After seeing all those orange balloons and matching goodie bags at the Empress Hotel on Wednesday, I almost felt as if I’d inadvertently crashed an NDP victory celebration.
The Anaheim Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau’s travel show took place the afternoon after the NDP’s stunning election victory in Alberta, after all.
“They’re the Orange County and Anaheim colours,” smiled Normand Schafer, who invited the bureau to do the consumer event before its annual road-show presentation to travel agents.
Schafer, president of Far & Away Adventures and CheapTicketsCanada.com sales manager, said he also initiated the informal showcase to help celebrate his travel company’s 20th anniversary.
“We have a lot of people here who want to know what’s new because there’s always something new going on down there,” said Schafer.
Visitors were greeted by smiling, high-spirited representatives from several southern California hotels, attractions, shopping centres and theme parks.
There are 28 partners involved in the bureau’s road show this year, nearly twice as many as in 2000, said tourism development director Pepe Avila.
Partners include Disneyland, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, Knott’s Berry Farm, Legoland, hotels including The Castle at the Resort and Hotel Menage, and transportation companies.
“Have you ever seen The Cable Guy?” asked Mayra Hurtado, the sales manager for Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament. “They filmed at our property in sunny Buena Park.”
Visitors received goodie-bag gifts, including Medieval Times notepads and red bottle openers, and pink makeup compacts at the Holiday Inn Staybridge Suites information desk.
Other goodies included tiny jars of mints and lip balm, a Citadel Outlets emery board, eyeglass cleaners, pens galore, keychains with tiny LED lights, cookies and John Wayne Airport luggage tags.
“We understand and appreciate the importance of the Canadian market,” said Avila, explaining why he hits the road to market a region you might think sells itself.
“We wanted to be here to thank our Canadian visitors for their continued support, making Anaheim and Orange County their favourite destination.”
With 500 hotels and counting in Orange County and an increasing supply of new attractions, shops and restaurants, the region is ready for repeat business, he said.
Tammy McColl, who dropped by with her eight-month-old daughter Gabriella, is one such traveller.
“We love Disney,” the young mother said. “Quite a few of the attractions we’ve already been to and when she gets a little older we’ll be heading back.”
Avila attributes Orange County’s enduring popularity in part to its proximity to different locations, and a multitude of hotels, many with rates much more competitive than in Los Angeles.
“We’re always evolving and transforming,” he said, mentioning Disney’s diamond celebration beginning May 22 and Universal Studio’s 50th anniversary among current reasons to visit.
Other tourism magnets include tours from resort hotels to attractions such as the San Diego Zoo, and transfers to Long Beach to catch the Catalina Express to Catalina Island.
Tourism operators are also marketing new helicopter tours and horseback excursions that bring tourists to the Hollywood sign, and side trips to what Avila calls “the Kelowna of Southern California” — the wine-tasting region of Temecula.
“Anaheim is between L.A. [45 minutes away] and San Diego [90 minutes away], so we’re kind of like the bellybutton of southern California,” said Avila, whose enthusiasm was infectious.
After introducing a tourism video, he could be spotted swing-dancing with Hurtado to its catchy theme song before returning to the stage.
Has Fox network’s hit teen drama series The O.C. had any impact on tourism?
“Perhaps the show does not portray all of the variety of options but now it has helped put Anaheim Orange County on the international map,” Avila said.
“When I’m in Australia, New Zealand or Canada they go, ‘Oh, The O.C.!” There’s recognition.”
