Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (L.A. Tourism) reports that the city welcomed 44.2 million visitors in 2014, a 4.8% increase over 2013 levels. Total domestic visitation was 37.7 million visitors; total international visitation, an increasingly important segment of the market, was 6.5 million visitors, a 5.6% percent increase over 2013.
Visitor spending increased 6.8% from the previous year, generating $30.2 billion in total economic impact. International visitors, who tend to stay longer and spend more during their stays, accounted for nearly 33% of all visitor spending.
L.A.’s hotel occupancy and hotel room nights sold both set all-time highs in 2014. Hotel occupancy for the year reached 78.9%, surpassing the 2013 total of 76.8%. L.A. County’s hotels sold a record 28.1 million room nights in 2014, an increase of 3.2% percent over 2013.
L.A.’s tourism industry supports 464,600 jobs and employs 1 in every 9 workers in L.A. County. Tourism contributed to the addition of 25,300 new jobs in the sector last year, making it the County’s leading job growth sector.
“This remarkable growth for the local tourism industry elevates L.A.’s status as a leading global tourist destination to new heights,” says Ernest Wooden Jr., president and CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board. “These achievements, along with L.A. Tourism’s accelerated marketing efforts, firmly position Los Angeles towards reaching our goal of 50 million visitors by 2020.”
“Our hospitality community should be very proud of these stellar results since hoteliers play an important role in achieving these economic impacts as our city’s ambassadors,” says Javier Cano, chairman of Los Angeles Tourism Marketing District Board; and vice president and market general manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles and JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE. “While the spotlight showcases our Leisure & Hospitality community during National Travel and Tourism Week, it’s their everyday passion and dedication for the guest experience that contributes to making L.A. such a welcoming, inspiring destination for our visitors.”
