LTVA Bulletin – April

Welcome to the April edition of the South Shore Bulletin brought to you by the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. Our goal is to highlight tourism trends, strategy, initiatives, and programs that increase visitor awareness, support our community and environment, and strengthen our economy.

New Air Service Update

The LTVA is a member of the Regional Air Service Corporation, a regional collaborative of public and private partners whose goal is to help attract new air service, increase flights, and maintain flights into the Reno Tahoe International Airport.

It has never been easier to get to South Tahoe! Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) is excited to announce Spirit Airlines as the latest airline to serve our region. Beginning August 10, 2022, Spirit will offer twice-daily flights between RNO and Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas.

Sun Country Airlines is also adding new routes and extended schedules from Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport with service set to begin on September 1, 2022. One-way fares start as low as $69* with twice-weekly flights on Thursdays and Sundays.

To learn more, visit https://go.renoairport.com/

Memorial Day Event

In March, at the direction of the South Lake Tahoe Tourism Improvement District (SLTTID), the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority (LTVA) requested proposals for the planning and execution of a citywide three-day music festival, May 27-30, 2022. The purpose of the event is to drive destination awareness and overnight stays during a historically soft holiday period. A joint proposal from Dreu Murin Productions and On Course Events was selected and work started immediately on the event. It is hoped that the festival will appeal to visitors and locals alike.

American Century Championship Update

Reserve your week of fun today and volunteer for the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship! This exciting NBC Sports, nationally televised event needs over 300 volunteers for things to run smoothly. You could be one of those volunteers!

The American Century Championship Tournament runs from Friday, July 8 through Sunday, July 10, 2022.

Volunteer Registration Fee: $75 – includes uniform package and lunch daily.

American Century Championship ticket and lodging packages create a value-added lodging package for your guests for an unbelievable deal! Tickets must be included as part of a pre-announced/advertised lodging package and may not be sold separately. This offer is limited to SLT Lodging Association Members only.

Meetings Update

In March, Director of Marketing & Conference Sales, Stuart Maas participated in the Northstar Meetings Independent Planner Education Conference (IPEC). He conducted 22 one-to-one appointments with meeting planners looking to bring their programs to South Lake Tahoe. IPEC is the leading conference produced exclusively for independent planners not associated with third-party organizations.

Inbound RFPs from the LTVA premium Cvent CVB listing and the TahoeSouth.com/meetings RFP form have been promising in Q1, with volumes now surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The sector experiencing the most growth in our destination has been the regional corporate incentive and training programs in boutique and upscale properties. While Association business did experience the most significant decline, we see these programs coming back strong in 2023.

With the Tahoe South Events Center scheduled to open in early 2023, efforts have concentrated on awareness and lead generation. Working in conjunction with OGV360, Digital Edge, and Noble Studios, a focus is now on creating Sports Planner marketing and sales materials, including a dedicated presence on TahoeSouth.com. Announcements for the first wave of Tahoe South Events Center programs will soon follow with a mix of conferences, sports, music, and entertainment.

Public Relations Update

LTVA works with partners to host media on assignment to reinforce various story angles with tailored first-person experiences. Several heavy-hitting media and content creators/influencer visits are scheduled for this spring leading into summer focusing on what’s new, off peak and sustainable travel.

The Winter 2022 edition of USA Today’s GO Escape Magazine: secured an interview with Hannah Teter, (page 31). Visit California Newsletter and online featured Desolation Hotel: New Luxury Accommodations in South Lake Tahoe.

Did You Know?

• During the month of March, the top 3 states driving visitation to South Tahoe included Texas, Florida, and Arizona.
• Grocery Stores/Eating Places & Restaurants made up the largest part of visitor spending in tourism categories at 41.3% in March.
• The Tahoe South website saw over 230,000 sessions with more than 176,000 new users during the month of March.

The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority is powered by the South Lake Tahoe Tourism Improvement District and the Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority.