Los Angeles
New event era taking shape in LA
L os Angeles is entering a new
era for meetings and events, with a destination story that is evolving as quickly as the city itself. New cultural institutions are opening their doors, the Los Angeles Convention Center is preparing for a transformational expansion, a demonstration that the city is ready for the next generation of global gatherings.
The recently held FIFA World Cup 26™ offered a powerful preview of what is ahead. With eight matches at SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles put its venues, hospitality community and event infrastructure to work on a global stage. More importantly, the World Cup reinforced what will define LA28: Los Angeles is a no-build city, with the infrastructure and venues already in place to welcome the world. The experience gives the city a strong foundation to build on as it prepares for those 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which will make use of existing venues throughout Los Angeles.
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, opening 22 September in Exposition
Park, will bring a new cultural anchor to the city with a collection spanning art, film and popular culture, along with spaces designed for exhibitions, screenings and events. The forthcoming Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center at the California Science Center will add 200,000sq. ft. dedicated to Air, Space and Shuttle. For meeting planners, these institutions create opportunities to build programmes around storytelling, exploration and innovation, subjects deeply connected to the City of Angels.
Downtown is preparing for its own next chapter. The Los Angeles Convention Center expansion and modernisation will create a contiguous exhibit hall of more than 750,000sq. ft, along with additional meeting and multipurpose space. The investment is already translating into business: 13 major conferences have committed to Los Angeles because of the planned expansion, representing more than 103,000 attendees and an estimated $ 242m in economic impact.
“ Meetings and conventions are a powerful driver of Los Angeles’ visitor economy, generating billions in economic activity, supporting jobs and local businesses, and delivering critical tax revenues that benefit communities across the City of Angels,” says Adam Burke, president & CEO, Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board.“ These commitments demonstrate that investments in the Los Angeles Convention Center are already strengthening our ability to compete for the world’ s largest events. As organisations make decisions years in advance, their confidence in Los Angeles reflects the strong partnership among the City, the Convention Center, and our visitor industry. We’ re not just securing conventions. We’ re strengthening Los Angeles’ economy and creating lasting benefits for all Angelenos.”
Los Angeles Tourism is evolving its sales organisation alongside that momentum, aligning teams by geographic market while adding specialised expertise across industries including technology, financial services, life sciences, entertainment and sports. The structure gives planners more targeted knowledge and creates stronger connections among hotels, venues and destination partners.
Taken together, these developments reflect a city moving confidently into its next chapter. From major global events to new cultural destinations and expanded infrastructure, Los Angeles is creating more reasons to come now while laying the groundwork for what comes next. n
ISSUE 144 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / 27