Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau

Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau
Name	Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau
Type	Destination marketing organization
Founded	1970s
Headquarters	Long Beach, California
Area served	Los Angeles County, Orange County
Services	Tourism promotion, convention sales, visitor services, event support
Leader title	President & CEO
Leader name	(various)

Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau The Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau promotes Long Beach, California as a destination for leisure travelers, business meetings, and conventions. It works with venues such as the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, attractions like the Queen Mary (ship) and Aquarium of the Pacific, and regional partners including the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau and Visit California. The bureau coordinates with transportation hubs such as Long Beach Airport and Port of Long Beach to support visitor access and logistics.

History

The bureau was established amid postwar development trends that shaped Los Angeles County tourism and paralleled growth in destinations like Anaheim and Santa Monica. Its early activities intersected with civic projects including redevelopment of the Shoreline Village district and preservation efforts around the Queen Mary (ship), echoing initiatives seen in San Diego waterfront planning. During the late 20th century the bureau engaged with regional campaigns alongside Visit California and national networks such as the U.S. Travel Association, responding to events like the expansion of the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and the rise of cruise operations at the Port of Long Beach.

Organization and Governance

The bureau operates as a destination marketing organization modeled after counterparts including the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board and the San Francisco Travel Association. Governance typically involves a Board of Directors composed of representatives from lodging properties such as the Hyatt Regency Long Beach, convention center stakeholders, and civic leaders from Long Beach City Council. Funding streams mirror those of organizations like the Anaheim Convention & Visitors Bureau and include transient occupancy taxes, municipal contracts, and cooperative programs with entities such as California Hotel & Lodging Association and Greater Long Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Services and Programs

Services include convention sales and services comparable to offerings by the Orange County Convention Center sales teams, visitor information centers akin to those run by Visit San Diego, and online marketing campaigns leveraging platforms used by VisitBritain and Tourism Australia. Programs span meeting facilitation at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, hotel room block coordination with brands like Marriott International and Hilton Hotels & Resorts, and convention services integrating exhibitors from trade shows similar to NAMM Show and International Manufacturing Technology Show. The bureau also offers visitor guides, concierge partnerships with cruise lines such as Carnival Corporation and community event calendars paralleling initiatives by Los Angeles County cultural institutions.

Major Events and Conventions Hosted

The bureau supports major events at venues that host gatherings like the Grand Prix of Long Beach, conventions similar in scale to E3 (video game trade fair) and cultural festivals resembling Long Beach Pride, and trade shows in categories represented by Comic-Con International and the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA). Conventions for industries such as maritime logistics at the Port of Long Beach, marine science conferences connected to the Aquarium of the Pacific, and entertainment industry meetings tied to nearby Hollywood draw participants from organizations including Screen Actors Guild and Motion Picture Association.

Marketing and Tourism Initiatives

Marketing initiatives align with statewide campaigns from Visit California and national efforts by the U.S. Travel Association and target international markets served by airline partners like Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. The bureau collaborates with digital platforms used by TripAdvisor, Expedia Group, and Google Travel to promote attractions such as Shoreline Aquatic Park and historic sites like Rancho Los Cerritos. Promotional strategies include co-op advertising with hotel brands like Hilton and event promoters from organizations such as the International Live Events Association.

Economic Impact and Statistics

Economic impact analyses follow methodologies similar to studies by the U.S. Travel Association and the California Travel and Tourism Commission, measuring metrics like visitor spending, hotel occupancy rates monitored against benchmarks from STR, Inc., and tax revenue tied to transient occupancy taxes used by municipalities across Los Angeles County. The bureau reports on convention booking metrics, room nights comparable to figures tracked by the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, and visitor demographic trends that inform partnerships with regional employers including Port of Long Beach terminal operators and local cultural institutions such as the Museum of Latin American Art.

Partnerships and Community Engagement

Partnerships extend to the Greater Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, hospitality stakeholders like California Hotel & Lodging Association, transportation agencies including the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and educational institutions such as California State University, Long Beach. Community engagement includes collaboration with cultural organizations similar to Long Beach Opera and public-private initiatives involving entities like the Long Beach City Council and regional economic development agencies. Cooperative programs with convention centers, hotels, attractions, and trade associations sustain the bureau's role in destination stewardship and event support.

Category:Tourism in California Category:Organizations based in Long Beach, California