When

Wednesday, May 17, 2023
9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (light breakfast available starting at 8 a.m.)
Join from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. for lunch and breakout sessions including a research deep dive with industry expert, Lauren Schlau, and insights from Santa Monica Travel & Tourism’s International Market Representatives.

Where

Le Méridien Delfina Santa Monica
530 Pico Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405

Program highlights

• Santa Monica’s Travel Outlook
• Community updates from Santa Monica’s leadership personnel
• Local, regional and statewide travel news from compelling industry experts
• Insight into international and domestic travel statistics
• Keynote Presentation from Visit California President and CEO, Caroline Beteta
• Thelma Parks Tourism Spirit Award & Jeff King Tourism Champion Award
• Limited seating breakouts with Santa Monica Travel & Tourism’s International Representatives

From Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Take the I-405 N freeway towards Santa Monica
Take I-10 W towards Santa Monica
Take exit 1A towards 4^th Street/5^th Street
Turn left onto 4^th Street
Turn left onto Pico Boulevard
The hotel will be on your right

From North of Santa Monica
Take the US-101 S freeway
Take I-405 S towards Santa Monica
Take I-10 W towards Santa Monica
Take exit 1A towards 4^th Street/5^th Street
Turn left onto 4^th Street
Turn left onto Pico Boulevard
The hotel will be on your right

From South of Santa Monica
Take the I-405 N freeway towards Santa Monica
Take I-10 W towards Santa Monica
Take exit 1A towards 4^th Street/5^th Street
Turn left onto 4^th Street
Turn left onto Pico Boulevard
The hotel will be on your right

From East of Santa Monica
Take I-10 W towards Santa Monica
Take exit 1A towards 4^th Street/5^th Street
Turn left onto 4^th Street
Turn left onto Pico Boulevard
The hotel will be on your right

Caroline Beteta serves as President & CEO of the industry-led Visit California, a nonprofit organization created to market California as a premier travel destination to increase the state’s share of tourism-related revenues. She simultaneously serves as a strategic advisor for the Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development (GO-Biz). Beteta is responsible for implementing Visit California’s global marketing program on behalf of the organization’s 21,000 investors and serves as the lead spokesperson for California’s travel industry. In her tenure, she has overseen a decade of growth for California’s travel industry, peaking in 2019 with a record $144.9 billion in economic benefit to the state. She has shepherded the growth of Visit California into a global marketing franchise and helped restore travel and tourism following numerous natural and economic crises.

Caroline has received numerous awards for her creative work and leadership in the travel industry, including induction into the U.S. Travel Association’s Hall of Leaders.

Caroline holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of California, Los Angeles and a master’s degree in Public Administration/Intergovernmental Affairs from the University of Southern California. She also completed the Stanford Graduate School of Business Executive Marketing Management Program.

Lauren Schlau has extensive and successful research and consulting experience. Prior to forming LSC, she was a senior manager at PKF Consulting, (now CBRE), and research director at the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau. Ms. Schlau is active in professional organizations including; CalTravel, Travel & Tourism Marketing Association, California Downtown Assn., Travel & Tourism Research Association, L A Tourism & Convention Board, LA5 Rotary, and LA Downtown Center BID.

She has been active in local community economic development, having been appointed by Los Angeles elected officials to local advisory/planning groups, a proposed business improvement district (BID), and a design board for a public/private retail center.

Ms. Schlau earned a Master of Public Administration, University of Southern California and Bachelor of Science, Northwestern University. She holds two professional certificates; Leadership Development from UCLA Extension, and Management Development for Entrepreneurs from the premier UCLA Anderson School. She taught hospitality & foodservice marketing at UCLA Extension.

Having spent the last 14 years conducting market research on behalf of the travel, tourism and hospitality industry, Kimberly directs and implements the vision of Destination Analysts’ research studies. She brings a wealth of experience to projects ranging from in-depth destination brand research and visitor profile studies, to conversion studies and creative testing. Kimberly is a highly sought industry resource and was recognized as one of California Travel Association’s Tourism Emerging Leaders.

As Santa Monica’s City Manager, David White is the organization’s chief executive. He oversees a total City budget of $705.5 million and a workforce of 1,923 and is responsible for the effective operation of 12 City departments and for implementing City Council policies and priorities.

White joined the City of Santa Monica in October 2021 after serving as deputy city manager in Berkeley where he championed reimagining public safety, including a new model of civilian oversight of Berkeley’s Police Department. Before his time in Berkeley, White was the city manager of Fairfield, CA. With an extensive background in finance both as an investment banker and as Fairfield’s finance director, White is well-suited to see Santa Monica through our economic recovery.

A resident of Santa Monica and a Los Angeles native, White graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and anthropology. He holds a master’s degree in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Chief Ramon Batista was born in Los Angeles, CA and grew up in Tucson, AZ, where he began his law enforcement career with the Tucson Police Department in 1986. Chief Batista worked his way through the operational ranks in patrol, spending the first 10 years of his career as an officer serving in various capacities such as a lead and training officer, traffic officer, and police academy class counselor.

Chief Batista holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Safety/Homeland Security and Master of Science degree in Leadership from Grand Canyon University. He has attended the most prestigious law enforcement executive training sessions in the country, to include the FBI National Academy, the Police Executive Research Forum, Senior Management Institute for Police and Major Cities Chiefs Association, Police Executive Leadership Institute.

Chief Batista was sworn in as the Santa Monica Police Department’s 18th Police Chief on October 18, 2021. He leads a full-service police department of 397 employees – 203 sworn officers and 194 professional staff and oversees an annual budget of $98 million. He is bilingual, fluent in Spanish, and he is the only appointed Latino Police Chief in the 125 year history of the Santa Monica Police Department and the City of Santa Monica.