“Our mission is to reach out personally to potential visitors and build awareness of Orange County, California as a premier travel destination,” said Mr. Fuller. “With Emirates, Etihad Airways and Saudia Airlines currently serving our market, we believe Orange County is the perfect locale for visitors to experience the best of Southern California.”
Emirates and Etihad Airways recently moved their flight crews from hotels in Los Angeles to the Hilton Anaheim and the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa hotels in Orange County, a move that marks Orange County’s position as the center of Southern California.
“Orange County represents what everyone thinks of when they think of Southern California,” said Mr. Fuller.
Joining the delegation in the UAE are representatives from the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau, Visit Newport Beach, Costa Mesa Conference & Visitor Bureau, The Resort at Pelican Hill, Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa, and Disneyland. The Middle Eastern initiative was recently joined by South Coast Plaza, Fashion Island/Irvine Spectrum, the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, and Montage Laguna Beach. Representing Orange County Visitors Association throughout the Middle East are Glenn Johnston and his team.
Since the opening of Orange County Visitors Association’s office in Dubai in March, guests from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar have traveled to Orange County in larger numbers than ever before. To support and encourage more Middle Eastern travel to Orange County, the organization recently launched a website in the United Arab Emirates at http://www.visittheoc.ae and plans to launch several other country-specific websites throughout the Middle East later this year. Orange County Visitors Association will also be introducing Facebook and other social media for the Middle Eastern market during their Dubai and Abu Dhabi visit.
