JULY 8, 2025

After more than two decades of forcing travelers to remove their shoes in airport security lines, the shoe removal requirement was suddenly pulled yesterday, effective immediately. According to an internal memo, the policy shift appears to be tied to recent improvements in screening technology and an updated assessment of current security threats. To bypass the shoe rule, passengers must hold a federally approved REAL ID or passport to board a domestic flight.

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JULY 7, 2025

U.S. Travel has announced that after nearly eight years of dedicated service, Tori Barnes, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy, is departing U.S. Travel on August 1. In the short term, she will continue supporting U.S. Travel as a consultant, focused on Brand USA. She is expected to share more about her future plans soon. U.S. Travel is currently searching for its new head of government relations, with plans to fill the role by early Fall.

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JULY 7, 2025

The domestic policy bill President Trump signed into law last Friday includes $1.6 billion in spending for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Inside the bill’s section on Homeland Security grants are $625 million in federal funding for “security and other costs” related to the World Cup and $1 billion for “security, planning, and other costs” related to the Olympic Games.

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JULY 6, 2025

An executive order by President Trump directs the Interior Secretary to develop a “strategy” to boost revenue and improve recreational experiences at national parks. As part of that strategy, entrance fees and the cost for a recreation pass are intended to rise for “nonresidents.” The order calls for increased fees for foreign visitors, as well as a price hike for the America the Beautiful Pass and “any site-specific agency or regional multi-entity passes” that are sold to foreign visitors.

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JULY 5, 2025

President Trump's budget and policy bill delivered a mix of celebration and concern for the travel industry. While the bill included long-sought investments in air traffic control modernization and staffing for Customs and Border Protection, it also came with steep cuts to Brand USA's federal funding and visa fee hikes. The bill slashed Brand USA's federal matching funds from $100 million to $20 million and included a $250 Visa Integrity Fee for nonimmigrant visas.

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JULY 2, 2025

Governor Newsom has signed a bill that will increase the cap on California's film and TV tax credit program to $750 million, up from $330 million. Industry workers say the boost will help stimulate production that slowed due to the pandemic, the dual writers' and actors' strikes, a cutback in spending by studios and streamers, and the Southern California wildfires earlier this year. A separate bill, AB 1138, will also broaden the types of productions eligible to apply for the program.

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JULY 1, 2025

Going forward, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) will be a non-issue for urban “infill” housing developments—housing built in and around existing development. This means most new apartment buildings will no longer face the threat of environmental litigation, and most urban developers will no longer have to study, predict, and mitigate the ways that new housing might affect traffic, air, vegetation, noise, groundwater, and historic objects.

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JUNE 30, 2025

Wildfire season in Southern California got off to an ominous start in late June, with several fires sparking across Riverside and San Bernardino counties’ parched landscapes, elevating concerns that conditions are ripe for a fiery year across the state. Experts have been warning that Southern California's below-average rainy season is likely to set the stage for a particularly bad stretch of fires this summer and fall—and the recent blazes appear to be a sign of what’s to come.

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JUNE 23, 2025

Two large California oil refineries are set to close in 2026, triggering mounting concerns from state legislators, industry groups, and many others. Together, the shutdowns will eliminate nearly 300,000 barrels-per‑day of refining capacity—roughly 20% of the total used in the state. With less local supply, experts warn of potential impacts on California drivers. One analysis forecasts prices could soar over $8 per gallon by late 2026.

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JUNE 20, 2025

Last week, U.S. Travel wrapped up its annual IPW, where travel professionals from around the world gathered to build relationships with global buyers and promote destinations across the United States. IPW 2025’s key message centered on increasing international inbound visitation. The 2025 event is expected to attract nearly 10.9 million new visitors to the U.S. over the next three years.

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JUNE 19, 2025

This summer, unsafe, illegal, and environmentally harmful roadside parking in Emerald Bay will be replaced with a new shuttle service, funded by Keep Tahoe Blue and the Tahoe Fund. The service will offer an easy, convenient, and lake-friendly transportation alternative to access one of Tahoe’s most visited spots. Shuttle service to Emerald Bay will begin on July 15 and will operate seven days a week through October 15.

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JUNE 19, 2025

As the Trump administration ramps up immigration raids in California, some restaurants—worried about their workers or finding that customers are staying home more—are closing temporarily. Many street vendors are going into hiding, and some food festivals and farmers markets have been canceled. The disruptions come at a difficult time for California’s restaurant industry, which is already grappling with soaring costs.

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JUNE 18, 2025

In L.A. County, where transit lines are sometimes miles apart, transit leaders’ plans for the 2028 Olympics rely on a robust fleet of buses to get people to and from venues and avoid a traffic meltdown. The plan hinges on a $2-billion ask of the Trump administration to lease 2,700 buses to join Metro’s fleet of roughly 2,400, traveling on a network of designated lanes from venue to venue. But the federal government has yet to respond to the city’s request.

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JUNE 18, 2025

Last week, Unite Here Local 11 filed paperwork for a pair of ballot proposals. One would raise the minimum wage for all workers in the city to $30 by July 2028. The other would force a public vote on the construction of large hotels, major hotel expansions, and the development or expansion of event centers. To place the measure on the ballot in an upcoming election, the union would need to collect about 140,000 signatures within 120 days.

