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Press Release: LA Inc., The Convention and Visitors Bureau
December 6, 2002
LOS ANGELES, CA -- City councilmembers Eric Garcetti and Tom LaBonge yesterday announced the opening of the LA
Inc. Visitors Information Center at the Hollywood & Highland entertainment complex.
"The Hollywood Visitors Information Center is an important destination for everyone in Los Angeles, residents
and travelers alike," said Councilmember Garcetti. "We want visitors to feel welcome to the great city
of Los Angeles and really take part in all that it has to offer. The Visitors Information Center will be an important
part of tourism growth, which is good news for the businesses of Hollywood."
"Hollywood is experiencing a renaissance and we are pleased to show all the great changes to visitors from
here and abroad," said Councilmember LaBonge.
The Visitors Information Center will help connect tourists to attractions and key businesses and boost tourism
revenues. In addition to assisting visitors by offering basic services, including directions, information about
events, attractions and museums, staff will provide sightseeing itineraries. The informational center also will
be equipped to help make restaurant reservations, hotel accommodations and sell tickets to attractions, museums
and concerts.
"The City and LA Inc. are bringing 21st century technology to the Visitors Information Center, making it easier
for travelers and residents to experience our great city," said George D. Kirkland, president and chief executive
officers of LA Inc., The Convention and Visitors Bureau. "The goal of the Visitors Information Center is to
provide our guests with personal attention, so we can suggest itineraries to meet all of their needs whether they
are a group of students, a family with small children or a couple on their honeymoon."
The Visitors Information Center employs people who speak more than six languages and can also put residents and
visitors in touch with someone who can communicate with them no matter what language they speak.
"The location of the Visitors Information Center at Hollywood & Highland makes perfect sense," said
Russ Joyner, vice president and general manager of Hollywood & Highland. "In our first year of operation
we've seen over six million tourists and visitors come to Hollywood & Highland and $300 million in revenue
added to the Los Angeles economy. We are proud to be the new epicenter of Hollywood's comeback and look forward
to meeting the needs of visitors with these new services."
The Hollywood Visitors Information Center was previously located in the Janes House on Hollywood Boulevard. The
new site is in a more highly trafficked area on Hollywood Boulevard and is located on the main level between the
Babylon Court and Kodak Theater in the Hollywood & Highland entertainment complex. It was built with funding
from LA Inc., American Airlines, City Explorer TV, Hollywood & Highland, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Hollywood
Entertainment District, CRA/LA and Universal Studios Hollywood.
"Just as Hollywood & Highland served as a catalyst for new development and restoration in the area, the
Visitors Information Center will serve as a stimulant for increased tourism, shopping and recreation in Hollywood,"
said CRA/LA Administrator Jerry Scharlin.
"This new visitors center, located in one of our premier destinations, Hollywood & Highland, is state-of-art
and elegant in design," said Kerry Morrison, executive director, Hollywood Entertainment District. "At
last we are poised to meet the needs of millions of tourists who come in search of directions, maps and ideas about
how to spend their time while in Hollywood and Los Angeles."
"As the world's largest movie studio and theme park, Universal Studios Hollywood is inseparable with the image
and mystique of Hollywood. We're proud to have played an integral role in developing the new Visitors Information
Center and we're certain that it will improve the experience of the millions of visitors who arrive here in search
of the excitement of the entertainment capital," said Larry Kurzweil, president and COO, Universal Studios
Hollywood.
"Los Angeles is an important destination for American Airlines and we are delighted to be a part of the Visitors
Information Center, an important service for Los Angeles visitors," said Rosilyn Richey, regional director
of Southern California Passenger Sales for American Airlines.
The opening of the Hollywood Visitors Information Center at Hollywood & Highland dovetails with efforts to
reinvigorate tourism to Los Angeles and highlight Hollywood as a destination for domestic and international travelers.
During his recent mission to Asia, Mayor Jim Hahn and LA Inc. announced key tourism packages to promote travel
from Korea and Japan. In Korea, Mayor Hahn announced a program to encourage travel to Los Angeles in 2003 to celebrate
the 100th anniversary of Korean immigration to the United States. In Tokyo, Mayor Hahn was joined by actor Arnold
Schwarzenegger and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii to unveil a celebrity-driven "See My LA"
campaign.
According to CIC Research, more than 24 million international and domestic travelers visited Los Angeles in 2001,
bringing in $12.1 billion in visitor spending to the local economy and supporting 314,200 jobs. Hollywood is the
second most popular travel destination in Los Angeles County, according to CIC Research's survey of Los Angeles
visitors conducted this year.
"This opening is a milestone event in the campaign to help promote tourism in Hollywood. This Visitors Information
Center will help to rejuvenate the City and bring with it new businesses and residents," said Garcetti.
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Contact:
LA Inc., The Convention and Visitors Bureau
Carol Martinez, 213/236-2357
fax: 213/452-1456
cmartinez@lainc.us
www.lacvb.com
Source: LA Inc., The Convention and Visitors Bureau