GROWING TOURISM A BLESSING IN A STRUGGLING ECONOMY
In the June 25th Los Angeles Times story “Tourism industry is L.A. County's No. 1 job generator” the reporter asserted that this development is “not necessarily a good thing: Tourism and hospitality do not pay out as much in wages and salaries.” While tourism may not pay as much as some other industries on average, there are many opportunities on the higher end of the pay scale as with any industry. (Fox & Hounds)      
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MODERN NAPA: CONTEMPORARY WINERY TASTING ROOMS
There are many wonderful wineries and tasting rooms dotted throughout California Wine Country, with Napa leading the way in both number and scope. But like wine itself, everybody’s taste is different. (San Francisco Examiner) 
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CALIFORNIA COASTLINE
Feature on the California coastline on the Today Show. Click here to watch the video. (msnbc.com)
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PUSH IS ON TO MAKE PINNACLES A NATIONAL PARK
The weathered red bones of an ancient volcano, sheared 23 million years ago from their Southern California kin, break in impossible piles from the rolling Gabilan hills of chaparral and gnarled oaks. (The Salinas Californian)
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ON BALBOA ISLAND, VACATIONERS LIVE LARGE
The red-and-white ferry boats shuttling between Balboa Island and the Balboa Peninsula are still jammed with cars, shirtless teens and tourists on bicycles. Luxury yachts – many bigger than most motor homes – still crowd the blue waters off the shores of the 128-acre island in Newport Bay. (Los Angeles Times)
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HIGHWAY 395 SCENIC BYWAY 101:
HOW TO SPOT GREAT SITES ON HIGHWAY 395
As you travel the Eastern Sierra on Highway 395 you will find a varied and exciting stretch of California travel that will not be equaled anywhere else. The Scenic Byway is just what the title states, scenic and for the most part very easy to travel and take time to make stops along the way. (San Francisco Examiner)
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TRAVEL LEADERS, LAWMAKERS RALLY BEHIND ‘BLACKLISTED’ CITIES
Business isn't the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Las Vegas, Nevada, or Orlando, Florida, but these two entertainment capitals are also the top business meeting and convention destinations in the United States. One of the nation's largest employers has discouraged its employees from booking meetings and conventions in these cities. (CNN.com)
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LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO PROTECT MEETINGS AT RESORTS
On July 29, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., introduced a bill into Congress, The Protecting Resort Cities from Discrimination Act of 2009 (S. 1530), which will, if passed, “prohibit an agency or department of the United States from establishing or implementing an internal policy that discourages or prohibits the selection of a resort or vacation destination as the location for a conference or event.” (MeetingsNet.com)
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CONGRESS IS FIGHTING MEETINGS BLACKLISTING: PROOF THAT GRASSROOTS LOBBYING WORKS!
Ever since the U.S. Travel Association uncovered the practice by some federal agencies of "blacklisting" resort destinations for business meetings, the author has been pleased to see that the travel industry, and Congressional representatives of these unfairly targeted destinations, aren't taking this lying down. There has been much rhetoric and pushback generated by people directly impacted by the blacklisting and a lot of buzz online via blogs and columnists. (Strategic Meetings Management)
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BUSINESS TRAVEL CURBS MAY BE PERMANENT
Reductions in both the number of business trips and the amounts spent on those trips during the recession are likely to be permanent. “Businesspeople will still travel, but will travel smarter,” says DeAnne Dale of Travelocity Business. (Kiplinger.com)
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TRAVEL INDUSTRY CROSSES ITS FINGERS OVER H1N1
As flu season nears, the U.S. travel industry is closely watching the H1N1 virus and keeping its fingers crossed. American companies with interests abroad reported H1N1 related losses well into the hundreds of millions of dollars during the second quarter of 2009. The losses, led by airlines and hotel companies, were mostly attributed to overseas markets such as Mexico, South America, the Caribbean and Asia. (Atlanta Business Chronicle)
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DISCOVERAMERICA.COM MARKS ONE YEAR ONLINE
DiscoverAmerica.com is celebrating its first year as the Official Travel and Tourism Web site of the United States by announcing a slate of content upgrades, site enhancements and money saving deals to help travelers plan trips to the USA. “Before you visit the United States, you should go to DiscoverAmerica.com,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. (Travel Daily News International)
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