Visit Santa Barbara, destination marketing organization for Santa Barbara’s South Coast region, will host its 2025 Tourism Summit, 2-4:30 p.m. Thurs., Jan. 30, at the Cabrillo Pavilion, 1118 E. Cabrillo Blvd.
The annual event reviews the area’s hospitality trends, analyzing the latest tourism data and providing insights into how these trends shape Santa Barbara’s travel landscape.
This year’s keynote speaker is Isaac J. Collazo, vice president of analytics at STR Inc., a division of CoStar Group and host of “Tell Me More: A Hospitality Data Podcast.”
An expert at making complex data engaging to his audience, Collazo explains hospitality trends and analytics, offering a meaningful understanding of the current travel climate.
The event also features a panel discussion with several of the area’s influential business leaders who will explore broader hospitality trends and how they intersect with the local market.
Representing a cross-section of Santa Barbara’s hospitality scene, this year’s panel includes Richard Fidel, managing director, Rosewood Miramar Beach; Brandon Ristaino, founder, Good Lion Hospitality; Warren Nocon, executive vice president, hotels, Foley Entertainment Group; and Sherry Villanueva, founder and managing partner, Acme Hospitality.
“Visit Santa Barbara is proud to bring together a diverse group of hospitality professionals to review trends impacting the industry and reflect on how these changes can be implemented into strategy for the upcoming year,” said Kathy Janega-Dykes, president/CEO of Visit Santa Barbara.
“By gathering together to share insights, we are committing to continuing to educate our industry. This allows us to work together to collectively ensure the Santa Barbara South Coast’s tourism industry, and subsequently, our local economy, continues to flourish,” she said.
More than 175 Visit Santa Barbara members, Santa Barbara County hospitality industry professionals, city and county officials and community leaders are expected to attend the 2025 Tourism Summit.
Visit Santa Barbara is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization jointly funded by the city of Santa Barbara, the county of Santa Barbara, the South Coast Tourism Business Improvement District, and by a membership of hospitality-related businesses.