ACCOMMODATIONS

Ace Hotel (Downtown) – The Ace Hotel has opened a new Broadway location in downtown L.A. The hip and artsy hotel resides in the historic United Artists building, which has been remodeled to include 180 hotel rooms with an array of amenities and a 1,600-seat entertainment venue that will showcase live performances. The hotel is also home to L.A. Chapter, the main restaurant concept, and a rooftop pool and bar. This location is the sixth Ace Hotel and the second location in California. www.acehotel.com/losangeles
Erika Oman-Nadine Johnson & Associates, Inc., 212.228.5555, erika@nadinejohnson.com

AKA Beverly Hills(Beverly Hills) – Guests of the AKA Beverly Hills can enjoy a new state-of-the-art private screening room called a.cinema. The 20-seat screening room can be reserved for private screenings, in addition to weekly screenings hosted by the hotel. www.stayaka.com/locations/beverly_hills/acinema.aspx
Dara Toulch, Ballantines PR, 310.454.3080, dara@ballentinespr.com

The Beverly Hills Hotel (Beverly Hills) – The iconic hotel has completed renovations of its pool area including the Cabana Café and private poolside cabanas. The newly renovated Cabana Café features a new show kitchen, pizza oven, separate bar area, and overhead trellis. As a result of the extensive kitchen upgrade, the Cabana Café will now offer dinner service. The private cabanas have been painted and installed with upgraded technology, and a Pool Terrace has been added, creating bi-level lounging space for guests. The Pool Terrace can also be used for private groups and events up to 100 people. www.beverlyhillshotel.com
Jenna Duran, 310.887.2595, Jenna.Duran@dorchestercollection.com

The Beverly Garland/The Garland (Hollywood) – The North Hollywood hotel has started an extensive hotel makeover to all guest rooms and public spaces. The makeover includes the addition of a new outdoor wedding venue. Additionally, The Beverly Garland's Tula's Café will be redesigned with a new concept by the hotel's new executive chef, Warren Schwartz, to be launched under a new name in early winter. In the interim, locals and hotel guests will be able to taste test and influence the new look and feel of Chef Warren's new restaurant with nightly dinner service that will resemble the personable and interactive experience of going to his house for dinner. The property's transition to an independent hotel, will be completed in summer 2014.
Hillary Preece, J Public Relations, 619.255.7069, Hillary@jpublicrelations.com

Hilton Los Angeles (Universal City) – The hotel has made a commitment to sustainable practices by implementing several energy efficient renovations to its property. The hotel utilized Los Angeles County PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) financing to fund $7 million worth of sustainable upgrades, making it the largest commercial PACE project to date in the U.S. Renovations include energy efficiency glass installations, new LED lighting, low-flow shower heads and the replacement of 250 bathtubs. This project will conserve more than 2.8 million gallons of water. www.hilton.com
Lori Briones, 818.509.2097, lbriones@hiltonuniversal.com 

Hilton Woodland Hills (The Valley) – The hotel is renovating their guest rooms and hotel lobby to create a new modern look for its hotel guests. www.woodlandhillshotel.com/
Tamara McLaughlin, 818.444.2593, tamara.mclaughlin@hilton.com

Holiday Inn Burbank Media Center (Burbank) – Located in downtown Burbank, the 485-room property has completed phase II of its three-phase $15 million renovation. Improvements were made to the suites, lobby, sales office, cocktail lounges, ballroom and commercial areas, and include new colors, furnishings and a contemporary image. With Phase II complete, guests can enjoy the newly designed People's Choice Restaurant, Casting Call Lounge, and Crystal View Lounge. Also new is the South Pacific Ballroom with a bar and outdoor garden park complete with waterfalls, koi ponds and romantic gazebo. The final phase, set to be complete by June 2014, involves completing room renovations and painting the exterior of the property. www.holidayinnburbank.com
Chris Haven, 818.841.4770, chaven@hiburbankmedia.com

