MAY 25, 2026
The California gubernatorial race has become the latest testing ground for modern digital campaigning, which in the last ten years has morphed from individual politicians doing stunts to go viral on Facebook to a system of paid outreach to creators in exchange for their support and promotion.
Read MoreMAY 20, 2026
Long a force in presidential politics — most recently through its opposition to Donald Trump — the industry is entering the California midterms with a more urgent, self-interested agenda, driven less by celebrity donors and national or international causes than by workers and executives alarmed that California could lose its signature business.
Read MoreMAY 20, 2026
U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman has expressed frustration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection's plan to scale back a proposal mandating travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries to provide five years of social media history.
Read MoreMAY 18, 2026
Americans are preparing for a busy summer travel season, with younger travelers planning multiple trips and increasingly relying on AI tools to research and book their vacations, according to PwC’s U.S. Consumer Poll on Summer Spending.
Read MoreMAY 15, 2026
CalTravel Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy Emellia Zamani joined CalChamber and others to participate in a press conference supporting Senator Anna Caballero at a news conference promoting her bill SB 690 on May 13 at the state Capitol.
Read MoreMAY 11, 2026
AAA projected that 45 million Americans traveled at least 50 miles from home for Memorial Day between Thursday, May 21 and Monday, May 25. This year’s domestic travel forecast is slightly higher than last year and sets a new Memorial Day weekend record with 39.1 million people traveling by car and 3.66 million expected to fly to their destinations.
Read MoreAPRIL 23, 2026
Last week, California’s six leading candidates for governor squared off on the debate stage. It was the first chance for voters to hear from the candidates following former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s exit from the race. Republicans Steve Hilton, a former Fox News commentator, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco were joined on the Democratic side by former Rep. Katie Porter, billionaire activist Tom Steyer, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan.
Read MoreAPRIL 23, 2026
More than 120 civil society organizations have issued a travel advisory warning of safety risks for fans, players, and journalists attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the U.S. The advisory highlights risks including arrest, deportation, electronic device searches, and violent immigration enforcement, among others. The groups also allege that travelers from immigrant communities, racial and ethnic minority groups, and LGBTQ+ individuals face an outsized risk.
Read MoreAPRIL 22, 2026
According to a new report commissioned by Sports Events and Tourism Association (Sports ETA), sports-related travel in the United States generated $111.2 billion in direct economic impact in 2025, with a larger, indirect economic impact of $274.5 billion.
Read MoreAPRIL 21, 2026
In 2025, travel and tourism spending rose in California, despite a $1 billion decline from international visitors. Statewide, travel spending reached $158.9 billion, a 1.7% increase from $156.2 billion in 2024; but only an 0.8% increase when adjusted for inflation.
Read MoreAPRIL 21, 2026
According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index's Travel Study 2026, lodging, airlines, car rentals, rideshare, and online travel agencies all are posting gains. Airlines soared 3% to a score of 76—one point off its all-time high in 2024—same as car rentals, rideshare, and online travel agencies, all up 1%. Lodging is slightly ahead, improving 1% to a score of 77.
Read MoreAPRIL 20, 2026
People are drinking less alcohol these days. For California’s wine country, that means finding ways to expand its tourism appeal beyond the tasting rooms. The destination is evolving from solely a wine mecca to appeal to younger and more diverse travelers who are interested less in alcohol and more in experiences.
Read MoreAPRIL 16, 2026
The U.S. Travel Association hosted its Destination Capitol Hill event in Washington, DC earlier this month. During the two-day fly-in event, nearly 300 travel and tourism leaders from 49 states met with members of Congress to advocate for key policy changes shaping the future of travel.
APRIL 10, 2026
California has launched the Salton Sea Conservancy, a new state agency to oversee restoration, manage habitat, and improve air quality at the deteriorating inland lake. The conservancy board will hold its first meeting in La Quinta on May 14, to plan projects to rehabilitate the lake. Those include replanting native vegetation, increasing the flow of fresh water, and creating wildlife habitat along the banks of the Salton Sea.
Read MoreAPRIL 10, 2026
A mix of geopolitical tensions, rising fuel costs, and an uncertain economic climate may be pushing many American travelers toward closer-to-home destinations. New data shows domestic U.S. hotel and air bookings growing steadily through the first quarter of 2026, outpacing international growth. Interest dropped for several markets in the Middle East, North Africa, and some Europe destinations, while markets like California and New York saw increases.
Read MoreAPRIL 9, 2026
Senate Bill 1246, authored by Sen. Cortese (D-San Jose), would require robotaxi companies to bolster their labor forces with remote drivers who are based in the U.S. and licensed to drive in California. Representatives of AV companies are pushing back. Sarah Boot, an industry lobbyist, noted that California has already passed regulations that compel the companies to monitor each AV beginning in July and shouldn’t layer on a second system before the first is implemented.
Read MoreAPRIL 9, 2026
Many small businesses and nonprofits are being hit with costly lawsuits under a wiretapping law—the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA)—written in the 1960s, long before the internet even existed. These lawsuits target businesses simply for using standard website tools that help companies understand customer needs, improve services, and remain competitive in a digital economy. Defending against these lawsuits can cost tens of thousands of dollars or more.
Read MoreAPRIL 8, 2026
Hotel associations in three World Cup host cities—San Francisco, New York City, and Philadelphia—say they have not seen a surge in demand so far. In recent weeks, FIFA also canceled tens of thousands of reserved rooms in host cities. Last year, FIFA forecasted a $30.5 billion economic boost to the U.S. But just two months out, it’s still unclear if foreign visitors will come in the numbers necessary to drive the promised economic boost.
Read MoreAPRIL 6, 2026
As international tourism to the United States continues its downward trajectory, many destination leaders, hotels, and resorts are increasingly shifting their attention to wooing domestic travelers. Tyler Gosnell, managing director of international inbound travel for U.S. Travel, has watched the shifting landscape and suggests the current, intense focus on domestic consumers may not prove beneficial over the long term.
Read MoreAPRIL 3, 2026
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump proposed to begin privatizing airport security operations handled by the TSA, in an effort to save money. The White House budget proposes cutting funding for the federal agency by $52 million and would require small airports to enroll in a program in which TSA pays for private screeners. Cuts to the airport security agency would come at a critical time for air travel with rising concerns about air safety and staffing shortages.
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