USAEXtra PCMA
Convening Leaders
V O L U M E 4 | ISSUE 1
JANUARY 13, 2025
The Houston First Corporation team welcomes attendees of PCMA’s Convening Leaders to the George R. Brown Convention Center. The convention is running from January 12–15. Photo Credit: Houston First Corporation
California Hotels Respond to Wildfires with Discounted Rates, Donations William Randolph Hearst’s Topanga Ranch Motel Destroyed
By Jordan Bradley Spurred on by high winds throughout the week, wildfires broke out around Los Angeles and Southern California on January 7, causing approximately 153,000 people to evacuate their homes and devastating thousands of acres of land. As of January 10, at least 11 people had died as a result of the Eaton and Palisades wildfires. Officials estimate that the death toll will likely be higher. The cause is still under investigation, and the Palisades, Hurst, Eaton, Lidia and Sunset fires were still burning at
press time. Hotels are responding with discounted room rates—many waiving resort fees—and donations of products and bedding to temporary shelters. In a January 8 statement, the Hotel Association of Los Angeles (HALA) said: “We are devastated by the destruction of the fires raging across the Los Angeles region. Hotels are currently taking in thousands of Angelenos who have been displaced by the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires. Many of our hotels are providing guests with discounted rates and
Wildfires destroyed the historic Topanga Ranch Motel in Topanga State Park on January 8. Photo Credit: California State Parks
the necessities they may have left behind in their evacuation, including toiletries. Many hotels are also taking in pets. Our hotels are also working to donate bedding and personal care items to temporary shelters. We stand ready to continue assisting Angelenos and first responders during this crisis.” The California Hotel and Lodging Association (CALA) released a statement to its members following California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s January 7 declaration of a State of Emergency in response to the Palisades fire, reminding hotels that “we must be mindful of the needs of our communities and avoid any form of price gouging within the lodging industry.” CALA also noted that state law prohibits business owners from increasing room rates at hotels, motels and other temporary rental units by more than 10% for 30 days after a local or state agency declares an emergency. Nonprofit 211 LA has also partnered with Airbnb to offer free temporary housing for people displaced from their homes in the wake of the wildfires. Visit Santa Monica and Visit Anaheim have created lists of hotels offering discounted rates to evacuees. HALA also released a list of more than 40 hotels with rooms available in the Los Angeles area on January 8 for evacuees looking for lodging. Although the extent of the damage remains to be seen, the California State Parks (CSP) confirmed that multiple structures in the Topanga State
Park, including the historic Topanga Ranch Motel, had been destroyed by the Palisades fire. The motel was built in 1929 by William Randolph Hearst, a newspaper publisher and politician. With 30 guest rooms across the street from Topanga Beach, the Topanga Ranch Motel “provided an inexpensive seaside holiday vacation retreat for families and writers and was a popular film and television location,” according to CSP. The organization acquired the motel in 2001 and had planned to restore 20 of the cabins for public use.
Inside
Page 2 Drew Holmgreen Named Leader of Promotional Products Association International Page 4 Jonathan Thompson Retiring from National Sheriffs’ Association Page 4 Ban on Single-Use Plastics in N.Y. Hotels Goes into Effect Page 5 Conversation with Michael Heckman, President & CEO of Houston First Corp.