Hotel Normandie (Downtown) – The historic Koreatown landmark reopened after a property-wide renovation to the 94-room hotel. To entice exploration of the neighborhood, Hotel Normandie is providing each guest with a special “K-Town Passport” upon check-in. The package is designed to encourage guests to embark on a pedestrian journey and contains a One Day Metro Pass, a map featuring a walking tour of the historic neon signs on Wilshire and a listing of the best authentic Korean BBQ restaurants and traditional spas in the area. The hotel will also be the new home to the iconic Cassell's Hamburgers. www.hotelnormandiela.com
Kris Ferraro-Jeff Wagner Agency, 323.461.1011, kris@jeffwagneragency.com

The Line (Downtown) – This Koreatown based property opened March 2014 and is the result of a partnership between The Sydell Group, noted chef Roy Choi, Sean Knibb, the Houston Brothers and art and design collective Poketo. The property resides on Wilshire Blvd. and will be home to Roy Choi's new restaurant POT, which will feature Korean cuisine through the eyes of an American. www.thelinehotel.com
Micheal Tavani, 212.604.0318, micheal@m18pr.com

Mondrian Los Angeles (West Hollywood) –Celebrity Chef Brian Malarkey of BRAVO's “Top Chef” and ABC's “The Taste,” alongsideEnlightened Hospitality Group partner and hospitality visionary James Brennan, have expanded their wildly popular restaurant group to L.A. by opening Herringbone at Mondrian Los Angeles. Herringbone L.A. serves its signature “fish meats field” cuisine. www.herringboneeats.com; www.mondrianhotel.com
Shelby Callas, 323.848.6085, shelby.callas@mhgc.com

Mr. C Beverly Hills (Beverly Hills) – The boutique hotel has just launched their new spa and fitness program. The new spa offers two massage and beauty treatment rooms, private locker rooms and a relaxation lounge. They offer a range of soothing massages and cleansing facials including the Mr. C Signature Facial and the Deep Cleansing Facial. www.mrchotels.com
Danielle Katz, 310.226.6265, dkatz@mrchotels.com

Residence Inn and Courtyard by Marriott (Downtown) — In June 2012, developers broke ground on the $172-million, 373,000-square-foot hotel project in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. The new hotel development comprises a 23-story high-rise, housing a 174-room Courtyard by Marriott and a 218-room Residence Inn by Marriott. The property, slated to open summer 2014, will include 11,754 square feet of meeting facilities and 5,100 square feet of restaurant space. www.LALIVE.com, www.news.marriott.com.
Laurie Goldstein, 301.380.5296, laurie.goldstein@marriott.com

The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles (Downtown) – Wolfgang Puck has debuted his new dining concept, NEST at WP24.Located on the 24th floor of The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles, the 4,100-square-foot NEST sits adjacent to Puck's popular modern Asian restaurant, WP24 and replaces the former WP24 lounge. Menu offerings include Asian-inspired snacks, appetizers, sushi and large plates. The expansive offerings will include items exclusive to NEST, as well as signature guest favorites from WP24's modern Chinese menu. www.ritzcarlton.com
Amy Campbell, 213.743.3664, amy.campbell@ritzcarlton.com

Sheraton Delfina/ Le Meridian Delfina (Santa Monica) – The Sheraton Delfina in Santa Monica has transformed into Le Meridian Delfina Santa Monica. Along with the new name, the hotel is undergoing a redesign to its lobby and other guest areas by implementing more art and Le Meridian brand characteristics. www.sheratondelfina.com
Ashley Chapman, 212.380.4015, ashley.chapman@starwoodhotels.com

