CalTravel

We’re building a safer future one ride at a time, and I’m thrilled to share that we've just surpassed 100k paid trips per week! Congratulations to the entire @Waymo team on this incredible milestone, and thank you to our riders who make this journey possible.

Congratulations to Pechanga Resort Casino on being ranked the #1 “Best Overall Casino Outside Las Vegas” by Newsweek. We’re excited to bring the CalTravel Winter Board Meeting to this top ranked casino in Temecula next month! bit.ly/3O5zTqg

This year marks the second-busiest holiday travel period AAA has tracked in more than 20 years. An estimated 15.4M Californians are expected to travel between December 23 and New Year’s Day, and 115.2M Americans will be traveling nationwide. bit.ly/41txOtQ

AAA projects 55.4M Americans will head 50+ miles from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period—a 2.3% increase compared to last year and the third-highest forecast since AAA began tracking holiday travel in 2000. bit.ly/3FZp6te

Sen. Scott Wiener and SF Mayor London Breed announced a proposed law to make it easier to prosecute car break-in thieves by removing the requirement that prosecutors prove a car door was locked. Closing this loophole could make cities across CA safer. bit.ly/3QhcLW9

The winners of the 2023 CalTravel Awards have been announced! The awards recognize extraordinary individuals/organizations who have significantly impacted the travel and tourism industry in California. Check out the full list of award recipients: bit.ly/3OERfuU

Americans are traveling in droves this summer, and the enthusiasm for exploring is likely to continue through the shoulder season. According to Tripit, travel volume will continue to increase in Aug. and Sept. Check out the YOY increases here: bit.ly/3DuZpzu

@VisitSLOCAL recently released its 2023 Resident Sentiment Study, which assesses the attitudes and perceptions of residents toward local government, quality of life, and tourism in the community. View findings from the study in the link below. bit.ly/46V4EpA

If this new bill passes, California may soon be able to host many more night markets. These lively events feature food, shops, live shows, and have the potential to boost culture, small businesses, and cities. Read more about AB 441: bit.ly/46SxFSY

Big news! Melyssa Reeves has been hired as President & CEO of @dma_west following a nationwide search. She’ll be the organization’s first President & CEO. Read the full release here: bit.ly/3DaOdrw

Lake Tahoe has officially launched its Destination Stewardship Plan to address challenges and improve the Tahoe experience. The plan promises to “balance the needs of the environment, businesses, visitors, and local communities.” View plan details: bit.ly/44l2Sw0

According to @USTravel’s latest biannual forecast, total travel spending in the U.S. is expected to reach 93% of 2019 levels this year—highlighting the industry’s continued resilience against a challenging economic backdrop. bit.ly/3CNUp8H

Destinations International has announced that Melyssa Reeves, CDME, President & CEO of Visit Vacaville, will receive the Destination Organization Leadership Award for 2023. View the full list of 2023 award recipients in the link below. bit.ly/3NIIbVt

A recent study by UCSF Benioff found that CA’s homeless population is mainly made up of people who lived in the state before losing housing, with nearly half over the age of 50 and a disproportionate number who are Black and indigenous. More findings: bit.ly/3NjuH0F

In effort to create more eco-friendly events, many CA destinations are changing the way they approach F&B. Chefs and culinary leaders are leaning into seasonality and local, sustainably sourced produce when creating menus for large groups. Read more: bit.ly/3zNMmHA

Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced the California FAIR Plan has agreed to more than double its existing commercial coverage limits to $20 million for businesses unable to find coverage in the normal insurance marketplace. Read more here: bit.ly/3MfUfwU

Monterey is set to debut a brand-new entertainment experience this Spring—Treasure Hunt: The Ride. The interactive attraction draws inspiration from Monterey’s true pirate history, transporting guests through a network of caverns recently discovered below Cannery Row.

Despite recent bouts of extreme weather events, CA remains a desirable place to vacation. According to @VisitCA, tourists traveling to the state have been increasing since 2020, and visitor spending grew to $135B last year—up 35% from 2021. Read more: bit.ly/3zx0xkp

@LEGOLAND_CA has unveiled a LEGO model of Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres. The model, built with more than 150,000 bricks, will reside in the world's first and only MINI U.S.A. version of San Diego debuting at LEGOLAND CA on March 23. Read more: bit.ly/3JJPzxx

@VisitCA has launched the first wave of content for Visit Native California. Home to over 100 federally-recognized tribes, the Golden State has a unique opportunity to shine a light on these vibrant tribal communities. Check it out here: visitcalifornia.com/native/