
Communication Matters More Than Ever During Global Events Like FIFA 2026
'Communication is central,' said John Furlong, former head of Vancouver's 2010 Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC), in a recent CTV interview. LAT Multilingual worked closely with VANOC at the time, ensuring all communications were translated promptly. Now, the team is once again ready to support businesses and destinations in making FIFA 2026 a memorable success.
'In the months leading up to the World Cup, locals and visitors need to understand what's coming and how they can make the most of this major event,' said Julie Wong-Gravend, President of LAT Multilingual. 'Multilingual and culturally relevant communication is essential.'
From signage and menus to websites and digital campaigns, clear and inclusive communication fosters understanding. It also creates opportunities for destinations beyond host cities to engage travellers planning extended stays or day trips during the tournament.
Global events require globally minded strategies. To connect effectively, content must be adapted to reach people in their own language and on their preferred platforms. Translation, campaign localization, multilingual social media, and cultural training are all essential parts of a truly global communication approach.
'Global visibility starts with local readiness,' Wong-Gravend added. 'Businesses can play a meaningful role in creating a welcoming environment for visitors by showing up in the right language, on the right platform, and with the right tone.'
About LAT Multilingual
Founded in 1999, LAT Multilingual is a women-owned, ISO-certified, B Corp company specializing in translation, cultural adaptation, and multicultural marketing. With offices in Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto, LAT helps organizations of all sizes connect authentically with diverse audiences. By combining linguistic expertise with culturally informed strategies, LAT delivers trusted quality, meaningful results, and a commitment to ethical, inclusive business practices.
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- Yahoo
Woodman-Wickliffe lines up 'one last ride' for Black Ferns at World Cup
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an hour ago
- New York Times
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Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
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When Marni Lustig saw a flier for the Save Our Services campaign, she didn't immediately grasp what she was reading. The flier appeared to be about Los Angeles' budget crisis, potential layoffs of city workers and possible cuts to public services. But when she spotted a sentence about expanding short-term rentals, she realized the campaign applied directly to her. Lustig, a fashion photographer, already rents her Pico-Robertson home on Airbnb. She said she would buy another home in L.A. and rent it too, if the campaign achieves its goal of legalizing short-term rentals of second homes — which, according to supporters, would generate tax revenue to help address the budget crisis. 'I'd like to be able to buy in L.A., but because we're not allowed to [rent second homes] here, I've been looking outside of the city. So they'll get my money, not L.A.,' Lustig said. In the last few weeks, residents around the city have been flooded with fliers hung on their doors and canvassers polling them about Save Our Services. Some of the fliers don't mention short-term rentals and only describe the budget crisis while including a QR code for the campaign's website. That website paints a grim picture of the city's finances and proposes a solution: allowing 'a limited number of people to rent their second homes to travelers.' Supporters say the plan could generate about $80 million in tax revenue annually, especially as tourists descend on Los Angeles for the 2026 World Cup, 2027 Super Bowl, and 2028 Olympics. 'We can generate millions in new tourism revenue dedicated for L.A.'s long-term recovery — paid for by tourists, not taxpayers,' the website says. 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City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez, a former Unite Here organizer, said he learned of Save Our Services when he came across a flier in his parents' South L.A. neighborhood. 'It doesn't say Airbnb on it, but this is something that Airbnb has been pushing for years, and they're using what I think is pretty deceptive tactics to try to get sympathy from the public,' Soto-Martínez said. When the City Council debated a home sharing ordinance in 2018, Airbnb pushed for second homes to be included. But the council limited the final version to primary residences, in part to avoid decreasing the number of long-term rental properties amid a housing crisis. Airbnb confirmed that it is involved in Save Our Services but declined to say whether it has contributed any money to the campaign and did not respond to questions about its exact role. 'It's pretty simple: new tax revenue from tourists can give Los Angeles much-needed funding for city services and union jobs that are at risk,' said Justin Wesson, senior public policy manager for Airbnb. Wesson said that Airbnb has organized a 'diverse coalition' for the campaign and will continue to 'support practical short-term rental policies that balance the benefits of tourism with community needs.' The campaign does not appear to be registered with the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, according to the commission's website, and Airbnb did not immediately respond to a question about whether the campaign has registered. Anyone who spends $5,000 or more to attempt to influence municipal legislation, and who is not a lobbyist, is required to register with the commission as a 'major filer' and report their spending. A commission spokesperson said there was no record of a major filer report from Airbnb after 2016. Airbnb said in an email that 70% of the 50,000 people polled by canvassers supported the Save Our Services campaign. The campaign website notes that the additional tax revenue would come in two streams: an estimated $38 million from the sales tax generated by tourists spending money at local businesses and another $41 million from the transient occupancy tax of 14% on short-term rentals. The city of Los Angeles faced a $1-billion budget shortfall this year, closing the gap through proposed layoffs and other cuts. The financial woes are likely to continue for several years, amid weak tax revenues, skyrocketing legal payouts and increasingly expensive union contracts. Critics of Save Our Services said that Airbnb hosts often evade the transient occupancy tax and that the city should step up its enforcement of the tax instead of opening up more homes for short-term rentals. Randy Renick, executive director of Better Neighbors LA, which focuses on regulating short-term rentals, said evading the tax is 'the fundamental issue,' with some Airbnb hosts claiming their residences are outside city limits. Maria Hernandez, a spokesperson for Unite Here, which is part of the Better Neighbors LA coalition, said an increase in short-term rentals would exacerbate the city's housing shortage by removing units from the long-term market. 'We are facing a housing crisis for working people, and this only makes it worse,' Hernandez said. 'The way for the city to address its budget crisis is to enforce existing laws, fining the landlords who illegally convert housing to hotels, and making sure the platforms actually pay the taxes they avoid.' The campaign has created some strange bedfellows. The hotel industry and Unite Here have battled over a $30 hotel and airport worker minimum wage, among other issues, but have aligned against Save Our Services. City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who often spars with Soto-Martínez, also opposes the campaign, saying she doesn't want to create an incentive for people to buy up properties and turn them into short-term rentals. She added that the city's limited housing stock should be for the people who live and work here. 'It's where I actually align with my colleague,' she said of Soto-Martínez. Still, Save Our Services supporters say a short-term rental expansion would be an effective way to raise revenue. 'Labor, community, housing, business, and civic organizations have come together to find immediate and practical solutions that would help generate nearly $80 million in new annual revenue to save jobs and services, protect Angelenos' livelihoods, and stabilize the city's finances,' said Eric Tate, executive secretary treasurer for Teamsters Joint Council 42, in a statement.