San Diego County Lodging Association

Please join us in welcoming our new member, Hampton Inn San Diego Downtown!

California continues to lead as the No. 1 tourism destination in the U.S.—and the gap only widened in 2025, a testament to the strength of our industry statewide.
Right here in San Diego, travel spending reached an impressive $16.7 billion in 2025, highlighting the powerful impact tourism has on our local economy and communities.
This California Tourism Month, let’s celebrate the momentum and continue sharing the story of travel’s value.

Welcome to our new member Leaderato!

Leaderato helps businesses build stronger leaders, healthier cultures, and higher-performing teams through practical leadership development, workshops, and training experiences that create real-world impact.

Learn more: https://leaderato.com/

Join SDCLA and Visit California this May as we celebrate California Tourism Month. With strong growth on the horizon and major global events approaching, it’s the perfect time to share our industry’s impact. Explore the official toolkit below and help spotlight the value of travel in our communities.

Let’s celebrate the power of California’s tourism economy together.

Get the toolkit: https://assets.visitcalifornia.com/guidelines/guide/722537e7-4ce3-481d-ac6a-fbd57f308675/page/580fc9a7-80ef-4dc4-bcf8-3a0994709902

Last day to register! Join us on April 30 at the Doubletree San Diego Bayside for a deep dive on AI in hospitality, including operations, marketing and what’s next.

Last chance to sign up: https://calodging.my.site.com/sdcla/s/lt-event?id=a1UPl000007wye5MAA&site=a0d1K00000F401iQAB

Welcome to our new member, SERVPRO!

of Sorrento Valley/University City is a trusted leader in San Diego in the restoration industry.

https://www.servpro.com/locations/ca/servpro-of-sorrento-valley-university-city/about

Less than one week to go. Don’t miss it.

Join us next Thursday, April 30 for a panel on how AI is transforming hotel operations and marketing.

Alaska Airlines, our event sponsor, will be raffling off two airline tickets during the luncheon!

To enter, simply bring a business card for the drawing. The winner will be announced during the luncheon and must be present to claim the prize.

Save your spot: https://calodging.my.site.com/sdcla/s/lt-event?id=a1UPl000007wye5MAA&site=a0d1K00000F401iQAB

Join us April 30 for a live panel on AI in hotel operations + marketing.
Featuring Mark Fancourt, Co Founder & Principal, TRAVHOTECH and Cory Falter, Partner at Lure Agency and Co-Founder of Sales on Tap.

Register: https://calodging.my.site.com/sdcla/s/lt-event?id=a1UPl000007wye5MAA&site=a0d1K00000F401iQAB

A new report finds nearly 70% of travelers prefer booking with trusted travel brands over AI chatbots and agents.

Read more:

Expedia Group Reveals ‘The AI Trust Gap’: Travelers Embrace AI for Planning but Rely on Trusted Brands to Book Survey of 5,700+ travelers shows 53% use AI for trip suggestions but 68% prefer trusted brands for actual booking.

We are pleased to welcome Ga***rd Pacific Resort & Convention Center as a new SDCLA member!

With 1,600 guest rooms and over 477,000 square feet of meeting and event space, the sun-soaked coastal escape is just minutes from downtown, with sweeping views of the Pacific and scenic Chula Vista Marina.

Learn more: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sange-gaylord-pacific-resort-and-convention-center/overview/

Congratulations to Babett Hirzel on her appointment as General Manager of Bahia Resort Hotel! With more than 35 years of global hospitality experience and a passion for people-first leadership, Hirzel is set to lead the iconic beachfront property into an exciting new chapter.