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May 28, 2008
Chamber Opposes Proposal to Eliminate State Tourism Funding
By Marna
Smeltzer
President/CEO
 The
Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau opposes
a proposed law that would prevent rental car companies from
charging consumers a tourism fee used to fund and promote
California. SB 1057 would negatively impact our state’s
efforts to promote California throughout the world as a
tourist destination.
Click here to take action on SB
1057.
 Tourism plays a major role in Redondo Beach economy. Our
tourism industry creates thousands of jobs and helps
diversify and stabilize the local economy. In 2006, visitors
to Redondo Beach generated over $130 million in business
which translates into a substantial contribution to the
city’s general fund in the form of tax revenue.
The Chamber opposes SB 1057 because it would eliminate much
needed tourism dollars we use to promote Redondo Beach as a
premiere Southern California destination. Tourism is one of
our largest economic drivers and efforts to reduce any
investment in tourism will place our business community at a
competitive disadvantage.
The current assessment on rental cars generates over $50
million in funding and promotion of tourism in California.
With this funding, the California Tourism Commission
strengthens and expands current marketing and advertising
efforts in key domestic and international markets.
The tourism industry is California’s fourth largest employer
and fifth largest contributor to the gross state product.
Today the travel and tourism industry brings in over $93.8
billion to the state economy, employs over 928,720
Californians and generates approximately $2.1 billion in
local taxes and $3.5 billion in state taxes. The importance
of investing in the promotion of California as a tourist
destination cannot be underscored enough. The ability to
continue to market California as a global destination for
tourism will be vital to sustaining this critical component
of our state’s economy.
March 3, 2007
Redondo Beach
Businesses Benefit From State Investment in Tourism
By Carleen Beste
2006
Chair of the Board
 Tourism
is very important to our community. That is why the Redondo
Beach Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau supports
initiatives and programs that boost tourism. Last year, we
supported AB 2592 (Assemblymember Leno; San Francisco), a
bill that makes $25 million in marketing funds available for
2007 and $50 million in the years thereafter. This is good
news for the California tourism industry and, ultimately,
the City of Redondo Beach. The money to support these funds
will be generated from a pass-through assessment on rental
cars that service tourism-oriented users and visitors.
The new money
will be used for the State of California to promote itself
as a premier destination for travel and tourism. Until now,
California was taking a back seat to other tourism
destinations such as Las Vegas, Florida, Australia, and
China, just to name a few. Now, California can better
compete and spotlight the many cities and destinations
within the state, especially its beach cities. This puts
Redondo Beach in a position to compete with surrounding,
inland tourist cities that often have the funds to market
themselves.
Economists
conservatively estimate that by adding just $10 million
dollars to the state’s travel advertising budget, tens of
thousands of new jobs will be created. Additionally, they
estimate that between $75 million and $85 million in
increased tax revenues will become available throughout the
state.
Tourism plays a
major role in the economic development of Redondo Beach. Our
tourism industry creates thousands of jobs and helps
diversify and stabilize the local economy. Last year,
visitors to Redondo Beach generated over $130 million in
business which translates into a substantial contribution to
the city’s general fund in the form of tax revenue. Without
a doubt, the Redondo Beach business community will see an
increase in these numbers as a result of the renewed
investment in tourism marketing.
Having the
ability to better market California’s tourism assets is
positive and the Redondo Beach Chamber wants its business
community to know that only good things can come from this
effort.
December 5, 2006
A Strong
Commitment to Tourism
By Carleen Beste
2006
Chair of the Board
The
Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau is
committed to supporting efforts that invest in tourism and
brand our great city as a destination for visitors. We are a
complete resort destination with more than 1,000 rooms. Our
city also provides all the services and amenities travelers
expect from a world class location. Redondo Beach is a
community of 65,000 people which welcomes visitors to enjoy
the very best and exciting aspects of the Southern
California lifestyle.
Tourism plays a major role in the economic development of
our city. We all depend on tax revenue generated from
visitors to fund essential city services that a large
portion of your tax dollars do not entirely fund. Tourism
also creates thousands of jobs and helps diversify and
stabilize our local economy. Last year, visitors generated
over $130 million in business. The Redondo Beach Chamber,
its active visitors bureau, and our local businesses are
committed to protecting and advancing the future of tourism.
Recently, the Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club announced its $11
million renovation project. I want to highlight this strong
commitment to the future of tourism in our city. Portofino
visitors will enjoy a new ocean-inspired theme for the
lobby, upgraded guest rooms and baths in a contemporary
nautical theme and five new luxury suites. Guests and locals
alike will have more reasons to visit the hotel for its fine
dining restaurant, which will don a new name, interior
design and evolved menus. A marina overhaul also is planned.
Guests come to the Portofino because of its direct
relationship to the ocean and the outdoor recreational
options that come with it. The new look will be completely
connected to the reasons guests choose the Portofino in the
first place. The renovation began this year in January and
is expected to be complete in spring 2007.
We applaud the Portofino for their strong commitment to
strengthening our brand as a primer destination.
Redondo Beach is one of most diverse destinations in the
world not only to visit but to live. We proudly offer two
public libraries, a performing arts center, fifteen parks,
thirteen parkettes, a large recreational and commercial
harbor including King Harbor, a 1,500-slip private craft
port; the Redondo Beach Pier and Seaside Lagoon; and a
bathing and surfing beach to name a few.
We are strategically located in the just twenty miles from
downtown Los Angeles and seven miles south of Los Angeles
International Airport. We offer significant concentrations
of employment and retail activity which include the northern
industrial complex; the Harbor/Pier area; the South Bay
Galleria–-a regional mall anchoring the east end of the
City; and an eclectic mix of specialty shops, restaurants
and services known as the Riviera Village area in the south
end of the City.
Redondo Beach has so much to offer. We are committed to
offering even more.
June 9, 2005
Support
Tourism Marketing Funding; Urge Legislature to Restore
Deleted Funds
The Redondo Beach Chamber supports renewing California's
investment in tourism marketing. Historically, the tourism
industry has assessed itself to raise private funds for
marketing California. These private funds were matched by
state funds to reflect the increased tax revenue the state
receives from visitors in a public private partnership.
However, the budget crisis has resulted in two years of no
state contribution to the tourism-marketing act. This has
left private businesses raising approximately $7 million in
marketing funds, placing California 31st in the nation in
promotion. As a result, our state share of domestic travel
has dropped.
Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed a return to the
public-private partnership with $7.3 million in state funds
this year. Unfortunately, the Legislature is not cooperating
in restoring this important funding. While we were able to
persuade each house of the Legislature to approve more than
$7 million in state funding, the entire funding was stricken
by the budget conference committee. This action forces this
funding into the high-risk "Big Five" budget negotiations
between legislative leadership and the Governor.
Tourism Facts
-
Total direct travel spending in California was $82.5
billion in 2004
-
During 2004, travel spending in California directly
supported 892,600 jobs.
-
Travel spending generated 261,500 jobs in food service,
220,500 jobs in arts, entertainment and recreation, and
192,200 jobs in accommodations.
-
Travel spending in 2004 generated $1.9 billion in local
taxes and $3.3 billion in state taxes, of which
approximately $500 million was tax revenue from motor
fuel.
- A recent
study commissioned by the state shows that every dollar
invested in promoting travel to California returns $19
in state and local taxes.
Click here
to contact the Redondo Beach Chamber
for more
information
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