What:
Switzerland Tourism has announced that it will be closing its Los Angeles office and reopening in San Francisco, effective July 1.
Why It Matters:
The tourism office will join the Swiss consulate and several Swiss companies in taking over Pier 17 at San Francisco’s Embarcadero. As a result of the move, Switzerland Tourism will close its office in Los Angeles. Mirko Capodanno, manager of the Western U.S. for Switzerland Tourism, says the new space will make collaboration between Swiss entities easier and give the office more access to Silicon Valley’s tech companies, among other benefits. The building will also be large enough to host public events.
Fast Facts:
- Switzerland Tourism had an office in San Francisco, but it closed in 1993 and moved to Los Angeles.
- Travel to Switzerland has been booming in the last year — with an almost 6 percent increase from the U.S. in 2015 compared to 2014.
- Switzerland’s 2015 overnight visits from the U.S. were the highest since 2001. The U.S. is now the most important overseas market for Switzerland.
What They Are Saying:
“Having a bundled Swiss force in San Francisco will be a great opportunity,” said Capodanno. “We can benefit from working closely and networking with each other. San Francisco will also put us right in between important markets in Washington and Oregon and those in Southern California. We’ll continue to be in Los Angeles a lot. L.A. is huge for us, especially the media and tour operators, and there are some great travel agencies there.”
The Details
Switzerland Tourismwww.myswitzerland.com
