It was just like the old (pre-pandemic) days: a delegation of tourism types tantalizing the Canadian travel trade with the latest news and colour from their destination, and most of latter, it’s probably fair to say, wishing they were there instead of here. The “there” in this case was Los Angeles, a city celebrating its “Comeback” after travel’s long, hard road of the past couple of years.

And such was import of the occasion that LA Tourism’s head honcho Adam Burke – a man so in tune with Canada that he not only knew where Guelph was, but had been there – turned out, along with about a dozen other delegates for the tourism body’s first international mission in over two years.

Included in the delegation for the event at the Love Child Social House, a funky venue across the street from Toronto’s famous Wheat Sheaf Tavern, were representatives from attractions and hotels including the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures; Universal Studios Hollywood; Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood; Dream Hollywood; The Garland; The Hollywood Roosevelt; and Terranea Resort.

Referencing the “Comeback” theme, Burke was quick to declare that “there is no recovery for Los Angeles without Canada.”

Indeed, Canada is the So Cal city’s top international market, sending with 773,000 visitors in 2019 who injected $404 million in spending to the local economy.

And with the City of Angels again “fully open for business” and significant air lift returning to the city, including from this country, Burke said the city is anticipating reaching 92% of its pre-pandemic visitation totals this year from the international market.

And those visitors, Burke noted, will find a city with plenty new to offer with dozens of new developments that continued even during the pandemic downtime.

For example, he said, the city has seen an incredible influx of new hotels over the past two years that has added 2,100 rooms. “In the middle of a pandemic, who does that?” he enthused

Burke also cited major ongoing infrastructure improvements that will benefit both locals and visitors alike – not least at LAX, which will complete a direct Metro connection to the city by 2023.

Another landmark addition is SoFi stadium, which hosted this year’s Super Bowl, which was conveniently won by the Los Angeles Rams, which shares the stadium with the LA Chargers.

“We are all partners, we are all in this together,” Burke told the 50 or so attendees. “And, finally, we’re seeing the light at the end of the (pandemic) tunnel.”

Webinar

Meanwhile, to help educate and engage travel trade partners from across the globe, Los Angeles Tourism has created an on-demand webinar on what’s new in LA, including new hotels, attractions, experiences, and more.

In addition to the latest news, travel trade partners will learn what their clients can expect when they visit. Viewers will also experience an exclusive virtual tour of the revamped Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood.

“The importance of travel trade to Los Angeles can’t be overstated,” said Kathy Smits, Sr. VP., Global Tourism for LA Tourism. “We are so grateful for the continued support of our valued partners and hope these webinars will serve as a useful tool.”

The on-demand webinar can be accessed at any time and represents the first in a series of travel trade webinars promoting LA. Travel sellers can visit the webinar library to rewatch the what’s new webinar as needed and to keep an eye out for new webinars in the future.

View the webinar or visit the library on discoverlosangeles.com under “travel trade.”

What’s to do in LA

Los Angeles has more museums, art galleries and performance venues than any other city in North America. Alongside its greatest hits, such as Universal Studios Hollywood, which will introduce a new theme land, Super Nintendo World in 2023, LA is filled with a host of new and exciting places to explore. They include:

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures: With the long-awaited opening of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Oscar has finally found a worthy home. Designed by architect Renzo Piano, the museum combines Wilshire Boulevard’s iconic 1939 May Company department store building with a modern light-filled dome that’s an instant Los Angeles landmark. Guests can see screenings and such rare artifacts as the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz and Gregory Peck’s annotated working script from To Kill a Mockingbird. And how’s this for a special effect: In the museum’s The Oscars Experience, visitors can create a video of themselves accepting an Academy Award.

SoFi Stadium: Home to the 2022 Super Bowl, $5.5 billion SoFi Stadium was pretty darn super even before it secured hosting privileges for the Big Game. With a gracefully curving polymer plastic roof canopy and a 11-m.-long videoboard, the indoor-outdoor stadium for the NFL’s Rams and Chargers may be the most advanced sports facility ever built. It seats up to 100,000 people, and the LA-centric culinary program is directed by James Beard Award-winning chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo. Pro tip: Book a stadium tour to go behind the scenes.

