USA. Ontario International Airport – host to The Moodie Davitt Report’s Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Conference & Awards this year – and destination marketing company Greater Ontario California (GOCAL) have teamed up to highlight a bright future for the region they serve.
They do so to coincide with National Transportation Week (May 12-18) and National Travel & Tourism Week (May 19-25), which they said are great opportunities to showcase Southern California’s fastest-growing destination.
As a pointer to that bright future, the two organisations reference the Connect SoCal 2024 Regional Transportation Plan, the Southern California Association of Governments’ recently published report which projects passenger volumes of 36 million at Ontario International by mid-century – nearly six times current levels.
The prediction is underpinned by strong traffic growth at the airport over the past seven years, where passenger volumes have risen by +60%. The travel hub operator said it expects 2.2 million passengers to use the airport this summer, up nearly 300,000 – or +15% – from a year ago.
This year, Ontario International – California’s most popular airport according to last year’s J.D. Power 2023 North American Airport Satisfaction Study – is adding flights to and from El Paso, Nashville, Houston and Seattle.
The airport also is seeing a record number of international travellers, the airport company pointed out, which should only increase with a planned expansion of customs services later this year.
Ontario International Airport CEO Atif Elkadi said: “We’re proud of the role Ontario International Airport plays in the region’s emergence as a premier international destination. As much as ONT connects our region to the world, we also connect the world to our region with direct flights from more than two dozen destinations – and growing.”
He added: “We are excited about the future, but also determined to grow the right way. Our region is in demand for a variety of reasons, including a quality of life that is unlike anything else in Southern California.”
A recent study by Oxford Economics showed that annual spending by visitors travelling through Ontario International totals US$2.7 billion per year, part of the airport’s estimated US$3.8 billion in annual economic impact.
According to GOCAL tourism is a multibillion-dollar enterprise in the Inland Empire (the name for a vast area inland of and adjacent to coastal Southern California that includes the cities Riverside, Ontario, San Bernardino, Fontana and Rancho Cucamonga), accounting for more than 180,000 jobs and generating nearly half a billion dollars in tax revenues to support essential services.
At the heart of this robust industry sector is Greater Ontario, which as well as the fast-growing airport is also home to the Ontario Convention Center (this year’s FAB venue), Toyota Arena and the largest number of hotels and restaurants in the Inland Empire.
Future developments such as the Brightline West high-speed rail system and planned expansion of the Ontario Convention Center will enhance the region’s marketability, GOCAL noted.
GOCAL CEO Michael Krouse said: “The word is out: The Inland Empire and Greater Ontario are the place to be when it comes to experiencing what Southern California has to offer. Our location, our great natural amenities and the investment that has been made in creating a vibrant and dynamic destination are attracting millions of people a year and creating a buzz around the US and around the world.”
He continued: “We’ve got it all. Great recreational assets. Wonderful hotels and restaurants. A fast-growing international airport. And that’s not even counting our entertainment venues such as Toyota Arena, our world-class Ontario Convention Center and a cultural landscape that is attracting residents, businesses and visitors from everywhere.”
Krouse also noted Los Angeles hosting the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics and a projected +25% increase in the Inland Empire’s population between now and 2050 as further reasons why the local hospitality industry is poised for more dynamic growth in the coming years. ✈