Sheraton Los Angeles and Macy's Shopping Plaza/ THE BLOC (Downtown) – The historic downtown L.A. building is undergoing a $160 million transformation and name change into a modernized and street friendly destination called THE BLOC. Plans include opening up the structure to allow for more light, street-accessible stores and restaurants, and internal access to the Metro subway stop directly under the building. The building will still be anchored by Macy's, and more than 400,000 square feet of outdoor retail space providing visitors with prime dining and shopping locations. The 700,000-square-foot luxury office tower and 485-room Sheraton Hotel will be completely renovated to compliment the new premium shopping, dining, business and leisure destination. The renovation of the 2.4 million square foot property will begin early 2014 and is expected to be completed by fall 2015. www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton; www.theblocdowntown.com
Tim McGill, Sheraton Downtown Los Angeles, 213.612.2610, tim.mcgill@starwoodhotels.com; Elizabeth King, Macy's, 213.628.9311,elizabeth.king@macys.com; Spring Harris; The Bloc- Edelman for The Ratkovich Company, 323-761-6599, spring.harris@edelman.com

Sheraton Universal (Hollywood) – The Sheraton Universal has renovated its pool area, which includes a new pool deck and outdoor patio space for dining, a new pool bar that will be open 24 hours, and a new spa pool adjacent to the outdoor heated pool. The pool area also features eight cabanas equipped with TVs, wifi and heaters for guest use. www.sheratonuniversal.com
Richard Reeves, 818.509.2757, rreeves@sheratonuniversal.com

Suite 100 (Beverly Hills) – Five of Beverly Hills' most luxurious hotels have joined together to celebrate the city's 2014 centennial in a unique way. The Beverly Hills Hotel & Bungalows, Montage Beverly Hills, The Beverly Hilton, L'Ermitage Beverly Hills and The Peninsula Beverly Hills are participating in Suite 100, a hospitality promotion created by the Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau. For Suite 100, each hotel has redecorated one of its suites in an effort to transport guests who stay in the room back to moments in time from the past 100 years and showcase the legendary style of one of the world's most glamorous cities.
Karissa Fowler, 310.248.1015 x.204, fowler@lovebeverlyhills.com

AIRPORT / AIR SERVICE

British Airways (LAX) – The United Kingdom airline recently launched Airbus 380 direct service from Heathrow to Los Angeles (LAX). British Airways is the first UK carrier to take delivery of the double-decker A380, the world's largest commercial jet. www.britishairways.com
Nancy Castles, 310.646.5260, ncastles@lawa.org;

Emirates Airlines (LAX) – The Dubai-based air carrier has brought an A380 aircraft to LAX. The A380 is outfitted with 489 seats, including 14 first-class suites, 76 lie-flat beds in business class and 399 seats in economy. This plane will replace the smaller aircraft that is currently being used for the L.A./Dubai route. When this flight begins on June 1, LAX will service eight A380's, more than any other U.S. Airport. www.lawa.org
Nancy Castles, 310.646.5260, ncastles@lawa.org;

One World (LAX) – One World Airlines will expand its business lounge atLos Angeles' new Tom Bradley International Airport (TBIT). The new business lounge will be jointly owned by Qantas, Cathay Pacific and British Airways, with Qantas being the managing airline. The lounge will be more than double the size of the current lounge, offering almost 600 seats and will include a wine bar, open kitchen, a communal fire place and central glass atrium.When completed, travellers will be offered fresh, regional dishes, passed tray service and a buffet of self-service offerings. In addition to an extensive range of international wines, the wine bar will serve signature cocktails, bar snacks and full barista service. The new lounge is expected to open in the second half of 2014.
Nancy Castles, 310.646.5260, ncastles@lawa.org

Original Farmer's Market To Go (LAX) – The A.F. Gilmore Company, which owns and operates the Original Farmer's Market on 3rd and Fairfax, has teamed up with Delaware North Companies, one of the world's leading airport food service and retail companies, to create Farmers Market To Go. This miniature Farmer's Market inside Delta Airlines Terminal 5 will offer fresh produce, Mexican food from L.A.'s ¡Loteria! Grill and an assortment of snacks. Construction on the new dining and shopping area has started, with an expected opening of May 8, 2014. www.farmersmarketla.com
Ilysha Buss, 323.954.4231, ibuss@afgilmore.com

