Welcome to the November edition of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority’s South Shore Bulletin. This newsletter highlights tourism trends, strategies, initiatives, and programs that increase visitor awareness, support our community and environment, and strengthen our economy.
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The Grand Slam of Curling Has Begun
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The Grand Slam of Curling is well underway at the Tahoe Blue Event Center, and Sacramento’s KCRA filmed live Monday morning to kick off the inaugural Grand Slam event in the United States, just months before the Winter Olympics in 2026.
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Stuart Maas, LTVA, addresses Connect West attendees at the Tahoe Blue Event Center.
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- LTVA was proud to host Connect West 2025, welcoming 88 suppliers and 65 qualified buyers. Over three days, attendees participated in more than 2,600 one-on-one appointments, building strong connections and new business opportunities. The program also featured a lively activity day, where participants chose between a scenic Lake Tahoe cruise, a “Taste of Tahoe” dine-around experience, or a creative craft’n’sip session. The event showcased South Lake Tahoe’s unmatched beauty, hospitality, and capacity for memorable meetings. Following the conference, eight highly qualified buyers stayed on for an exclusive post-FAM tour, giving them the opportunity to immerse themselves in the destination and experience first-hand the diverse venues, activities, and amenities that make South Lake Tahoe a standout meetings destination.A huge thank you to all of our local partners who made this conference such a resounding success!
- LTVA’s Stuart Maas and Tahoe Blue Event Center’s Kevin Boryczki represented South Lake Tahoe at the TEAMS Conference, completing 42 targeted appointments with sports rights holders and event organizers. Their focus centered on expanding the region’s sports event portfolio and positioning the Tahoe Blue Event Center as a high-altitude venue for tournaments, championships, and large-scale competitions.
- Cameron Wiebe represented Visit Lake Tahoe at IMEX America, October 7–9, connecting with industry partners from around the world through Visit California’s collaborative activation. IMEX America is the largest trade show for the global meetings, events, and incentive travel industry.
- Stuart Maas, attended Meetings Today LIVE! Corporate/Incentive. The event brought together leading incentive travel planners and suppliers for one-on-one appointments. Stuart strengthened partnerships and explored new opportunities.
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LTVA’s Cameron Wiebe (second row from front, third from the left) and the California DMO Alliance at IMEX.
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LTVA’s FY25 Year in Review Video
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October was a FAM-Tastic Month
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French media visitors enjoying a cruise on board the Spirit of Tahoe to Emerald Bay.
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In October, we welcomed three media familiarization tours, better known in the industry as “FAMs.” A FAM is when travel journalists, influencers, or tour buyers are invited to experience a destination firsthand, with the goal of creating articles, features, or packages that share the region’s story with broader audiences. In collaboration with Visit California, LTVA hosted media representatives: five from France, two from Germany, and one from the UK. Each group stayed at different properties and followed a custom itinerary tailored to the outlets they represent. Some participants also work in tour sales, so in addition to media coverage, these visits help grow future bookings through international tour operators and online travel agencies. These FAMs are one of the most effective ways LTVA can amplify Lake Tahoe’s story on a global scale, showcasing both the destination and our partners to audiences we could not reach on our own.
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Recently, the Tahoe Transportation District expanded Route 51 to include late night service Thursday-Saturday evenings year-round. Please note that to return to the Y area from the Tahoe Blue Event Center, riders will need to board the eastbound bus, which will loop back from the Kingsbury Transit Center towards the west side of town.
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The following earned media was published this past month:
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Photo by @megan.delehanty on Instagram, shared with permission.
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