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JUNE 16, 2025

At last week’s IPW, Brand USA announced its new ‘America the Beautiful’ global campaign—“a bold agenda” that defies recent headlines and puts the focus back on the country’s incredible destinations, unforgettable experiences, and forever memory-makers. “With this campaign, we’re sending a clear message: the USA is open for business and ready to welcome legitimate international travelers,” said Brand USA CEO Fred Dixon.

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JUNE 10, 2025

The Trump administration has deployed a battalion of 700 Marines to Los Angeles, along with 2,000 additional National Guard troops, in response to days of protests in the city. The Pentagon did not make clear why it would need more National Guard troops in the city. California has sued to block the use of the National Guard. And Democrats have expressed alarm about the arrival of Marines.

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JUNE 9, 2025

Visit Anaheim has unveiled 'Imaginagency,' a first-of-its-kind travel initiative created in collaboration with actress and entrepreneur Tia Mowry. Designed to reimagine the family vacation experience, this innovative campaign places children at the helm of planning, offering itineraries crafted entirely by young minds. Spearheading the initiative are six “Imaginagents,” who have curated six unique, bookable Anaheim experiences.

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JUNE 9, 2025

National parks across the country have been under budget and understaffed for years, and the situation has only been made worse by recent cuts to the federal workforce. Due to the staffing shortage, the National Park Service (NPS) has said park staff may be asked to take on extra roles to keep parks safe and open. The NPS has lost 13% of its 20,000-person workforce since January, according to the National Parks Conservation Association.

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JUNE 8, 2025

The Walt Disney Company and Universal—two of the biggest names in theme parks—are both undertaking historic expansions to their experiences businesses. These investments come at a time when both Disney and Comcast are paring down or spinning off their linear TV segments, an arena that has seen volatility in recent years, while theme parks have been consistent revenue drivers for the companies post-pandemic.

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JUNE 6, 2025

The Trump Administration’s newly announced travel ban will not be impacting the 2026 World Cup or the 2028 Olympics. The travel ban explicitly excludes athletes, listing in the exemptions “any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State.”

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JUNE 3, 2025

Visit California’s Board of Directors unanimously adopted a resolution to move forward with the 2025 renewal referendum, officially launching Forward Together, the campaign to renew the industry’s self-assessment that funds Visit California’s global marketing efforts. Tourism leaders are encouraged to visit vote.visitcalifornia.com to add their name to the growing list of supporters.

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MAY 28, 2025

California’s port traffic is beginning to look worse now than it did at the height of the pandemic. The Port of Long Beach said the number of cancellations they're seeing today is starting to exceed what they experienced during the pandemic. The Port of Los Angeles expected 80 ships to arrive in May, but 17 were canceled. And the Port of Oakland saw a 15% month-over-month drop in container activity in April.

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APRIL 16, 2025

California is suing President Trump over tariffs—Gov. Newsom’s most direct challenge to the president since he retook office in January. The move comes after Newsom spent months appealing to the president for federal disaster relief. The lawsuit targets the International Economic Emergency Powers Act, which the president is using to impose tariffs without congressional approval.

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APRIL 15, 2025

Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a tourism campaign urging Canadians to “come experience our California Love” after seeing a dip in visitation by Canadians. In a video posted to social media, Newsom focuses on the allure of the Golden State while distancing it from Trump’s administration, noting that California is “over 2,000 miles from Washington and a world away in mindset.”

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APRIL 14, 2025

Hilton’s Annual Trends Report found that recreating memories is one of the most common reasons Americans choose leisure travel, with 58% of travelers saying they want to revisit childhood destinations. This nostalgic travel trend—or “time tripping”—is about revisiting simpler times, reconnecting with the places and experiences that shaped them, and sharing those experiences with new generations.

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APRIL 9, 2025

The 2028 Olympic games in Los Angeles will feature 28 more medal events than Paris 2024. The additions are part of a broader push by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to modernize the games and attract new audiences. The final program was shaped by guiding principles set in 2023, which emphasized global appeal, cost-efficiency, athlete focus, and gender balance.

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APRIL 8, 2025

Asm. Matt Haney and Sen. Scott Wiener are bringing back a measure to allow some restaurants and bars to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and state holidays. Supporters of the proposal say it would revitalize post-pandemic nightlife across California cities and draw more visitors and revenue, especially as the state prepares to host the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics.

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APRIL 8, 2025

The stock market is continuing to fluctuate wildly. Drawing parallels with the 1929 Wall Street crash and the ensuing 1930s Great Depression, the president’s “liberation day” tariff plan has led to warnings of a global recession from leading economists. As market volatility continues to feed fears, it’s hard to resist comparing what’s happening now with market crises of the past.

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APRIL 7, 2025

Because California receives a disproportionate amount of income tax revenue from capital gains earned by the wealthiest taxpayers, the tumbling stock market could take a significant bite out of the state budget next year. The state is also worried about how the tariffs could weaken California’s large manufacturing and agriculture sectors, as well as tourism and major ports. Finance officials are modeling different scenarios, some of which would require spending cuts.

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APRIL 7, 2025

California tourism could lose billions of dollars because of federal policies on tariffs, immigration, and gender identity, as well as talks of annexing Canada. A broad travel slowdown could hurt different industries that fall under the tourism umbrella, including hospitality and restaurants—and the roughly 3 million Californians who work in them. A significant decline in visitation could also lead to airlines pulling routes from the state’s airports.

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