Santa Monica Travel & Tourism (SMTT) has wrapped its Australasian roadshow, engaging with more than 100 key industry leaders and luxury travel advisors.
Events took place in Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland and Melbourne, highlighted Santa Monica’s position as a premier coastal base for travellers attending Southern California’s major sporting events.
With Super Bowl LXI in 2027 and the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon, the destination is ideally placed to welcome Australian sports fans.
Throughout the roadshow, SMTT representatives Rachel Lozano, Chief People Officer, and Aleksandr Sigalus, Director of Global Business Development, were joined by Kier Matthews, Head of Global Luxury Sales at On Location, for a series of bespoke sales calls with leading travel advisors and wholesalers.
Coinciding with the historic NFL Melbourne game with the San Francisco 49ers against the LA Rams, SMTT showcased how its partnership with On Location can connect travellers with official premium hospitality packages and curated experiences alongside Santa Monica’s renowned coastal lifestyle.
Key engagements included a series of curated VIP events designed to strengthen relationships with leading industry partners and luxury travel advisors, hosted at venues including Café Sydney and Stokehouse in Melbourne.
In Brisbane, the delegation also hosted an exclusive breakfast with senior Flight Centre Travel Group executives, providing an opportunity for targeted engagement with one of the region’s key travel trade partners.
The delegation showcased Santa Monica’s eight distinct neighbourhoods, 5.5-kilometre coastline and evolving accommodation offering. Collectively, the destination’s hotel sector has benefitted from more than $US200 million in recent investments and upgrades.
Misti Kerns, President & CEO at SMTT, said Australia and New Zealand remain strategically important markets for the destination.
“The enthusiasm and engagement we experienced throughout the roadshow was incredibly encouraging,” she said.
“Australia and New Zealand continue to be among our most valuable markets, particularly within the luxury travel space where travellers are seeking authentic coastal experiences, exceptional dining and personalised itineraries.
“With a remarkable lineup of major events approaching, our partnership with On Location allowed us to demonstrate how travellers can combine a stay in Santa Monica with access to some of the world’s most exciting sporting and entertainment events.”
