Los Angeles tourism officials monitor impact of immigration protests
Los Angeles tourism officials are monitoring the potential impact of protests against the federal government's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Those protests stretched into a seventh day on Thursday.
The protests began on June 6, following a series of controversial ICE raids across Los Angeles, including in Downtown L.A. The situation escalated on June 7, when President Donald Trump authorized the deployment of around 2,000 National Guard personnel to the greater Los Angeles area, and later added approximately 700 Marines, despite opposition from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
In response to continuing unrest, Mayor Bass has issued a curfew for Downtown Los Angeles from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., which remains in effect. The curfew area includes downtown L.A. neighborhoods Chinatown and the Arts District as well as the L.A. Live entertainment district.
The Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board issued a statement on its website, reassuring travelers that "the greater Los Angeles region remains open for business."
"Visitors are advised to stay informed, follow local guidance and steer clear of areas experiencing temporary disruptions," the tourism board said, encouraging Downtown L.A. visitors to track updates via the city's NotifyLA mass notification system.
The organization also warned that visitors could be impacted by transportation disruptions, citing potential "delays or detours in Metro bus and rail services, especially in and around Downtown Los Angeles" due to protests.
Hotels in impacted and surrounding areas are open. A spokesperson for the Conrad Los Angeles, located in the heart of Downtown L.A., confirmed that the property "remains open and fully operational."
Tom Kiely, CEO of Visit West Hollywood, called the protests "concerning."
"We are monitoring our short-term trends to see what impact these protests might have on our West Hollywood hotel bookings," said Kiely. "So far we don't see any significant impact, but if the protests continue for a while, that might change."
During a June 11 media event in New York hosted by Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Frederic Zemmour, general manager of L'Ermitage Beverly Hills, told attendees that the hotel is already seeing some cancellations.
"Don't cancel," he urged potential visitors. "Los Angeles is very safe."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
24 minutes ago
- CBS News
"No Kings" protests planned across Southern California on Saturday
While President Trump attends a military parade for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army on Saturday, which coincides with his 79th birthday, hundreds of protests are planned nationwide. The movement, "No Kings," is designed as a "nationwide day of defiance" in counter to Mr. Trump's parade, according to organizers. "On June 14—Flag Day—President Trump wants tanks in the street and a made-for-TV display of dominance for his birthday," the "No Kings" website reads. "A spectacle meant to look like strength. But real power isn't staged in Washington. It rises up everywhere else." WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 09: Marine One lands at the White House with U.S. President Donald Trump behind workers putting up a riser in front of the White House ahead of the Army's 250th birthday parade and celebration on June 09, 2025 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Army will mark its 250th anniversary with a parade along the National Mall that will include 6,500 troops, 150 vehicles and 50 aircraft. Kayla Bartkowski / Getty Images In response to the planned gatherings, Mr. Trump told reporters that he doesn't "feel like a king." "I have to go through hell to get stuff approved," he said. Organizers say nonviolence is the "core principle" of gatherings and pleaded with attendees to leave weapons at home and de-escalate any conflicts. The "No Kings" protests are scheduled in all 50 states, parts of Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe and even Africa. Dozens of protests are planned across Southern California on Saturday in response to the military parade being held in Washington D.C. No Kings website Locally in Southern California, dozens of "No Kings" protests are planned. A full list of events can be found here, but some are listed below: Los Angeles County Ventura County Orange County Inland Empire
CBS News
25 minutes ago
- CBS News
Trump set to attend first day of Iowa State Fair in August
Washington — President Trump intends to open the Iowa State Fair on the first day of the 11-day event in August, according to sources familiar with the plan, revisiting a presidential campaign ritual in a state that helped deliver his return to the White House. Mr. Trump's visit, marked on the White House calendar for Aug. 7, is seen as an effort to shore up farm country for Republicans and to help celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation's independence. Vice President JD Vance is also planning to attend the fair, but on a different day, according to one of the sources. Further details are expected to be locked in by late June. White House spokespeople declined to comment. Mr. Trump was last at the Iowa State Fair in August 2023, five months before the first votes in the GOP presidential primary contest, when his campaign was overshadowed by legal troubles, including an election conspiracy case. He has told advisers that he had a great time on that visit on the third day of the fair, relishing the spectacle that included a flyover in his private jet as his chief competitor, Ron DeSantis, was in the middle of an event, surrounded by reporters. On a stroll around the fairgrounds, Mr. Trump was mobbed with people, and attendance spiked to a record for the year with more than 118,000 visitors. He won the Iowa caucuses in January 2024 by about 30 points. Former President Donald Trump tossed a hat in the air while supporters cheer for him during the 2023 Iowa State Fair on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images A year ago, Mr. Trump said that if he were elected again, he would organize a big bash ahead of the nation's semiquincentennial on July 4, 2026, with a year-long exhibition that he hoped would be hosted at the Iowa State Fairgrounds with "pavilions from all 50 states." The state fair is a summer reunion for Iowans that showcases agriculture and middle America, with a life-sized cow sculpted out of butter, vendors selling deep-fried treats, carnival rides and animal shows. Iowa, the first state in the GOP primary calendar, has already attracted other politicians from both parties in recent weeks. Mr. Trump has repeatedly said his supports want him to run again, but he signaled in a May interview with NBC News that he wouldn't try to seek a third term, which is barred under the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution. "It's something that, to the best of my knowledge, you're not allowed to do," Mr. Trump said in May. "I'll be an eight-year president," he added. "I'll be a two-term president." Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, spoke at a state party event in Cedar Rapids on May 29. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a n independent from Vermont, delivered remarks in February in Iowa City, as part of his "Fight Oligarchy" tour. His team also held organizing calls in competitive congressional districts in April. In 2023, the Democratic National Committee stripped Iowa of its "first in the nation" status in the party's nominating process. The DNC has not yet set its primary calendar for 2028. Mr. Trump first attended the fair as a reality television star, real estate mogul and presidential hopeful in 2015, when he gave children a ride on his personal helicopter and sought to outshine Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Sanders, who were there at the same time. He returned to the fairgrounds to speak at a fundraising event for Sen. Joni Ernst in 2016 and held a rally there in fall 2021.
Washington Post
26 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Charles Rangel's funeral mass draws big names who celebrated the late congressman's life
NEW YORK — Former President Bill Clinton, Gov. Kathy Hochul and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries remembered former U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel's sharp wit, relentless advocacy for Harlem and extraordinary life of public service during a funeral mass for the late congressman in Manhattan on Friday. Rangel, a pioneering congressman and veteran of the Korean War, died on May 26 the age of 94.
