Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau

Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau
Name	Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau
Type	Nonprofit tourism organization
Founded	1890s
Headquarters	Los Angeles, California
Region served	Greater Los Angeles
Leader title	President and CEO
Leader name	(varies)
Website	(official site)

Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau is a destination marketing organization that promotes Los Angeles, California, and surrounding attractions to leisure and business travelers. It serves as a central hub connecting Los Angeles World Airports, Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles Convention Center, and hospitality partners such as major hotel brands and cultural institutions. The bureau coordinates with entities including Mayor of Los Angeles, City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, and regional tourism coalitions to attract conventions, film productions, and international visitors.

History

The bureau traces its origins to late 19th-century civic boosters linked to Los Angeles Times boosters and early chambers like the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. During the 1920s and 1930s it worked alongside Hollywood studios including Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Paramount Pictures, and Warner Bros. to market Beverly Hills and Hollywood Bowl as entertainment destinations. Postwar expansion connected the bureau to development projects such as the construction of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and later the Los Angeles Convention Center in collaboration with municipal planners like Mayor Sam Yorty and Mayor Tom Bradley. In the late 20th century, partnerships with cultural institutions such as the Getty Center, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and The Grammy Museum reshaped programming. The bureau adapted to globalization by engaging with trade partners like Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation and international consulates to attract trade delegations and conventions including Electronic Entertainment Expo and E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) events.

Organization and Governance

The bureau is structured as a membership-based nonprofit with a board of directors drawn from hotel chains such as Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, and Hyatt, convention center stakeholders including Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board partners, and leaders from venues like Staples Center and Dolby Theatre. Executive leadership often liaises with elected officials including the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors and municipal offices such as the Los Angeles City Council. Committees focus on convention sales, international relations, group services, and public affairs, engaging advisors from Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, University of Southern California, and University of California, Los Angeles for workforce development. Fundraising and assessment mechanisms include transient occupancy tax collaborations with Los Angeles Department of Convention and Tourism Development and private-sector membership dues.

Services and Programs

The bureau provides convention sales and services, site selection assistance, and visa facilitation in coordination with foreign missions such as the United States Department of State and visiting delegations from Japan External Trade Organization and Korean Tourism Organization. It operates visitor centers near hubs like Union Station (Los Angeles) and Los Angeles International Airport offering hotel booking, itineraries for landmarks like Griffith Observatory and Getty Center, and concierge support for events at venues including Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Dodger Stadium. Programs include sustainability initiatives aligned with standards from United Nations World Tourism Organization and workforce training partnerships with Los Angeles Community College District and hospitality associations like American Hotel & Lodging Association. The bureau also administers grant programs for cultural festivals such as Nisei Week and Dia de los Muertos celebrations.

Marketing and Promotion

Marketing campaigns leverage media partnerships with outlets including Los Angeles Times, Variety (magazine), and Los Angeles Daily News as well as collaborations with entertainment franchises like Marvel Cinematic Universe promotions and awards-season partners including Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Destination branding targets feeder markets such as China, Japan, and United Kingdom through trade shows like ITB Berlin and New York Times Travel Show, and by engaging influencers associated with Sundance Film Festival and Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Digital strategies coordinate with platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Tripadvisor while leveraging data from analytics firms and tourism research groups including National Travel and Tourism Office.

Major Events and Conventions

The bureau has been instrumental in attracting major events tied to venues such as the Los Angeles Convention Center, Crypto.com Arena, and Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. Notable conventions and events promoted include Comic-Con International spin-offs, the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), trade shows hosted by National Association of Broadcasters, and entertainment industry events like Academy Awards ancillary activities. The bureau also supports sports conventions connected to organizations such as National Football League and international events when Olympic Games or FIFA World Cup activities involve the region.

Economic Impact and Statistics

Economic analyses produced or commissioned by the bureau estimate visitor spending impacting sectors tied to hotels such as Hilton, Marriott, restaurant groups with holdings like Patina Restaurant Group, and retail centers like The Grove (Los Angeles). Metrics include room nights at properties in Downtown Los Angeles, visitor-led tax receipts proxied by the Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, and jobs supported in hospitality and attractions tracked by California Employment Development Department. Periodic reports compare performance to peer destinations such as San Francisco, New York City, and Las Vegas and model international arrivals from markets like Mexico and Canada.

Controversies and Criticism

The bureau has faced criticism over allocation of public funds and transparency in partnership deals involving entities such as the Los Angeles Convention Center operators and hotel lobbying groups. Debates with civic organizations and advocacy groups including Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy and labor unions like UNITE HERE have centered on wage standards for event workers and the bureau’s role in public subsidy negotiations. Campaigns and endorsements have provoked scrutiny from local media outlets such as Los Angeles Times and LA Weekly concerning prioritization of large conventions over community-based tourism and impacts on neighborhoods adjacent to development projects like South Park, Los Angeles.

Category:Tourism in Los Angeles