ARTICLE
For 125 years, the City of Redondo Beach has had a long-standing history of being a premier destination for tourists from around the world. In the late 1800’s, railroad tycoon Henry Huntington led a group of investors who worked to position Redondo Beach as a destination city for generations to come. Tourism is in the fabric of what makes Redondo Beach such a special place. Let’s fast forward to today. Redondo Beach is still seen as a desirable destination for tourism. While we still have a lot to do in efforts to revitalize areas such as our waterfront, the galleria, and other major commercial corridors that attract visitors to Redondo Beach, we continue to see growth in a thriving local tourism industry. The City of Redondo Beach benefits greatly from tourism in many ways. Obviously, there is a benefit to local businesses as visitors spend money in Redondo Beach creating jobs and generating sales tax for the city to invest in essential city services that promote a better quality of life for residents. The city also greatly benefits from the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) or “Hotel Tax”. In 1964, Redondo Beach’s city council passed the city’s first TOT ordinance. This brought money to the city’s general fund. The TOT has been updated many times over the years, with the most recent in 2005. Today, the 12% tax on Redondo’s visitors not only helps the city by contributing to the general fund, it also helped to create the city’s visitors’ bureau to help promote the city and the tourism based businesses. Why is this important? In today’s tourism industry, cities and their visitor’s bureaus aggressively compete to promote their local tourism industries. To keep Redondo Beach as a premier destination as we have since the city was founded 125 years ago, we must be able to promote all that Redondo Beach offers travelers from around the globe. In turn, more people visiting our great city equals more financial resources for the city to support the substantial city services and quality of life we have all come to expect and appreciate as residents. Let’s hope the next 125 years will be as successful for the local tourism industry as the first 125. Let’s work to ensure there is always “More to Sea” in Redondo Beach.
For 125 years, the City of Redondo Beach has had a long-standing history of being a premier destination for tourists from around the world. In the late 1800’s, railroad tycoon Henry Huntington led a group of investors who worked to position Redondo Beach as a destination city for generations to come. Tourism is in the fabric of what makes Redondo Beach such a special place.
Let’s fast forward to today. Redondo Beach is still seen as a desirable destination for tourism. While we still have a lot to do in efforts to revitalize areas such as our waterfront, the galleria, and other major commercial corridors that attract visitors to Redondo Beach, we continue to see growth in a thriving local tourism industry.
The City of Redondo Beach benefits greatly from tourism in many ways. Obviously, there is a benefit to local businesses as visitors spend money in Redondo Beach creating jobs and generating sales tax for the city to invest in essential city services that promote a better quality of life for residents. The city also greatly benefits from the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) or “Hotel Tax”.
In 1964, Redondo Beach’s city council passed the city’s first TOT ordinance. This brought money to the city’s general fund. The TOT has been updated many times over the years, with the most recent in 2005. Today, the 12% tax on Redondo’s visitors not only helps the city by contributing to the general fund, it also helped to create the city’s visitors’ bureau to help promote the city and the tourism based businesses.
Why is this important? In today’s tourism industry, cities and their visitor’s bureaus aggressively compete to promote their local tourism industries. To keep Redondo Beach as a premier destination as we have since the city was founded 125 years ago, we must be able to promote all that Redondo Beach offers travelers from around the globe. In turn, more people visiting our great city equals more financial resources for the city to support the substantial city services and quality of life we have all come to expect and appreciate as residents.
Let’s hope the next 125 years will be as successful for the local tourism industry as the first 125. Let’s work to ensure there is always “More to Sea” in Redondo Beach.