Michael Gurrieri, Chief Marketing Officer for Santa Monica Travel and Tourism spoke to our

Club this week, giving insight to the importance of tourism to Santa Monica. Santa Monica Travel & Tourism (SMTT) is a private, non-profit corporation formed in 1982 and is funded by the City of Santa Monica’s general fund and the Tourism Marketing District (TMD) assessment. The purpose of SMTT is to promote Santa Monica as a conference, business, and leisure travel destination. As a sales and service organization, SMTT acts as the marketing representative for local businesses and the community as a whole.

Mr. Gurrieri shared how tourism is a benefit to Santa Monica and how we can work with SMTT. He offered statistics on the average visitor to our city and the economic impact that tourism brings along with the ways SMTT is giving back to residents. He also shared what drives SMTT.

Mission: Santa Monica Travel & Tourism works to strengthen our local economy by enhancing and promoting our community as a distinctive, compelling, and welcoming travel destination.

Vision: To ensure Santa Monica is recognized as the premier beach-city destination in the world.

Brand Promise: Santa Monica…an unforgettable beach city experience filled with eye-catching people, cutting edge culture and bold innovations. It’s the essence of the California lifestyle.

Economic Impact of Tourism in Santa Monica in 2022

Tourism jobs that stay in Santa Monica and cannot be exported.

Total Annual Visitor Spending 28% INCREASE from 2021.

Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Generated by Santa Monica Hotels directly to the City of Santa Monica’s general fund 41% INCREASE from 2021.

INCREASE in total number of visitors to Santa Monica over 2021.

Retail Sales Tax Revenue Generated from Visitors into the City of Santa Monica’s General Fund

22% INCREASE from 2021.

The estimated amount of money each Santa Monica household would have to pay in taxes to maintain city services if tourism revenues and the Trancient Occupancy Tax (TOT) did not exist. Source: Tourism Economic Impact & Visitor Profile 2022, Lauren Schlau Cosulting and CIC Research, Inc for Santa Monica Travel & Tourism | Find these Statistics online at santamonica.com

Community Relations programs are an important aspect of SMTT’s effort to be inclusive of

community.

• Extra Bedroom Campaign

• Restaurant week – looking to bring back

The Santa MoniCARES foundation launched in 2017 as a coalition of representatives from Santa Monica Travel & Tourism and community partners. The mission of Santa MoniCARES is to harness the hospitable nature and generosity of Santa Monica’s tourism industry and provide support to our local nonprofit agencies. Santa MoniCARES will focus on community engagement through a series of events and activities that further promote our efforts.

In the Q & A period following Mr. Gurrieri’s presentation he and his colleagues informed and inspired our members to continue to engage in welcoming visitors to our community.

Andrea Gressinger and Vicky Curtis announced that the International Food and Wine Festival

net income for this year was $100,357.00.

Carol Powell was honored as our Rotarian Of The Month for March. Chosen this March 2023, in appreciation to Carol for the many ways her hard work and dedication make our Club better for all of us. From welcoming and signing in members and guests at the back table, to helping set up and break down all the gear and equipment used for our meetings, to spearheading the live and silent auctions for the Wine Festival, to planning last December’s Holiday Party, and coordinating food and refreshments for our upcoming Dethroning Celebration, amongst many other things, we acknowledge Carol’s inspirational example and contributions which greatly enhance our Club for all our members.

Congratulations to Donna Byrd, our newest Paul Harris Society member, as Judy Neveau

presented her with a Paul Harris Society Certificate and Chevron for her Rotary Pin.

It was very nice to have Rose Mary Regalbuto back in our live meetings from her rehab.

A very special Happy Birthday was celebrated for Rotarians born in the months of March and

April with sweet treats.

April 21st Live @ HILTON

The presentation “The Ballona Wetlands Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow” will explain the history of the wetlands, their importance to the community and the watershed, the state of the wetlands today, the programs the Friends of Ballona Wetlands operate in the Ecological Reserve, and the large-scale restoration planned by the State of California.

Speaker: Neysa Frechette, Field Biologist & Manager of Scientific Programs

Host Rotarian Introducer: Andrea Gressinger

Hilton Santa Monica 1707 Fourth Street

Cost: $68 includes lunch for visiting Rotarians and guests

April 28th on ZOOM

Speaker: Dan Witzling, National Managing Director, Diversity Equity Inclusion Programs for American Cancer Society

Join us as Dan presents on what the America Cancer Society is doing to fight cancer and the Health Equity Imperative. He will share information about the latest impacts, demonstrate some myths/facts, offer some insights to help us improve our understanding and conclud with clear and action-oriented steps that we can each take.

Host Rotarian Introducer: Nat Trives

Zoom Host: Len Lanzi

Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/94645950168?pwd=YWNiaEJ6R2ZWdjN5a09kUmt4NEVjZz09

RCSM MEETING ZOOM LINK

You can view our meeting on zoom using the RCSM link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/94645950168?pwd=YWNiaEJ6R2ZWdjN5a09kUmt4NEVjZz09

Visit our Web Site www.rotaryclubofsantamonica.org for more information on our calendar of events and to join us on Zoom.

The Rotary Club of Santa Monica is proud to partner with the Santa Monica College Guardian Scholars Program (for foster or former foster youth) to offer two different volunteer opportunities!

Career Guest Speaker Series!
Date/Time: Tuesdays or Thursdays in April and May from noon to 1 pm (exact date can be arranged to suit the schedule of the speaker)

Location: Virtual (Zoom link will be provided)

What: Speak to foster and former foster youth who are students at SMC about your career!
Note: Other SMC students in need may also attend the session.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Sharon Gavin at sgaron@villamalka.com

SM ROTARY UP AND COMING SOCIAL EVENTS CALENDAR

REMINDERS:

April 22nd – Camp Pendleton Collection

April 23rd – Day of Service At JAMS!

April 26th – Arbor Day Tree Planting

April 27th – Rotary Means Business Mixer

May 2nd – First Tuesday – Jonah’s Kitchen

May 4 – Book Club Live@Kathy’s house – we are reading “susan, linda, nina & cokie: The Extraordinary Story of the Founding Mothers of NPR” by Lisa Napoli

May 4th – 7th – District Conference

May 13th – SAMOHI Beautification (more info to come)

May 20th – District Assembly

June 24th – Dethroning @ Tom & Stephanie Loo’s House

Curious about Upcoming Rotary Programs? Go to
https://www.rotaryclubofsantamonica.org/events-calendar/