L.A. ranks low among business travelers
Los Angeles is the second-most-populous city in the nation but falls far down the list of most popular U.S. destinations for business meetings.
The latest ranking of top meeting destinations puts L.A. at No. 17, far behind smaller California cities such as San Diego and San Francisco, according to Cvent, one of the nation’s largest convention management and technology firms.
The top meeting destination for 2013 was Orlando, Fla., followed by Chicago, Las Vegas, Atlanta and San Diego, according to Cvent, which ranked the cities based on room nights reserved, available meeting venues and other criteria.
Los Angeles tourist leaders hope the city will move up the ranks thanks to a soon-to-be-completed expansion at Los Angeles International Airport and the addition of several new hotels in downtown L.A.
“The way forward includes pursuing international group and meeting attendees, along with groups that L.A. can now accommodate as a result of the increasing hotel inventory, among many other initiatives,” said Ernest Wooden Jr., president and chief executive of the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board.
Attracting business travelers make sense. Total spending on business travel in the U.S. reached $262 billion in 2012 and is expected to reach $273 billion in 2013, according to the Global Business Travel Assn., the trade group for corporate travel managers.
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