Background

Building a Sustainable Tourism Model That Strengthens Our Economy, Our Communities and Our City

As the recession continues to loom over the city, keeping more than 40 percent of hospitality workers in LA living below twice the federal poverty line, now is the time to pull together as a community to lift LA out of the recession. City, industry and labor leaders are working to build a sustainable tourism model which acts as the driving force behind a much-needed economic engine. Cities across California and the country are facing continued hard economic times. What makes Los Angeles unique is its plentiful attractions and year-round beautiful weather. We have an advantage as a premiere tourist destination, but we need to ensure those tourism dollars positively impact all facets of the community.

Because tourism is a city-wide industry whose impact is felt beyond hotel and museum walls, it’s necessary to implement a vision for Los Angeles as a thriving world-class tourist destination that is paving the way to prosperity for the city, the tourism industry, and thousands of working families in Los Angeles.

Destination LA will lay the groundwork for a comprehensive solution to address the inadequacies within the industry. Because tourism will play a pivotal role in the city’s recovery, there is an urgent need for city leaders to invest in the hospitality industry to create a sustainable tourism model which realizes positive, lasting change in Los Angeles.

City leaders, industry, labor and community should come together to support a policy that addresses these key areas:

Living Wage
Los Angeles’ tourism industry is the city’s largest low-wage sector. The policy proposes the establishment of a living wage, providing long-term benefits both to thousands of working families and also to LA’s communities.

Energy Efficiency
As an industry that operates 24/7, the hotel industry is one of the largest consumers of energy. In order to move Los Angeles into a clean energy future, it is crucial that hotels have access to programs that facilitate energy efficiency upgrades. The policy will also help hotels achieve green certification standards, positioning LA hotels as environmental leaders.

Job Training
Hospitality workers are often the face of Los Angeles for our tourists and visitors. The policy creates citywide hospitality job training and workforce development programs, increasing hotel workers’ skill levels and productivity. The policy also aims to recruit workers from LA communities hardest hit by the recession.

Hotel Modernization Program
LA hotels are falling short in attracting high-end and business travelers. The policy creates a formal process for underwriting badly-needed renovations to restore competitiveness with other markets. Because tourism dollars are felt beyond hotel walls, hotel modernization is the necessary first step in attracting more tourists to LA and its communities.

Equal Benefits
Increased access to affordable healthcare is not only a public good, but also makes good business sense for the industry. Employers are more likely to retain employees who receive quality benefits. The policy will establish incentives for the hotel industry to provide equal benefits for same-sex partners.

Destination LA  is a coalition of hotels, community organizations, unions, environmental organizations and LGBTQ grouos committed to creating a sustainable tourism model which realizes positive, lasting change in Los Angeles. Click here for a complete list of our coalition partners.