Angeleno Wine Company: Sourcing grapes from organic and sustainable vineyards in Los Angeles County, downtown’s Angeleno Wine Company has resurrected the local winemaking tradition that dates to 1833. While 200 wineries once operated in and around LA, Angeleno is the first new one to open since Prohibition. Come here to discover such unique Spanish varietals as Graciano, Alicante Bouschet, and Verdejo, which all reflect Los Angeles County’s surprisingly diverse terroir. Along the way, vintners Jasper Dickson and Amy Luftig Viste can explain LA’s unique place in American winemaking.

Annenberg Community Beach House: If you’ve ever longed for your own Southern California beach house, head to this Santa Monica property for a taste of the luxe life. Built in the 1920s by William Randolph Hearst for his paramour, Marion Davies, the two-hectar estate lets you experience sophisticated living. Hang by the pool, take yoga, or maybe test your beach volleyball skills. There’s also an art gallery, and docents lead tours of the Marion Davies Guest House.

The Ford: While almost everyone knows the fabled Hollywood Bowl, there’s another outdoor venue that even many long-time Angelenos have never visited. During its long history, The Ford, an intimate 1,200-seat theatre tucked into the Hollywood Hills, has hosted everyone from violinist Jascha Heifetz to The Ramones. That diverse tradition continues today with an innovative calendar that recently featured Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Patti Smith, Japanese taiko drumming, and Mexican folk dance.

Lake Hollywood Park: The most distinctive view of the Hollywood Sign isn’t necessarily the closest. Nor does it particularly resemble Hollywood. Instead, follow the 5.6-km walking trail around Lake Hollywood to the landmark 1924 Mulholland Dam and you’ll look out across the reservoir to a wooded shoreline and the sign high up on Mount Lee. Expect your friends to ask you how you found this angle. And as a bonus, the view from the dam overlooking the city is almost as spectacular.

Mount Wilson Observatory: High above Pasadena, the Mount Wilson Observatory looks out over L.A. and into the universe. Self-guided tours explore this complex that opened in 1904, and docents lead in-depth weekend tours. Astronomers also lead sessions that allow visitors to gaze into the cosmos through the observatory’s 150- and 250-cm telescopes – the largest ones in the world that are available for public use.

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area: Back in the Old West, if you needed to hide out, these dramatic sandstone formations – about 32 km northeast of Santa Clarita –would have looked inviting. In fact, legendary desperado Tiburcio Vasquez, for whom the rocks are named, did escape the law here. These days, it’s a popular filming location and a great place to explore trails or scramble up the outcroppings for a panorama.

Morrison Hotel Gallery: Home to such landmarks as The Troubadour and The Roxy, West Hollywood has been the epicentre of Southern California’s music scene for generations. If you’re looking for a piece of rock history, stop into the Morrison Hotel Gallery for vintage images of legends from Bruce Springsteen to Buffalo Springfield. It’s located inside the Sunset Marquis hotel, which displays music-themed photos curated by the gallery.

Modernist House Tours: Get an intimate look at a mid-century modern masterpiece: The Eames House in Pacific Palisades offers self-guided exterior tours as well as private visits of the ground floor. Docents are available to provide details about the glass-and-steel 1949 house and its iconic designers, Charles and Ray Eames, who lived here for decades. You’ll also be able to peek through the windows to see the house’s Eames-designed furniture.

Park to Playa Trail: After years of planning, the Park to Playa Trail now lets bicyclists and hikers travel between the Baldwin Hills and Pacific Ocean in a nearly traffic-free environment. This 21 km trail network travels through rolling hills and traverses a new bridge across La Cienega Boulevard. Highlights include the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, the perfect place to photograph the snowcapped San Gabriel Mountains rising behind downtown. The final stretch follows Ballona Creek to a big payoff: the ocean at Playa del Rey.

LA Cha Cha Chá: A stylish new rooftop Arts District restaurant, brings the modern cuisine of Mexico City to downtown Los Angeles. Gaze out at the city skyline from the restaurant’s verdant, tropical setting while savoring such creative starters as the Monumento (an octopus tostada) and hongos taco (layered with maitake and bunapi mushrooms). The tender pork shoulder confit carnitas are outstanding, and lovers of classic cocktails should try the tangy cantarito with tequila blanco.