ONTARIO,
Calif., July 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hospitality
and tourism generated a record $110
million in economic impact in Greater Ontario this past year, fortifying the
region's role as Southern
California's fastest-growing destination, according to an
annual report released this past week by Greater Ontario California
(GOCAL).
The report showed Greater
Ontario's hospitality industry playing a critical role in
the Inland Empire's emergence as one of the most dynamic population
and economic centers in the United
States. Today, Greater
Ontario's Tourism Marketing District features 68 hotels and
6,749 hotel rooms, and is the hub of a growing regional hospitality
scene that employs 186,000 workers in the Inland Empire.
"In the past year alone, the economic impact of hospitality and
tourism in Greater Ontario grew by
nearly 14%, a staggering number that speaks to just how far we have
come as a region," said Michael
Krouse, GOCAL's Chief Executive Officer. "We are the new
center of Southern California.
It's where people are coming to live. It's where people are coming
to work. And it's where visitors from all over the world are coming
to enjoy themselves."
One year after GOCAL rebranded itself to better leverage tourism
and hospitality opportunities across the region, the results speak
for themselves. According to the newly released 2023-24 annual
report, Greater Ontario's Tourism
Marketing District booked more than 87,000 hotel nights during the
year, exceeding its goal by 145%. Rental bookings and food and
beverage sales at the Ontario
Convention Center grew by 7% and 32%, respectively, over prior year
and exceeded their goals by 129% and 104%.
Other highlights:
- The California Welcome Center (CWC) at Ontario Mills Mall
welcomed nearly 50,000 visitors during the year, raising the total
to 729,183 since its opening in 2016. The Greater Ontario CWC
consistently ranks as the top welcome center in the Visit
California portfolio.
- GOCAL generated more than $12
million in marketing value off of 832 million media
impressions, 18 million social media impressions and 540,000
website visits.
- International visitors to Greater
Ontario stayed in the area for 3.4 days, on average. 81%
were overnight visitors, with Mexico (78% overnight visitors), Canada (85%) and Japan (88%) ranking as our top three
international marketing overnight visitors) and 26.2% of those were
repeat visitors. Domestic visitors stayed in the area for 2.5 days,
on average. 79% were overnight visitors, and 61% of those were
repeat visitors.
- Ontario International Airport
(ONT), Ontario Mills Mall and Victoria Gardens ranked among the
largest draws to the area.
Krouse noted that collaboration with ONT has further positioned
Greater Ontario as a premier
international destination. The airport is on track to exceed 7
million passengers this year – up 75% since its return to local
ownership in 2016 – including more than 500,000 international
travelers.
For more information on GOCAL, please visit.
GO-CAL.org.
GREATER ONTARIO CALIFORNIA
Greater Ontario California
(GOCAL) is the official destination marketing organization to
promote the cities of Ontario and
Rancho Cucamonga, California to
visitors nationally and internationally. As destination experts we
provide leisure, meeting groups and meeting professionals with an
unbiased, comprehensive resource when booking a tour, convention,
meeting, or event within the cities of Ontario and Rancho
Cucamonga, California. Ideal for leisure and business
travel, the region boasts scenic mountains, deserts, vineyards, and
metropolitan areas that are both historic and cosmopolitan in
character. Under the umbrella of the Greater Ontario California is
the California Welcome Center and several Signature Events to
support the overall mission to drive visitors to the region,
stimulating economic growth. GOCAL provides the necessary
destination support tools to execute a successful experience. Visit
www.GO-CAL.org. Follow @VisitGOCAL on Facebook, X
(formerly Twitter), and Instagram.
Media
Contact:
|
Steve Lambert, The
20/20 Network
|
|
(909) 841-7527,
steve@the2020network.com
|
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SOURCE Ontario International
Airport; Greater Ontario California (GOCAL)