in Tourism Award
Mike Gallagher, co-CEO of CityPASS, has been recognized by the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association International (PATWA) with a Hall of Fame Lifetime Contribution in Tourism Award. The award, which was presented today at the ITB (International Tourism Bourse) travel trade show in Berlin, honors Gallagher's many contributions to the travel industry, including his involvement in the passage of the landmark 2010 Travel Promotion Act. Read More...

California'S Free Road Trips 2011 Guide Gets Visitors Traveling
The newly released California Road Trips 2011 encourages visitors to travel around the Golden State, especially by car, with special two- to three-day driving getaways along with more detailed routes for longer vacations. Read More...