Renovation of Terminal 5 (LAX) – Delta Air Lines and Los Angeles World Airports have announced plans for a $229 million renovation of Terminal 5 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The construction project has already begun and is scheduled to take place in several phases with full completion in 2015. www.lawa.aero
Nancy Castles, 310.646.5260, ncastles@lawa.org;

Saudia Arabian Airlines (LAX) – On March 31, 2014, Saudia introduces its new nonstop flights from Saudi Arabia to Los Angeles. The flights from Riyadh and Jeddah to L.A. will be the fastest, most direct link between Saudi Arabia and the western region of the U.S. www.saudiairlines.com
Nancy Castles, 310.646.5260, ncastles@lawa.org;

Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT at LAX) — Final phases are complete for the $1.9-billion LAX project. The fresh new North Concourse gates come with a laser-based, visual guidance system to direct pilots into their gates, automated boarding bridges and a system that allows airlines to board passengers through as many as three doors on the double-decker Airbus A380. Within the new Great Hall, amenities include a play area, lounges, and 60 high-end shops and restaurants. Shops include Hermes and Gucci, and L.A.-based retailers Kitson and Fred Segal and L.A. restaurants include Border Grill, Umami and LAMILL. www.lawa.org
Nancy Castles, 310.646.5260, ncastles@lawa.org;

Volaris Airlines (Ontario) – Beginning April 2014, Volaris airlines will introduce its new direct route between Gualajara, Jalisco and Ontario International Airport making it easier for travel to Los Angeles. www.volaris.com
Nancy Castles, 310.646.5260, ncastles@lawa.org;

ARTS & CULTURE

The FORUM (Inglewood) – This historic concert and event venue reopened in January 2014, following a multi-million dollar renovation by new owner, Madison Square Garden Company. The interior of the bowl has been completely modernized and features flexible seating ranging from 8,000 to 17,500 seats; approximately 8,000 square feet of new event level hospitality offerings; and exclusive spaces for VIP customers including the historic Forum Club, themed with music-inspired detailing. www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com;
Larry Solters, Scoop Marketing, 818.761.6100, solters@solters.com

The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens (San Marino) – The museum has renovated andreopened the main exhibition hall of its historic library building, which debuted in 1920. The renovation includes a new, dynamic permanent exhibition, “Remarkable Works, Remarkable Times: Highlights from the Huntington Library,” designed to highlight the significance and uses of the library's incomparable collections of historical materials including Shakespeare's First Folio and a Civil War-era letter from Abraham Lincoln. www.huntington.org;
Thea M. Page, 626-405-2260, tpage@huntington.org

Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (Downtown) – The first museum in Southern California dedicated entirely to the Italian-American experience will open in 2014, in the historic Italian Hall adjacent to Olvera Street. The interactive museum will document the history and continuing contributions of Italian-Americans and highlight the once-vibrant Italian community in early Los Angeles. www.italianhall.org;
Marianna Gatto, 213.485.8432, mariann.gatto@lacity.org

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Westside)– To mark the 40th anniversary of the creation of the wrap dress by Diane von Furstenberg and her accomplished fashion career, LACMA is presenting the special exhibit “Journey of a Dress” inside the museum's historic Wilshire May Company building from through April 1, 2014. The exhibit includes vintage and contemporary von Furstenberg pieces along with portraits of the designer. The exhibit is included in LACMA admission. www.lacma.org 
Stephanie Sykes, 323.932.5883, ssykes@lacma.org

Natural History Museum (Downtown) – This year, to celebrate the Natural History Museum's new permanent exhibit “Becoming Los Angeles” and the opening of its nature lab and nature gardens, the museum presents the nighttime series First Fridays. The program will introduce a new line-up of discussion forums and explore L.A.'s natural history, wildlife and the ecology of urban habitats. www.nhm.org/firstfridays
Kristin Friedrich, 213-763-3532, kfriedri@nhm.org 

Museum of Neon Art (San Fernando Valley) — Located in Glendale, the new 10,000-square-foot museum site, opening in early 2014, will include permanent and rotating exhibition spaces as well as a neon fabricating facility, a café and gift shop. MONA will feature a permanent collection of more than 50 vintage neon signs and change exhibitions of contemporary neon art and kinetic art every six months. www.neonmona.org;
Kim Koga, Executive Director, 213.489.9918, info@neonmona.org 

The Skirball Museum (Westside) – The cultural center has introduced a new exhibit called “Global Citizen: The Architecture of Moshe Safdie,” which explores the evolution of the renowned architect's body of work and the humanistic design philosophy he has demonstrated throughout his nearly fifty-year-long career. www.skirball.org
Katie Klapper, 323.874.9667, Katie@katieklapper.com

Wende Museum (Westside) – In 2014, the Wende Museum will move its collection, including 10 pieces of the Berlin Wall, to a newer, larger location, near Culver Blvd. and Overland Ave. in Culver City. The collections of the Wende Museum concentrate on preservation of cultural, political artifacts and documentary materials that are at-risk or critical to scholarly investigation, and personal artifacts and histories of the Cold War. www.wendemuseum.org;
Justin Jampol, 310.216.1600, ext. 302, jjampol@wendemuseum.org

Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (Beverly Hills) –A new, $50-million venue for the performing arts opened October, 2013 in Beverly Hills. In addition to transforming and preserving the historic 1930s Beverly Hills Post Office into a 150-seat theater, the center will also include a 500-seat contemporary theater. The arts center will feature the finest in theatre, music, opera and dance from young performers around the world. www.annenbergbh.com.
Karissa Fowler, 310.248.1015 x.204, fowler@lovebeverlyhills.com

ATTRACTIONS

Grand Central Market (Downtown) – Grand Central Market, downtown L.A.'s open air marketplace since 1917, has opened several new stations including a brick and mortar version of food truck sensation Eggslut and a Thai vendor Sticky Rice. In 2014, Wexler's Deli, a ten-seat location will join the ranks of the continuously expanding marketplace now featuring nearly 40 food and retail outposts. www.grandcentralmarket.com
Jim Yeager, breakwhitelight, 424.644.0225, jim@breakwhitelight.com

Greenbar Collective Distillery (Downtown) – Greenbar Collective will open its first tasting room in spring 2014 in downtown, allowing visitors to sample from a selection of organic liquor. Since it's debut in 2004, Greenbar has grown to have the largest collection of craft organic liquor in the world. www.greenbar.biz
Mimi Mitrus, 213.375.3668, mimi@greenbar.biz

Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia) – In 2014 several new attractions are joining Six Flags Magic Mountain's thrilling line-up.  In the spring, BATMAN: The Ride and the classic Colossus will run backwards, for a limited time. In the summer, a pint-sized coaster will join the children's area, Bug's Bunny World, along with a new show in the Carrot Club Theater. Hurricane Harbor will also introduce two new thrill slides this year. www.sixflags.com/magicmountain
Sue Carpenter, 661.255.4817, smcarpen@sftp.com

Tongva Park (Santa Monica) – The famous beachfront city has opened a new $42.3 million park that sits between Ocean Ave. and Main Street, south of Colorado Ave. The new park includes fountains, observation decks, winding walkways, large lawns, picnic tables, and lots of play areas for kids. The park is open 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. daily. www.tongvapark.squarespace.com
Kelly Nagle, 310.319.6263, knagle@santamonica.com

Universal Studios Hollywood (Hollywood) – Coming this spring to Universal Studios Hollywood is the highly anticipated 3D experience, “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.” The 3D Ultra-HD motion simulator ride will bring the Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment blockbuster, “Despicable Me,” to life. The attraction is being adapted after the one at its sister park, Universal Orlando Resort, however it will have a few touches unique to Los Angeles. www.universalstudioshollywood.com
Audrey Eig, 818. 622.2962, audrey.eig@nbcuni.com.

SHOPPING

The Americana at Brand (Neighboring Cities) – The award-winning property will complete its $60 million development project in 2014 with the addition of Bourbon Steak, an award-winning steakhouse from celebrity chef Michael Mina, who cooks up modern American fare. The project includes the addition of Bar Verde, a new dining concept in Nordstrom and Din Taifung, an internationally known Asian eatery, serving famous steamed dumplings along with other traditional Asian fare. www.americanaatbrand.com
Liz Jaeger, ljaegar@carusoaffiliated.com

Beverly Center (Beverly Hills) –The L.A. native store Kitson has unveiled plans for expansion and a new format to its line of L.A.-based stores, starting with the addition of a new location in the Beverly Center in Beverly Hills. The new 8,000-square-foot location will include all Kitson store categories including men's, women's, kid's and gifts. www.shopkitson.com
pr@shopkitson.com

FIG&7th (Downtown) –The newest downtown Los Angeles shopping area, FIG&7th is continuously adding new retailers, and this spring the property will welcome several brands to their line-up of stores. ZARA and H&M will open flagship locations in the mall. Other openings this spring include a 1,030-square-foot Sunglass Hut, 8,400-square-foot Victoria's Secret and 2,750-square-foot Bath & Body Works.www.figat7th.com
Patrice Hopper, 213.330.8020, Patrice.hopper@brookfieldproperties.com

Santa Monica Place (Santa Monica) – The iconic beachside shopping center has announced plans to build a movie theater. The new multiplex will replace the L3 event space in the mall that has remained vacant since the recent remodel. www.santamonicaplace.com
Shoshana Puccia, 310-260-8300,Shoshana.Puccia@macerich.com

L.A. TOURISM PROGRAMS

African American Heritage Tour (Citywide) – Los Angeles, home to one of the largest populations of Black Americans, celebrates the city's ethnic diversity with the launch of a three-day, self-guided African American Heritage Tour. From well-known African American cultural finds like the California African American Museum (CAAM) and Leimert Park Village, to hidden historical treasures like Biddy Mason Park and the Battleship USS IOWA, this comprehensive guide highlights Black Angeleno's pivotal impact on the fabric of L.A. The entire tour can be viewed at: www.discoverlosangeles.com/blog/discover-african-american-culture-los-angeles
Molly Morgan, 213.236.2369, mmorgan@LATourism.org

Car Free L.A. (Citywide) – Designed as an eco-tourism initiative launched Earth Day 2013, Car Free L.A. now offers nine expertly-tailored, self-guided tours to help travelers explore the city's various neighborhoods via foot, bike and Metro. New additions include Discover LGBT Car Free and Discover Beverly Hills and Santa Monica Car Free. Car free vacation itineraries can be found at visit www.discoverLosAngeles.com/CarFreeLA.
Molly Morgan, 213.236.2369, mmorgan@LATourism.org

dineLA's Restaurant Week (Citywide) –Diners can get a taste of the vibrant L.A. restaurant scene with specially-priced meals July 14-25, 2014, during dineLA's Restaurant Week. dineLA features $15, $20 and $25 lunch menus and $25, $35 and $45 dinner menus from hundreds of L.A. County's most exciting restaurants. From lobster tacos and ceviche along the coast to osso bucco and bruschetta in downtown, dineLA's Restaurant Week is the perfect opportunity to explore L.A.'s diverse neighborhoods, cuisines and dining experiences at a great value.

For more information about travel experiences in Los Angeles, go to the official visitor information website of Los Angeles at www.discoverLosAngeles.com, join the more than one million people who follow L.A. Tourism's Facebook page at facebook.com/LosAngelesFan or follow @discoverLA on Twitter and Instagram.

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