DECEMBER 8, 2025

A new poll by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) found that three in four Californians expect mostly periods of higher unemployment or economic weakness in the country during the next five years. When asked about the most pressing issue facing California, residents pointed to the cost of living, the economy and inflation, followed by housing costs and availability. Californians are also showing dissatisfaction with federal leaders and their policies.

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DECEMBER 8, 2025

More students are heading to a California State University this year. CSU reports more than 471,000 students enrolled for fall 2025—a 2% jump and the biggest year-over-year increase in a decade. It also marks the second consecutive year of enrollment gains after two years of post-pandemic declines. CSU said most campuses, 19 of 22, saw gains as they continue efforts to improve access and streamline admissions.

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DECEMBER 6, 2025

Between the Bay Area and Los Angeles, California will play host to 14 total World Cup matches—six at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara and eight at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Each site will host five matches in the group stage and at least one match in round 32. The Golden State is set to welcome teams from Algeria, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Iran, Jordan, New Zealand, Paraguay, Qatar, Switzerland, and the United States, among other playoff qualifiers.

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DECEMBER 5, 2025

New data released by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) points to the more sustainable growth of the U.S. travel and tourism industry with greenhouse gas emissions continuing to decline as the industry grows. While travel’s GDP increased 1.8% per year between 2019 and 2024, emissions declined by 1.7%, indicating a positive shift in the industry towards increased sustainability.

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DECEMBER 5, 2025

The United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) reported that 90% of members plan to utilize travel advisors in 2026, and 78% say the role of advisors will be very important to their business strategy next year. The majority (94%) of members surveyed expect business booked through advisors to increase or hold steady, underscoring the continued value of the advisor community.

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DECEMBER 4, 2025

Voting on Visit California’s marketing renewal is officially open now through December 31. This year, travel businesses that invest in Visit California have the opportunity to vote to continue the program through 2031. Accommodations, attractions, restaurants, retail, transportation, travel services, and rental car businesses that are current on their California tourism assessments are eligible to vote. Eligible voters may cast their votes by mail or online.

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DECEMBER 4, 2025

According to the Staffing Agency’s recently released “Hospitality Labor Report,” the hospitality industry has more workers than ever recorded, but turnover remains at crisis levels. Restaurants and hotels now report annual turnover rates of 70% to 80%, while quick-service restaurants often exceed 100%. The report notes that recruitment timelines have slowed, and retention is now the single strongest driver of service quality.

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NOVEMBER 26, 2025

Beginning January 1, an annual National Parks pass will cost $250 for nonresidents compared to $80 for U.S. residents. International visitors without an annual pass will need to pay a $100-per-person surcharge at 11 of the most visited national parks, including Yosemite. According to the Interior Department, revenue generated from the new fees will support upgrades to visitor facilities, park maintenance, and service improvements.

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NOVEMBER 24, 2025

AAA projects 81.8 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home between November 25 and December 1, setting a new record for domestic Thanksgiving travel. The FAA says this will be the busiest Thanksgiving travel period in 15 years. Roads will be even busier. Nearly 90% of travelers, or at least 73 million, are expected to hit the road—an increase of about 1.3 million drivers compared to last year.

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NOVEMBER 20, 2025

The San Francisco 49ers and the San Francisco Travel Association have launched a multi-year global partnership designed to leverage the 49ers brand and fanbase to drive visitors to San Francisco. The deal calls for joint international marketing efforts that will focus on Mexico and the U.K., including joint campaigns, co-branded activations, official 49ers events, international sweepstakes, and prominent visibility at Levi’s Stadium. 

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NOVEMBER 20, 2025

California’s landmark 2024 reforms to the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) are already showing positive results for employers and employees, according to a new report released by four of the leading employment law firms in California. Eighteen months after implementation, firms report faster settlements, narrower lawsuits, and greater collaboration between employers and employees.

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NOVEMBER 20, 2025

American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) CEO Rosanna Maietta is urging Congress to address policy issues affecting the hotel industry—emphasizing that hotels must overcome significant challenges to accommodate the influx of international visitors expected for the World Cup, USA’s 250th anniversary, and the Olympics. U.S. hotels' operating expenses have been increasing due to rising insurance premiums, interest rates, labor costs, and healthcare expenses.

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NOVEMBER 19, 2025

Earlier this year, California’s Democratic leaders scrambled to plug a $12 billion budget hole in fiscal year 2025-26. The state’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office now says California will face a nearly $18 billion budget deficit in the new fiscal year due to higher-than-expected spending. To make things worse, the $17.7 billion shortfall could balloon to an annual $35 billion by fiscal year 2027-28, as spending continues to grow and debts come due.

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NOVEMBER 18, 2025

Last week, Los Angeles officials announced a new campaign—“LA is Open”—which aims to promote the tourism industry and support small businesses impacted by the January fires. “LA is Open” is intended to send a clear message that Los Angeles is open for business, resilient, and ready to welcome visitors from around the world. The initiative is an overarching campaign linking and showcasing other programs with the same goal, such as Shop LA, Dine LA, and Discover LA.

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NOVEMBER 17, 2025

The Trump administration has announced a new initiative for foreigners traveling to the U.S. for the World Cup next year. FIFA Pass will allow those who have purchased World Cup tickets to get expedited visa appointments. Under the new system, those who have bought tickets through FIFA will be allowed to go through a “FIFA portal” that will help get their visa application and interview prioritized at the State Department.

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NOVEMBER 14, 2025

In a push to address the state’s gripping housing crisis, the California Coastal Commission has approved a rule change to make it easier to build affordable housing in Monterey and elsewhere along the hundreds of miles of the Pacific coast. It was the latest effort by the powerful state agency to combat its poor reputation among housing advocates and Democratic leaders who see it as an obstacle to drastic housing reform in California’s coveted coastal regions.

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NOVEMBER 11, 2025

A splinter group of eight senators has voted with Republicans to end the government shutdown, which has lasted the past 41 days. The House is set to take up the measure as soon as tomorrow, though it will take some time to gather its members who have been on recess. If the legislation passes, it can be signed by President Trump, bringing the federal government back to life—at least until the spending agreement ends in January.

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NOVEMBER 9, 2025

On the heels of announcing its first roller coaster in 20 years, Legoland has revealed an entirely new land, called Lego Galaxy. The land is part of a $90 million investment that Merlin Entertainments, Legoland’s parent company, is making in its California and Florida theme parks. New attractions will be space-themed, including food and beverage outlets, retail, and new rides. The expansion is expected to fully open early next year after a three-year development.

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NOVEMBER 7, 2025

The Department of Transportation and FAA have directed a 10% reduction in flights at 40 of America’s busiest airports to offset air traffic controller shortages. The phased approach began last Friday with a 4% cut to flights and will step up to 10%. Analysts warn that Thanksgiving travel plans could be ruined or at least shifted, depending on how long the cuts continue. Even if the government reopens, recovery will still take time.

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NOVEMBER 5, 2025

According to a new survey by IATA, more travelers than ever are using their mobile devices and biometric technology during their air travel journey. The survey shows that 78% of passengers want to use a smartphone to book and pay for flights, as well as to navigate airport checkpoints. Biometric technology is also rapidly expanding at airports worldwide, and passenger use has risen by nearly 20 percentage points since 2022.

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