City Extends Contract With Visit Laguna Beach: Laguna Beach City Council

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Laguna Beach City councilmembers voted to approve a 10-year renewal with the city's visitor's bureau, Visit Laguna Beach, during Tuesday's city council meeting.

The vote comes following two public hearings on May 6 and June 10, which were highly-attended by the public.

The unanimous decision means that the bureau, which is funded by the Laguna Beach Tourism Marketing District, will receive roughly $1.8 million annually for its work in expanding tourism in Laguna Beach.

According to the city, the Laguna Beach Tourism Marketing District was established in 2001 and was created "to support lodging businesses by funding tourism promotion, cultural programming, and economic development."

The LBTMD is funded by a 2 percent assessment on short-term lodging stays, the city said.

City Council members are expected to allocate roughly $3 to $3.3 million in the first year of the renewed contract to the LBTMD. The bureau must share the LBTMD funds with the Laguna Beach Arts Commission, Laguna College of Art & Design, Laguna Playhouse, Laguna Art Museum and more.

Visit Laguna Beach will receive about 60 percent of that total — around $1.8 million annually.