LTVA Bulletin – October

Welcome to the October 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.

Calling Restaurant and Activity Partners!

We are expanding our Simple View Partner Portal to our dining and activity partners. What does this mean for you? The Partner Portal is a one stop shop for you to provide us with the latest information about your business, including contacts, updated photos, special offers and more. Many of you will have received an invitation email from Simple View this morning titled, “Login to Optimize Your Visit Lake Tahoe Partnership” with instructions on how to access the Partner Portal. If you did not receive an email, you may click here to initiate your account. For those enrolled in the South Shore Passport, the Partner Portal is also where you will update offers, and we will post conference information, indicating “on your own” meal periods to assist you with planning and logistics. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Ryn Muat, Communications & Community Outreach Manager, ryn@visitlaketahoe.com.

Visit Lake Tahoe Hosts Two Successful German Familiarization Tours

German FAM participants enjoying Tahoe time.

Last month, Visit Lake Tahoe welcomed two high-profile familiarization (FAM) trips aimed at strengthening ties with German media and tour operators. The first group included journalists from Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland and the Frankfurter Neue Presse, two influential media outlets. The second visit featured key representatives from major German tour operators CANUSA, America Unlimited, Dertour, and Fairflight. Both groups were treated to a comprehensive itinerary that highlighted the best of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding High Sierra. With clear skies and ideal conditions, the visitors experienced a range of activities, lakeside dining, and tours of various lodging options to better understand the area’s hospitality offerings, with a special focus on showcasing fall visitation.

Under the guidance of LTVA’s Director of Tourism, Juraj Sojka, and thanks to  collaboration with local partners, including Hilton Vacation Club Lake Tahoe Resort, Beach Retreat and Lodge, Clearly Tahoe, and Lake Tahoe Cruises, participants enjoyed immersive experiences that demonstrated the destination’s appeal. Dining partners, such as the Riva Grill, Red Hut Cafe, South Lake Brewing Company – Libation Lodge and the Bistro at Edgewood, provided authentic tastes of Tahoe’s culinary scene. As FAM attendees shared their experiences on social media, an immediate impact was felt, sparking a noticeable increase in search activity and interest for Lake Tahoe on the booking platforms of participating German tour operators. This successful initiative boosted the destination’s visibility and solidified its reputation as a premier choice for German travelers seeking unique and scenic American getaways.

TDVA wins Douglas County Spotlight Award: Innovation and Expansion

Pictured from Left to Right: Scott Morgan, Assistant County Manager, Douglas County; Wes Rice, Chairman, Board of County Commissioners, Douglas County; Carol Chaplin, President & CEO, LTVA/TDVA; Sharla Hales, Vice Chairman, Board of County Commissioners, Douglas County; and Tessie, mascot of the Knight Monsters

Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority (TDVA) was awarded the 2024 Business Spotlight Award for Innovation and Expansion for the opening of the Tahoe Blue Event Center. At the 32nd annual Critical Issues Conference, held at the Tahoe Blue Event Center, Carol Chaplin proudly accepted this award on behalf of the TDVA, which is the owner of the Tahoe Blue Event Center. The event center, opened in September 2023, strategically schedules events off-peak, including 36 Tahoe Knight Monsters home games beginning later this month. With over 85,000 event attendees in its first ten months, and another 188,000 projected attendees for the year ahead, the event center will shape our region for many years to come, attracting large-scale conferences, sporting events and concerts, and contributing to economic vitality. Check out the TDVA’s spotlight video here.

Did You Know?

  • Visit California released its FY23-24 Year in Review. Download the document here to learn more about destination marketing at the state level.
  • Omnitrak Group completed the Lake Tahoe Visitor Profile & Insights Report for 2023. You can find the full report here and also on LTVA.org in the Data & Research section.
  • Wanderful has launched a new map, Woman Owned, and LTVA is adding local businesses to their registry. If you are a South Shore female business owner, or want to suggest a listing, email Ryn Muat, at ryn@visitlaketahoe.com. Co-owned businesses are included. Wanderful is a women’s travel community, so this opportunity is for tourist-facing services only.

South Shore in the Media

The following earned media was published this past month:

  • A veritable media flurry around the Cardigan Classic, the head to head match between Jimmy Fallon and DJ Khaled that took place at the American Century Championship, occurred this month. See the bottom of this page for links to each of the media hits.
  • Visit California highlights vegan gastronomy on the South Shore.
  • Pride Journeys showcases the South Shores autumn mountain charm.

The South Shore Bulletin is brought to you by the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority,  powered by the South Lake Tahoe Tourism Improvement District
and the 
Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority.