USA | California's Ontario International Airport has had a great impact on the greater Ontario hospitality industry.
Hospitality and tourism generated a record USD 110 million in economic impact in Greater Ontario this past year, fortifying the region's role as Southern California's fastest-growing destination, according to an annual report released this past week by Greater Ontario California.
The report showed Greater Ontario's hospitality industry plays a critical role in the Inland Empire's emergence as one of the most dynamic population and economic centres in the United States. Currently, Greater Ontario's Tourism Marketing District features 68 hotels and 6,749 hotel rooms, and is the hub of a growing regional hospitality scene that employs 186,000 workers in the Inland Empire.
"In the past year alone, the economic impact of hospitality and tourism in Greater Ontario grew by nearly 14 percent, a staggering number that speaks to just how far we have come as a region," said Michael Krouse, GOCAL's Chief Executive Officer.
"We are the new centre of Southern California. It's where people are coming to live. It's where people are coming to work. And it's where visitors from all over the world are coming to enjoy themselves."
One year after GOCAL rebranded itself to better leverage tourism and hospitality opportunities across the region, the results speak for themselves. According to the newly released 2023-24 annual report, Greater Ontario's Tourism Marketing District booked more than 87,000 hotel nights during the year, exceeding its goal by 145 percent. Rental bookings and food and beverage sales at the Ontario Convention Center grew by seven percent and 32 percent, respectively, over the prior year and exceeded their goals by 129 percent and 104 percent.
Krouse noted that collaboration with ONT has further positioned Greater Ontario as a premier international destination. The airport is on track to exceed seven million passengers this year – up 75 percent since its return to local ownership in 2016 – including more than 500,000 international travellers.
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